Traditional Jewish Wedding Dance

The traditional Jewish wedding ceremony is a combination of several different traditions and customs. The wedding dance is an integral part of a Jewish wedding. Here is some interesting information about the traditional Jewish wedding dance.

Last week, I got an opportunity to witness a Jewish wedding. It was simply amazing! The most fascinating thing about the Jewish wedding is that it follows a series of meaningful rituals and traditions that have been passed on from generation to generation. These rituals and customs reveal the purpose of marriage and are symbolic of the relationship between husband and wife. The Jewish wedding ceremony is truly worth watching. It starts with a procession, in which the family members of the bride and the groom participate. The wedding ceremony takes place under a special canopy, known as a huppah. Signing the marriage contract, called the Ketubah, is an important ritual of a Jewish wedding ceremony. The agreement states the duties and expectations of the chatan (groom) and the kallah (bride). The wedding ceremony is followed by a joyous celebration, called a wedding reception. The true charm of Jewish wedding lies in various interesting cultural activities that are performed during the wedding reception. The wedding celebration is never complete without music and traditional Jewish dance.

Traditional Jewish Wedding Dances

Music and dance are an integral part of a Jewish culture. Singing and dancing are a perfect way to express pleasure and happiness. Some examples of traditional Jewish dances are horah, mezinke (krenzl), Israeli folk dance, bulgar, broiges dance and yemenite. Jewish dances are performed at various Jewish festivals and celebrations. The Jews have included their traditional dances as a vital part of wedding celebrations. Even in the modern times, Jews perform wedding dances during the marriage ceremony to pay homage to their traditions. The couple usually prefer to hire a Jewish band that is familiar with traditional as well as contemporary Jewish wedding music. By ritual, the wedding couple (bride and groom) are the first to dance and the guests are invited to participate. Following are some of the popular traditional Jewish wedding dances:
Horah: It is a popular traditional Jewish dance, performed at special occasions like weddings and festivals in Israel and many other East European countries. Horah is a circle dance, performed to traditional Jewish songs like Hava Nagila and Klezmer. The Horah dance is performed in many variations. During the Horah, the guests lift the bride and the groom (considered as 'the king and the queen of the night') above their shoulders. While sitting on the chairs, the couple holds on to the ends of a handkerchief. The guests form a huge circle around the couple and dance in clockwise and anticlockwise directions. They perform various foot movements like kicks and other grapevine-like steps. This is accompanied by bopping up and down as well as weaving. The circle of dancers come in close to the couple and go out again.
Mezinke Tanz (Krenzl): It is another famous Jewish wedding dance, performed particularly at the wedding reception. It is derived from the Krenzl dance. Krenzl is a Jewish custom: the bride's mother is honored by a crown at her last daughter's marriage. The bride's mother sits at the center of a circle. She is crowned with flowers and her daughters and guests dance around her on the rhythm of a lively music band. Mezinke Tanz is performed in honor of both parents, whose last son or daughter is getting married. Both parents sit at the center of a circle and the guests gift them wedding flowers.
Gladdening of the Bride: This traditional Jewish wedding dance form is performed at the end of the wedding reception. The bride sits at the center of dance floor and the guests and close family members dance around her. They also sing praises about her.
Yemenite: A popular Jewish dance that the Jews perform at weddings and other occasions, the Yemenite involves just three steps with a small pause on the last one. It has non-moving hopping and posturing and hence, can be performed in confined space.
Lively, traditional Jewish wedding dance is a symbol of a rich cultural heritage of the Jews. It gives a ceremonial touch to the atmosphere and makes the wedding and reception ceremony enjoyable and a memorable one.