Circle Dance of Prayer

In Biblical Hebrew the term for dance refers to a circle dance. Circle dancing is the main form of dancing at Jewish celebrations, but WHY does Jewish tradition encourage dancing in a circle? Traditional Jewish belief holds that demonic forces cannot penetrate a circle. Hence, a circle represents unity, safety, and purpose, and helps those dancing to connect to the Creator through connecting with each other.
"Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp" (Psalm 149:3).

In Exodus 14 it is written how Pharaoh had finally let the Israelites go, but his heart hardened once again, and he set out to trap Moshe (Moses) and the Israelites. According to God's command, Moses stretched out his hand over the Red Sea, and the Lord caused it to part, thus allowing the Jews safe passage across dry land, the sea subsequently swallowing Pharaoh's following army.

Now, an interesting thing occurs immediately following the thanksgiving Song of Moses which begins in Exodus 15. "And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea" (Exodus 15:20-21). Miriam and the women gave praise, honor, and glory to God for their safety. Joy often bursts forth in song and dance, and this is exactly what happened in this instance.

The Midrash, a collection of explanations of the underlying significance of Bible texts, interprets that just as Miriam and the women of all the tribes of Israel praised the Compassionate One through dance, so too in the messianic age, they will all praise the Compassionate One through dance, as it is written (Psalm 149:3), "Let them praise his name in the dance."

The Midrash calls the particular type of dance performed by Miriam and the women of the tribes of Israel, as being a circle dance. Whether their dance was the ancient Hebraic circle dance or one of another genre, it can be said that circle dancing has survived the ravages of time and remains popular today.

The account of dancing in Exodus 15:20-21 is the first written account of dancing in Scripture. Dancing in the Scriptures is symbolic of joy, in contrast with mourning.

Of the circle dance of prayer in the Old Testament context, Philo says that the Israelite band which was delivered through the Red Sea consisted of “both men and women, together . . . forming one chorós sang hymns of joyful thanks to God the Savior, Moses the prophet leading the men, and Miriam the prophetess, the women.”

Among the Jews, dancing was always a favorite pastime for girls and women (Jeremiah 31:4). It was imitated by children playing on the street and often incorporated into their games(Job 21:11; Matthew 11:17 and Luke 7:32). In ancient times especially, men also expressed the joy in their hearts through dance (2 Samuel 6:5, 14). Dancing among the Israelite men and women was always separate. The sexes did not dance together, bringing in the popular use of scarves which connected couples, but without the actual touching. The use of scarfs moved with the centuries and is popular still today.

Contemporary Jewish circle dancing is a favorite entertainment at weddings. Tradition calls on guests to entertain the bride and groom by dancing. Two chairs are placed in the center of the room, where the bride and groom sit. The guest form a circle around the two, and their circle dance, called an hora, begins. At orthodox weddings, the bride and groom do not touch when dancing, so they each hold the end of a scarf in order to join in the dancing. Messianic Jews do not use the scarf, though circle dancing is popular with them also. (Miriam's Dance by Virginia Marin)