The Zemer Atik

Why We Dance

Dance is a universal activity. Cross culturally dance varies, as does the reason of why one dances. One can dance for a traditional event, physical exercise, competition or for the pure enjoyment of self expression. In class we learned an assortment of dances that fulfill these reasons of why we dance.

The Zemer Atik (or Nigun Atik) is an example of a traditional Israeli dance. It was created by Rivka Sturman so the Israeli people would be able to dance and sing in Hebrew. Zemer Atik is usually executed around a newly married couple on their wedding day. I felt that this dance was very traditional because of the music. The way the dance is choreographed, in a circle with your left hand on your shoulder and your right hand on
Dance is a physical experience. However, there are some dances that are more physically demanding than others, such as Zumba. Zumba is a latin form of dance exercise that incorporates a variety of dances. The dances we learned were the Salsa, Merengue, Cumbia, Reggaeton, Belly dance, Tango, Flamenco, and Quebradita. Each of these dances were fast paced and worked your muscles. We did squats in Flamenco, and learned how to isolate our hips and bellies in Belly dancing. Another form of dance that I found particularly demanding was the Polka. It has ¾ timing and very quick steps. The Polka has a fun beat to it that makes it enjoyable to dance to and it is a great form of exercise, especially if you add a small hop before the first
Not only did I learn a diverse assortment of dances but also about different cultures and traditions. I learned that dance has many elements to it and the reasons as to why we dance varies. People may dance to compete against one another, to participate in a traditional event, to be social, to learn about other cultures, and to get exercise both mentally and physically. I experienced most of these reasons as to why we dance. Partner dances encouraged me to meet new people, and folk dances conveyed a sense of community. I learned that each and every dance we did was a form of exercise, both mental and physical. I had not realized that dance could be a form of exercise for the brain and the body but dances, such as the Waltz, challenged me mentally and physically. I noticed that it takes a great deal of discipline of both the mind and the body to dance. A lot of partner dances we did called for a strong body with arms held up but also a certain pattern of steps, which I had to concentrate on throughout each dance to execute them correctly. Each dance we were taught is from a particular culture and through learning the dances I gained knowledge about various cultures. Some dances are choreographed for a particular tradition and I feel confident in participating in dances that are formulated for weddings. Competitive dance is something we touched on, but did not explore fully because the class was not about competing. However