EL GINAT EGOZ

Israeli

 
PRONUNCIATION: ehl gee-NAHT ee-GOHS
 
TRANSLATION: To the garden of the acorns
 
SOURCE: Dick Oakes learned this dance from Dani Dassa who presented it at the 1961 Santa Barbara Folk Dance Conference. Sara Levi, of the Israeli government-sponsored dance troupe INBAL, choreographed the dance, incorporating authentic Yemenite steps. Dvora Lapson presented the dance at the 1952 College of the Pacific Folk Dance Camp (now Stockton Folk Dance Camp). Moshe Eskayo taught the dance at the 1972 Stockton Folk Dance Camp. Albert S. Pill taught it at the 1959 Santa Barbara Folk Dance Conference.
 
BACKGROUND: The dance was choreographed by Sara Levi of the Israeli government-sponsored dance group Inbal and incorporates authentic Yemenite steps. "To the garden of the acorns" has a Biblical basis in Chapter 6, Verse 11, of the Song of Solomon. The choreographer is Sare Levi, the music is by Sara Levi.
 
MUSIC: Kadima (LP) IFC #2
Electra (LP) EKL 186
ARZI (LP) 777
 
FORMATION:Cpls anywhere on the floor, W in front and slightly to L of M, M facing same dir, R hands joined. L hands are free with first finger and thumb touching and other three fingers extended (as if holding an acorn). L hand of M may be above, but not touching, the L shoulder of the W.
 
METER/RHYTHM: Varies
 
STEPS/STYLE: Ftwk is the same for M and W throughout the entire dance.

The meter changes throughout the tune, so the dance is written in phrases instead of meas.


PHRASESMOVEMENT DESCRIPTION

 
 INTRODUCTION - None (or wait one melody).
 
I. BRUSH STEP R; RETURN
 
1Step R diag fwd to R (ct 1); brush L across in front of R, raising and bending knee (ct 2); low hop R (ct &); step L across in front of R (ct 3); flex knees (ct &); close R to L without wt (ct 4); flex knees (ct &).
 
2Repeat action of phrase 1, cts 1, 2, &, 3, but hold pos (wt on L, R extended bwd) for remainder of phrase.
 
3Step bwd R, flexing knee (ct 1); step L next to R (ct &); step R slightly fwd (ct 2); flex knees (ct &); close L next to R, taking wt (ct 3); flex knees (ct &).
 
4Repeat action of phrase 1, but without taking wt on L on ct 3.
 
I. BWD LEAP; BRUSH STEP TO FORM WINDOW
 
1With R hands still joined, leap L bwd, body squarely facing ptr and flexing L knee with R extended dn and fwd (ct 1); step R fwd, straightening knee (ct &); step L next to R (ct 2); step R next to L (ct &).

NOTE: the last step on R actually comes on the 1/4 beat after the & and just before the first ct of the next phrase, giving the motif a syncopated effect.

 
2Repeat action of phrase 1 (Fig II), with cpl making 1/3 turn CW on each phrase.
 
3Repeat action of phrase 2 (Fig II), but without taking wt on R at end of phrase.
 
4Still facing ptr, step diag fwd R (ct 1); brush L across in front of R, raising and bending knee (ct 2); low hop on R (ct &); step L across in front of R, making an arched "window" with L arms above joined R hands (ct 3).
 
5M: Step bwd R (ct 1); step L swd (ct &); step fwd R to W R side (ct 2); with wt still on R, pivot 1/2 turn CW, flexing knees (ct &); step L next to R, taking wt and ending in Formation pos (ct 3).
W: Step bwd R (ct 1); step L next to R, taking wt (ct &); step fwd R, flexing knees (ct 2); step L next to R, taking wt, ending in Formation pos (ct 3).
 
 Repeat entire dance from beg.

NOTE: On the recommended recording, the melody is played five times. The first melody may be used as an introduction, if desired.


 

EL GINAT EGOZ
Israel

El ginat egoz yarad'ti
Lir'ot be'ivei hanachal
Lir'ot hafrachah hagefen
Henetzu harimonim.
 
Lecha dodi netze hasadeh
Nalinah bak'farim naskimah lak'ramim
Nir'eh im parchah hagefen
Pitach hasmadar.
 
Uri tsafon uvo'i teiman
Hafichi gani yizlu b'samav
Yavo dodi l'gano
V'yochai p'ri m'gadav.
 
  To the nut garden; I went down
To see the rushes of the river,
To see had the vine blossomed,
Has the pomegranate brought flower.
 
Come my beloved, let's go to the fields.
We'll sleep in the village, we'll arise and go to
The vineyard, to see if the vine has blossomed.
Open my ruby.
 
Wake up my North, and come South.
Turn over my garden. Blossoms will flow.
My beloved will come to his garden
And will eat the fruit of his choice.
 

Copyright © 2012 by Dick Oakes