What is Israeli Dance? Israeli dance is older than the State of Israel. In fact, Israeli folk dance can trace its routes to the bible. Throughout the Jewish liturgy there are many references to 'dance'. Amongst these were dances for specific festivities such as celebrating a circumcision, weddings, burials, harvest time, processions and victory in battle. As the Temple fell, so did the joy in Jewish life. Ceremonial dances also ceased due to the ending of many forms of public life. When the Jews were expelled from the land of Israel many things changed. The transformation from an agricultural to urban lifestyle was difficult and Jewish people's lives became more restricted. They spent their time either at home or in the synagogue. Outside pressures forced the Rabbis to forbid dancing in public. However, the Jews never stopped dancing. During the 'the Middle Ages' there were dancing halls in nearly every Jewish ghetto, particularly in France, Poland and Germany. Dancing was a favourite pastime on festivals and especially at weddings. Mixed dancing was still thought of as immoral and most choreographed dances were only for the men. Women danced in lines or circles following a leader who improvised movements. The only permissible mixed couples for dancing were husband and wife; brother and sister; father and daughter or mother and son. So at Jewish weddings until the 15th century, men and women danced separately. However as with most rabbinic rules about dance, this rule was widely disobeyed. In 1313 Rabbi Hacen Ben Salomo taught Christians a choral dance around their altar in Zaragoza, Spain. This is the first evidence of a Jew as a 'dancing master'. In Renaissance Italy, many Jews chose this profession although in 1443 the Venice authorities ordered the closing of all establishments of music and dancing maintained by Jews. Naturally the law was not obeyed by everyone and Jewish dancing masters of an extremely high standard emerged. Each ghetto had its own small innovations in movement and specific dances which often had been borrowed from the local areas. In 18th century Eastern Europe, Chassidic dance provided a means of religious and emotional expression for the masses. The dances of modern Israel are built in part on these foundations. In 1944 a group of people interested in dance began to consider its development in Israel. In that same year a dance festival was held at Kibbutz Dalia. New dances spread to both small towns and cities and was championed by the youth of Israel. Dancing really helped to integrate new immigrants into the life of a new country and it shaped the character of big celebrations. In fact, Jews all over the world received these dances with enthusiasm and used them as a means of identification with the new Israeli culture. The hora is often called the national dance of Israel. However it was brought to Israel by Jews from the Balkans, although the original hora has changed a great deal. The shoulder-chain was abandoned in favour of hand-holding which gives more freedom of movement. The Yemenite Jews came to Israel en masse in 1949 on Operation Magic Carpet, although some had already immigrated to Palestine although from the beginning of the Zionist Movement. Yemenite dance was quickly accepted as characteristic of Israel probably because they had been less affected by outside influences than the Eastern European Jews and so their dancing was more 'pure' and closer to its origins. Debkas with their characteristic, intricate footwork and drumming rhythm are the dances of the Druze, an exclusively religious Arab sect who broke away from Islam many years ago. Although they are a minority group in Israel, their spirited debkas have enriched contemporary Israeli folk dancing and the debka step is part of the Israeli dance repertoire. Other minority Jewish groups include the Kurds from the hilly borders of Syria, Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Soviet Armenia who share common musical and dance traditions with their Moslem neighbours. The Circassians originated from the region of Caucasia in the Soviet Union. The Poles brought with them the Mazurka and Krakoviak, both of which have been simplified from the original complex and refined movements. The South American immigrants brought the Salsa and Latin rhythms. In fact, all those drawn to a new life in Israel brought dances with them. It is this melting-pot which has been such a stimulus for choreographers since the emergence of Jewish resettlement in the land of their ancestors. The dances have been used as a means of drawing people from different countries back to their common heritage. Israeli folk dances developed for the most part as social dances. These dances were often first performed at festivals in villages and settlements but soon lost their special festive or ritual significance and became a substitute for ballroom dance. Folk dancing is still a predominant feature in youth clubs, colleges and universities and for the most kibbutzim and moshavim. It is still developing. After the Six-Day War, Israeli folk dance became an important cultural export, linking together children and adults from many Jewish communities throughout the world. While this has had a positive impact on developing Jewish Zionist identity, the dance itself has become slightly removed from its roots and more open to foreign influences and dance styles. What then constitutes the Israeli (folk) dance style- There seems to be no definitive answer. Buoyancy and vitality, complicated forms and movements, its variety of steps and dances are among its most outstanding features. For some dance creators, Israeli dancing is a composite of ethnic, tribal traditions. For others it is a reflection of Israeli society, be it the working conditions of the early settlers or the disco, hip-hop and fast-food generation of today. Some dances are even being created by Israelis and non-Israeli Jews outside Israel feeding the appetite of those who constantly want something new to feed their addiction. The Bible, the Jewish festivals, ethnic traditions - they are all links in a chain, but the ultimate influence - what gives both Israeli dancing its unique character and has made it popular both in Israel and abroad, is the landscape - the mountains, the deserts, rivers - and the lifestyles and values of the Israeli people. Most people agree that one factor that is also important is that the music for Israeli dance must be Israeli. Harkada Harkada is the Hebrew term for dancing what we call "Israeli dance". More correctly, we should call the weekly sessions for adults - Israeli recreational dance sessions. In these classes, the latest circle and partner dances are intermingled with the "folk-dances" that emerged in the first 30 years of the State of Israel.