davidvs.net

Religion
Worship Dances

Heenay Ma Tov

This song has a traditional dance.

Part A is done holding hands in an odd way: each dancer puts their hand palm up just above their left shoulder, and their hand palm down upon the left hand of the person in front of them. Part B is done holding hands normally.

Each numbered step takes four beats of music.

Part A (The "march like" part of the melody)

  1. (facing RLOD) Walk R-L with two half-time steps (two beats per step), putting your heel down first (one beat) before stepping onto the foot (second beat)
  2. (facing RLOD) Again walk R-L with two half-time steps (two beats per step), putting your heel down first (one beat) before stepping onto the foot (second beat)
  3. (facing RLOD) Take four quick steps R-L-R-L (one beat per step)
  4. (facing RLOD) Take four quick steps R-L-R-L (one beat per step)
         [repeat]

Part A (The "swing like" part of the melody)

  1. (facing inward) Sway R [on the first "tov"], pause, then step back with L foot behind right foot, then bring R foot back beside left foot
  2. (facing inward) Step forward with L foot returning it to its original place [on the second "tov"], pause, then step forward with R foot with a stomp to return it to its original place, and pause again
  3. (facing inward) Yemenite L (one beat per step, not a triple-step, first step on the third "Lai"), pause
  4. (facing inward) Yemenite R (one beat per step, not a triple-step, first step on the third "Lai"), sway L
         [repeat]