Congratulations again to everyone on how well you are doing in Israeli Folk Dancing 101. You learned three more dances this week. That is ten dances in three weeks, which is a lot. It is more than I originally intended to do with you, but you have done so well, we kept moving on.

Some of you even stayed for the second hour from 8 to 9 pm and held your own through the entire evening.
 
The next class is next Monday, October 3 from 7 to 8 pm. We likely will just review the ten dances we have learned and not add anything new, unless we have time left over in the first hour. You are invited to stay for the second hour and keep dancing with us until 9.

After October 3, we will continue to dance on Monday nights from 7 to 9 pm and build on the dances you have learned.

If you know of anyone that would like to start, bring them at 7 pm.

If you have not done so already, sign up for the Israeli and Folk Dance newsletter at www.GainesvilleDance.com. It is the second newsletter on the left side.
 
These older dances were commonly known as Israeli Folk Dances. Current dances are known simply as Israeli Dances, because current dances are done to popular music, while much of the folk dances were done to folk music.
 
You learned three dances this week. Here they are with links to a video.
 
1. Mayim Mayim
   www.youtube.com/watch?v=whWs2L0k0bE
 
2. Hora Medura
   www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXqAV6aY9w8
 
3. Hineh Ma Tov
   www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpY61YZRtM8

We also learned this partner dance during the second hour.

1. El Haderech - On the Way
   www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8D3acLqFCE
   www.hebrewsongs.com/song-elhaderech.htm
 
Following are links to the song lyrics of all the circle dances you have learned.
 
Eretz Eretz Eretz – Land, Land, Land
  Eretz refers to the Land of Israel
  www.hebrewsongs.com/?song=eretzeretzeretz
 
Hineh Ma Tov - How Good It Is
  www.hebrewsongs.com/song-hinehmatov.htm

Hora Medura - Campfire Hora (Dance)
  www.hebrewsongs.com/?song=horamedura

Klezmer - Instrumental only, but here is a link to another song
  in the same tradition, Hevenu Shalom Aleichem which means Peace Unto You.
  Shalom Aleichem is a traditional greeting from Eastern European Jewry.
  www.hebrewsongs.com/?song=hevenushalomaleichem
 
Ma Navu - How Pleasant, from Isaiah
  www.hebrewsongs.com/song-manavu.htm
 
Mayim Mayim - Water, Water
  www.hebrewsongs.com/?song=mayimmayim

Nigun Atik – Ancient Melody. A nigun is a song without words, often
  hummed on Shabbat as a form of prayer and often before the meal between
  washing hands and the motzi, the blessing over the bread, during which
  time you are not supposed to speak.
  www.hebrewsongs.com/?song=nigunatik
 
Od Lo Ahavti Dai – I Have Not Loved Enough, who has?
  www.hebrewsongs.com/song-odloahavtidai.htm
 
Tzadik Katamar – Righteous Man Will Flourish, from Psalm 92, the Psalm for Shabbat.
  www.hebrewsongs.com/?song=tzadikkatamar
 
Yedid Nefesh - Soul Mate, sung every Friday night to welcome the Shabbat,
  as the Shabbat is symbolized as the bride of the People of Israel, Israel's soul mate.
  www.hebrewsongs.com/?song=yedidnefesh
 
You can find links to videos of these dances on this page.
www.israelidance.info/w/w102/i/israelidance_info/israeli_dance_videos/circle/110_israeli_circle_dance_videos.aspx
 
Erev Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, begins this Wednesday night. Wish you and your family a happy, healthy and meaningful new year.

Happy Dancing and L'shana Tova,
Andy