Hora Keff (dance)

This page is about the Moshe Eskayo dance. For the August camp of the 1990s and 2000s, see Hora Keff.

Hebrew: הורה כיף (Fun Hora, or a reference to the camp). Circle dance by Moshe Eskayo, 1990.

The second part of this dance has undergone a change. It consists of four repetitions of an eight-beat sequence, facing center, then out, then center, then out.

As originally taught, and as described in the printed syllabus, the first repetition is done starting with weight on right foot, kicking left. The remaining three repetitions begin with weight on left foot, kicking right. Later, however, the section was taught with all four repetitions identical, starting by kicking the right foot.

It is understandable that the original peculiarity might have been "corrected" by the folk process; there's no reason to prefer one foot over the other, and having a single repetition be different seems to make no sense. It is reported that, at the world premiere of the dance, the teacher remarked explicitly that it doesn't matter on which foot the section begins; it's each dancer's call.

The final section of the dance is repeated in opposite directions, and is so symmetric that it's difficult to know which way to start. The confusion is usually resolved by someone shouting "LEFT!" just as the section begins---so that everyone starts by moving left. This tradition goes back to Eileen Weinstock at Hora Keff 1990.

Hora Keff (dance) at israelidances.com

Video at Rokdim (with four identical repetitions of the second part steps)