The Society of Folk Dance Historians
Bo Dodi
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BO DODI
a dance and song
From: Ron Houston. Folk Dance Problem Solver (1987). Austin, Texas: Society of Folk Dance Historians, 1987.
(BOH doe-DEE) = come, my beloved
No OTHER NAMES that I know of.
BACKGROUND:
Choreographed by Gurit Kadman prior to 1953, music by I. Vogel, also known as J. Fogel, this Israeli folk dance is a dance of courtship, so let's see a little courting out there!
FORMATION:
Circle of couples, woman to partner's R, all facing CW, not CCW. Hands unjoined.
| BARS | ACTION |
| 4/4 | Introduction. |
| 1-2 | Shift weight to R ft so as to be ready to start onto L ft. |
| We can't go on meeting like this. | |
| 1-2 | Man dances the passive step; woman dances the active step, moving forward and CW around the circle. |
| Passive step (= 4 step-bends): step slightly to L onto L ft (ct 1), bend L knee and clap hands (ct 2), repeat to R (cts 3,4). Repeat. Active step: step forward onto L ft (ct 1), touch R toe beside L ft (ct 2), repeat step-touch onto R ft (cts 3,4). Run forward 4 steps onto: L ft, R ft, L ft, R ft (cts 1,2,3,4). | |
| 3-4 | Woman dances the passive step; man rejoins woman with the active step. |
| 5-8 | = 1-4. |
| _______________________________ | |
| Running around together. | |
| 9-10 | Man dances the passive step; W M x center |
| woman dances the active step around the man: | |
| _______________________________ | |
| 11-12 | Woman dances the passive step; |
| man dances the active step around the woman: M W x center | |
| _______________________________ | |
| Spreading the word. | |
| 13-14 | Man dances the passive step; woman dances the active step toward the center. |
| 15-16 | Woman dances the passive step; man rejoins the woman with the active step. |
| Getting serious. Grasp your partner's elbows. Bend L elbows to face a bit to L. | |
| 17-20 | Turn CW as a couple with 2 active steps (but not too active steps). |
| 21-24 | Bend slightly your own R elbow and turn CCW as a couple with 2 active steps. |
| Hmm.... All face CW, woman to man's R, and slightly forward. Join R hands above woman's R shoulder; hold joined L hands forward (varsouvienne position). | |
| 25-32 | Dance CW around the circle as a couple with 4 traveling steps: |
| Traveling step: step forward onto L ft (ct 1), hop forward on L ft (ct 2), step-hop forward onto R ft (cts 3,4), leap forward onto: L ft, R ft, L ft, R ft (cts 1,2,3,4). | |
| Drop hands to repeat the dance from the beginning, twice more. |
| Bo dodee aloofee hagorna, | Come my beloved, to the threshing floor, |
| sham sim'cha sham tsohola! | there'll be laughter and joy! |
| Boee yafatee bimcholot netse-a | Yes, my fair one, let's dance together |
| hechatan v'hakala. | like 2 sweethearts. |
| Tnoo tsil'chem hare Efrayeem; | Cast your shade, oh hills of Ephraim; |
| zamru zemer lakotsreem! | sing your glad song to the reapers! |
| v'atem kochvey shamayeem, | And you, oh stars in the shining heavens, |
| ronoo ronoo ladodeem. | sing to the lovers all night long. |
End of BO DODI.