The Hora

The Hora is a chair dance from Adam’s family’s Jewish tradition. It is commonly performed at Jewish weddings, bar mitzvahs, and other celebrations.

Dancers hold hands to form two or three concentric circles. Typically, the people of honor and their immediate family form the smaller, inner circle and the rest of the guests surround them in the larger circles. The dancers move in a sideways motion so that the circles spin in opposite directions. 

Occasionally, the dancers stop moving and, while still holding hands, rush to the center to give the married couple a smushy hug. 

In the middle of the dance, the married couple will sit on chairs in the center of the circles, while the big, strong guests lift them up. They hold a napkin or clothe to remain connected.

It is a high energy dance, very fun and inclusive. Please take the hand of an experienced Hora-er and join in!

Don’t worry too much about the footwork or the break dancing!