Wedding ceremonies are bound by ritual and custom. But when it comes to rejoicing, tradition yields to trend.par
While Jewish weddings often feature conventional dancing, they are increasingly adding Jewish music and by extension, Jewish dancing, to their agenda.par
Fifty years ago, wedding guests circled the bride and groom to music coming out of summer camps and out of the idealized view of pioneering Israel.par
As Jews felt more linked to Israel, Israeli music became more popular and Israeli folk dancing was taught at summer camps and simchas.par
}{f522fs20expnd62 Israeli folk dances relinquished the floor when klezmer music made a comeback along with American Jews
quote renewed interest in their grandparents
quote Eastern European experience.par
}{f522fs20 Klezmer conceded to Chassid-ish pop when disco commandeered the music scene. The 1990s saw rock supersede pop, but for weddings its become rock with a Jewish tam.par
Simcha dancing, according to some, became the rage at the hippest of weddings beginning in the 1990s. Look carefully, however, and adults who learned Israeli folk dancing at summer camps in the 1960s will see the }{if522fs20 shafta mayim}{f522fs20
, grapevine and }{if522fs20 debka}{f522fs20 steps speeded up to match the pop-rock beat.par
The net effect is arm-swinging, feet-moving, heart-beating and cheek-reddening Jewish line dancing. It
quote s a lot of fun for those who know the sometimes complicated combinations. And it
quote s a pleasure to watch for those who don
quote
t know the steps or are too self-conscious to get on the dance floor.par
Popular at Orthodox affairs where a }{if522fs20 mechitza}{f522fs20 sometimes separates men and women on the dance floor, simcha dancing allows women who love to move to get around without the restraint of oblivious or inexperienced partners.par
Dancers move as individuals in rows or lines without holding hands. While the dancers are constantly in motion, the combinations repeat themselves with dynamic regularity so someone with a fast eye and faster feet can follow along.par
While some yeshiva boys learn steps with their rebbes, the complex simcha dancing more often happens on the women
quote s side.par
Largely choreographed in New York, simcha dancing reaches other parts of the States on videos and through teachers.par
ldblquote People love to have a good time at parties. If people get up to dance, they have more fun,
dblquote says Ava Nussbaum of Skokie, Ill., who teaches simcha dancing. ldblquote
What is a party? You eat, drink and dance. If I can get five or six people who know the steps, I can get other people up dancing.
dblquote par
ldblquote One or two quick lessons and you can have a good time,
dblquote says Malkie Goldberg of West Rogers Park, Ill., who teaches a few generic steps to brides or nervous parents who haven
quote t danced in many years. ldblquote
My philosophy is that you just need the confidence to go on the floor. Once you get there, anything goes.
dblquote par
Goldberg
quote s twice-weekly classes attract women who want a good aerobic exercise workout as much as they want to dance at a party. Nussbaum and Goldberg agree that interest at weddings in really complicated choreography has waned.par
Guests are more likely to do tried and true steps, but that hasn
quote t stopped teachers from learning new steps to teach women in their classes. Her most devoted women, says Goldberg, ldblquote will give up meetings to come dancing.
dblquote
Others will come for a few lessons prior to an important simcha.par
It
quote s not that men can
quote t learn the steps, says dance teacher Janet Shapiro of Skokie. ldblquote
Men are picking up a couple of the dances and they do it in their manly way. If they took the time to take lessons, it would be more enjoyable for them than just going around in circles.
dblquote par
Has Israeli dancing disappeared?par
Hardly, says Phil Moss, director of the Nitzanim Israeli Folk Dance Troupe. But it doesn
quote t look like it did in the 1950s.par
ldblquote Israeli dancing is a recreational dance form based on Israeli culture. It is centered in Israel and Israel accepts music from all over the world’c9It is an entertainment form now, not a folk form.
dblquote }{f522fs20 par
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