Click For A printable Version.

Davidic Dance

I can remember the joyful weddings and bar/bat mitzvahs that I have attended with my family where we danced the Hora and it was the grandparents who would get in the center of the circle and twirl and do all sorts of flying moves that would amaze and thrill us, bringing everyone much joy and excitement.

It wasn't till 25 years later that I would experience the joy of dancing for praise and worship in a congregational setting with music that would full your soul with such delight, that would make everyone want to get up and participate.

I have attended many Israeli dance workshops, which has been so beneficial in choreographing new dances with our original songs. I have observed that there is less lifting of the hands in Israeli Folk dances. So many times I have added that the praise movements of lifted hands like the Levitical Priests did in honor of their King.

Praise and worship in the dance is very contagious... you use your body as an instrument, like a reed blowing in the wind. Hebraic prayer is also full of body movements that the Hasidic movement has used to draw closer to their Creator.

At Bet Ami Congregation we encourage everyone to participate in the joy of Davidic dance We offer dance instruction every Shabbat after the Torah with our musicians, for the dancers to practice learning the dance steps that we will do in our 5:00p.m. service. This is a time for new people to experience the joy of dancing in praise and worship, and feel comfortable dancing for the service, with a freedom of not being fearful of making a mistake. We want the people to enjoy the worship experience, and not concentrate on the steps.

We usually start the service with joyful praise music, which includes various steps that have larger steps and more movement than a slow worship dance. We usually use the mayim step, which is like a grapevine step and usually known to most people that have ever tried Davidic Dance. Both men and women are encouraged to participate. The men dancing add an emotion of great power and strength to the dance. Women are more feminine in their movements, so the combination shows the male and female aspects of our Creator. Children are also taught at the earliest age to praise Yah. How wonderful it is to start at an early age to experience the joy in the dance, and not feel uncomfortable like so many adults experience, due to previous taught concepts... like dancing is sinful... or we don't dance in the sanctuary because we are in mourning from the destruction of the Temple.

There are times of special Feast Days that we have a theme and our Bet Ami Dance Group and Musicians perform certain songs and dances. There is a feeling of excitement with the praise dancing for the joyful feast times, and also a mood of great compassion and devotion to our times of mourning and repentance.

There is a series of dance steps that are to be learned, but as you learn them, they come together so easily that it does not take long for a beginner to learn. The most important thing is that your heart is right, and that you are offering up to your Abba a sacrifice of Praise and Thanksgiving.

Davidic dancing in a service adds another dimension of the beauty of our Creator. Learn to use your body as an instrument, sacred and pleasing to our G-d. Come join us in this great move of the Ruach Ha Kodesh as we prepare to welcome in the Messiah in these final preparation times that we are living in. I believe we will all be dancing before our King. Why not get a head start and learn the steps now and you will be all ready to worship the King. He says to come before Him in music and in dance. (Psalms 150)

Miriam Stalsworth