 |
||||||
|
||||||
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
 |
|
|||||||||||
|
The Hora-A Circular Dance of Life
The hora is the dance of the Jewish people. When people are dancing the hora together there is a sense of interconnectedness: we are all together, one big people – the Jewish people. The hora is a circular dance. Circles can symbolize life and how everything is interconnected. Even the events during which people dance the hora add to its significance. We dance the hora at Bnei Mitzvah and at weddings; these celebrations are milestones in people’s lives and mark transitions from one stage of life to another. The hora is also danced on Simhat Torah, the time when we finish reading the Torah and begin again. These are only some examples of circular imagery and thoughts about the ongoing and endless cycle. The hora is also important to Jews because of its prevalence at these events. Interestingly enough, Judaism is not the only religion and culture to have this style of circular dance. There are Greek dances which are also circular dances with much more intricate footwork. My roommate, a member of Binghamton University’s African Dance and Drumming Ensemble, explained to me that West African dances are also danced in a circle, with everyone dancing the same part, emphasizing community and equality. In addition, African dances are danced at important community and religious events. These traditions were carried over by slaves brought to America in the slave trade. Today in West Africa these dances are still part of the culture. What is so intriguing about this is that these three cultures and societies are very different. The circle is a universal symbol which can have meaning for many different groups of people. With this major structural similarity between the different cultures, what makes Jewish dances Jewish? What makes the hora the "quintessential" Jewish dance, and what differentiates it from the other cultures? Does it have something to do with the music? Furthermore, what is it that makes Jewish music Jewish? To answer this question I interviewed Ari Hausman, a member of Kaskeset (the Jewish acapella group at Binghamton University). This is what he had to say: Shira: What makes music Jewish music? Ari: Language, and/or theme. Also, [the] source of text. S: What about instruments? A: Well, I would argue that there is nothing inherently Jewish about instruments. However, most klezmer music is done with a certain set of instruments S: Is it the way they are played that makes it Jewish music? A: Well, I would say that the only way that an instrumental piece could be Jewish is if it has a recognizable melody to a Jewish text. In which case what is making it Jewish is the association to the words or theme. S: Which brings us back to what you were saying before. A: Right. S: Would you say that that limits the category of Jewish music? A: Yes, if it doesn't have something related to Judaism, it's not Jewish music; a Jewish singer isn't enough and non-Jews can perform Jewish music. S: Is there something paradoxical in that? A: Not really, it's about the music. S: Not about the people making it. What is most important about Jewish music and dance is its cultural context. The differences in footwork and the motion of other body parts help to cement certain dances as part of one culture or another. However, what makes the hora so important is the significance we place upon it, as a way to bring our community together during celebrations. [Posted 3/15/10]
|
|||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
By
Shira Novack