Yemenite (dance)
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A yemenite is a type of dance step commonly used in Israeli folk dancing. It consists of three steps, with a short pause on the final step ("quick, quick, slow"). There are several variations; yemenites can be done forward or back, and right or left. As its name suggests, the yemenite step originated from Yemen.
[edit] Step description
Yemenite right: with weight on left, step right. Left foot crosses in front of right, right foot is raised by does not change position much. Weight transfers to left for a moment, then back to right. The rhythm is a quick "1, 2, 3" followed by a pause on "4". Dancers will often speak out this step as "ye-men-ite", or "quick, quick, slow".
Yemenite left is the same movement but on the opposite feet.
In the case of back yemenites, the middle step is crossed behind the first foot, instead of in front.
In dance descriptions, Yemenite steps are often abbreviated "Yemenite R" or "Yemenite L". Sometimes it will describe the step beforehand as to eliminate confusion, as some dancers think of the "back yemenite" as just "yemenite", or vice versa.
