Summary for January - the month of Shvat Written by Givaa Tlula; Translated by Maxine Cohen What did we have this month? In honor of the “New Year for Trees,” all the dance sessions played songs where the dances symbolized the festival. For example, songs about trees, forests, blossoms were selected. At one of the dance sessions they even went so far as to conduct a Tu B’ Shvat Seder. They read a program written by Maya Geva, "The Wedding Queen." Maya runs the "wheeldance" sessions which are specially designed for standing dancers and their partners, dancers in wheelchairs. Link In addition to celebrating Tu B’ Shevat festival, we also celebrated the end of the civil calendar year. This is a good time to sum up the creative year in dances. How many new dances were created this year? Link In this context, we must naturally mention the annual dance hit parade held by Gadi Bitton at his various sessions. On the culminating evening, in the company of dance instructors and choreographers, At Li HaBayit, You Are My Home, won first place in the circle dances and Baderech Elayich, On My Way to You, first in couples. You can read Iris's summary of this event on Gadi Bitton's website. Link This subject was also discussed in the Tapuz forum: Link The thorny question of video postings, known as “difficult videos” was voiced. Once again the question arises concerning the presentations posted on the internet. A choreographer does not want videos of his dances which have been filmed by various dance instructors or during the course of filming sessions, to be posted on the Internet without his permission. The choreographer wants to avoid the circulation of the mistakes which appear in many of these videos. The questions are in fact more general; is it preferable to watch videos where there are a few mistakes here and there, or would it be better if there were no videos at all? Does the dance of a choreographer, after he has created it and published it, become public property, like other works of art? The question arose after dances were changed at the initiative of the choreographer himself or by the dancing public which understood that a particular change in the dance “sits better” with the song. Is this legitimate? There were those who didn't like the words, "difficult videos." It seems that most of the dancers agree that the free videos posted on the Internet and Facebook help the dancers quite a bit, even if there are mistakes in them. This helps circulate the dances to all the sessions; the dancing public is exposed directly to the dance. Of course, additionally, there are other videos available for sale and which are published on Yaron Meishar's website. The debate on this subject on Tapuz: Link Another subject covered was couple dance marathons. Following the large number of marathons consisting of only couple dances, there are those who voiced complaints. Why are there marathons designed only for couple dances and no marathons designed only for circle dances? Link Apparently there is a demand for marathons consisting of only couple dances, because the incidence of such marathons is simply spreading. Some examples are shown below: Couple’s Shabbat with Zeev Nissim at Alonim: Link, Couple’s Shabbat at Ramat HaSharon with Yardena Liv and Ofer Alfasi: Link, Couple’s Friday at Givat Brenner with Sagi Azran and Shimeon Mordechai: Link Partner swapping? Only at dancing! Is it better, and is it possible, to adopt the idea of partner swapping at dancing - mainly at couple’s marathons? Is it worth adopting the system practiced abroad? At a normal session overseas, there are shorter rounds of couples and circles and they dance with a different partner in every round. Some groups use dance cards: you dance with one person during the first round, and with another partner in 5 etc, and the order may be arranged in advance. Would this system work in Israel? In principle, the reactions were pro partner swapping at marathons, but against at a normal session. Is this possessiveness perhaps due to the shortage of dancing men? Different opinions arose during the debate on the Tapuz forum: Link Congratulations to Yoav Ashriel who celebrated his 80th birthday at the Adom Atik dance session in Jerusalem. Avner Naim and several other dance instructors honored him with their presence: Link In conclusion, a new play on the subject of folk dancing, "The Dance Instructor," is currently being presented at the Simta Theater in Jaffa. The audience recommends it. Link Have a good month and happy dancing! Givaa Tlula.