The " TZABARIM MECHOLA" Folklore
Ensemble are pleased to present an evening of Israeli and
Arab folkore.
The " TZABARIM MECHOLA" Folklore
Ensemble is composed of young men and women born in Jerusalem.
Israel is the meeting point between two cultures:
the East and West, The folkdances of Israelexpress the vitality,the pluralism and the hopes of
its people. They express the beauty of the holy land which has gathered to its bosom Jews who
were exiled from its shores and dispersed throughout the world for generations, Israeli
folkdances have been influenced by the pioneers who came from Eastern Europe, by Hassidic Jews, by Jews from Arab countries and by the folkdances of the Arabs and Druze living in Israel.
The name "TZABARIM MECHOLA" is the
pluralized Hebrew form of "tzabar" the fruit of the cactus (more commonly known as "sabra") which, like the native Israeli, is rough on the outside but sweet inside.
PROGRAM:
JERUSALEM HORA:
one of the lovliest and modern among the more
than 300 Israeli folkdances.
FISHERMEN'S DANCE:
the west coast of Israel, the Sea of Galilee and the
Jordan River serve as an inspiration for this dance which depitcts the fishermen's expedition-the farewell, the longing of the women for their husband's return, and finally , the meeting anew.
THE DEBKA:
rooted in Arab folklore and originally danced by men
only. With the changes in attitudes and customs towards women in this century, they are now participants in this dance which still retains its virile character.
SONGS OF ISRAEL:
some old, some new - a potpourri of the best
and most popular.
klezmer - a Hassidic tune.
HASSIDIC DANCE:
Hassidic Jews praise the Almighty in a joyful manner
in which their belief, prayers and thankfulness are expressed through dance. Hassidisim is an intense and mystic branch of Jewish piety which has its roots among the Jews of Eastern Europe in the middleof the 18th century.
duet - a dance of love.
courting dance - a dance of boys with girls,
courting in the vineyards; a dance with biblical themes.
harem - an arab-oriental dance incorporating
themes from debka dances.
ARAB TAMBOUR PLAYERS:
from East Jerusalem, these young Arabs are
masters of playing the tambour which is made of clay and over which goatskin is streched. Tremendous manual dexterity is needed as the taut goatskin is tapped with the fingertips bringing forth the rythmic and tempestous sounds of the Middle East.
DANCES OF THE YEMENITE JEWS:
The Jews of Yemen were completely isolated from
their brethren in the rest of the world for more than 2000 years. For them, dance is also an expression of their prayers to the Almighty. The central theme of these dances is their love of Zion - of Jerusalem, and the expression of their hope for return to and the redemption of the Holy Land.
HECHALIL:
an Israeli flute melody.
HAVA NAGILA:
a youthful dance in rows and circles.
ISRAEL HORA:
A young and dynamic dance, full of the pioneering
spirit which filled the hearts of the first Jews coming to Israel, and which has become the national dance.
