Jewish Dances From Around The World

Humanity has expressed joy through dance for millennia, and the Jewish people are no exception. From widely-recognized Jewish dances like the “Hora” and Israeli folk dance to lesser-known dances like the “Mitzvah Tantz,” the “Yemenite Step,” and the “Mezinka,” Jews worldwide express their pride in Israel and their rich multicultural identity by blending together the many traditional Jewish dances from across the globe.

Big Ideas

• Jewish life is filled with celebratory opportunities for dancing.
• Dance is a way we can connect with centuries of Jewish history and culture.
• Dance is one way in which Jews in Israel were able to blend the cultures they brought with them from the Diaspora.

Essential Questions

• When and why do Jews dance?
• What makes Jewish dances unique?
• How were Jewish dances created?