
In December of 2019, a catchy single called Jerusalema was released in South Africa by DJ Master KG and singer Nomcebo. In February 2020, an Angolan dance troupe recorded themselves dancing (and eating) to it. By March, it was spreading nearly as fast as the pandemic, but with much happier results. By summer 2020, it was internet famous, and had traveled from Angola dancers to Israeli monks to Irish police to hospital workers around the globe. World leaders referred to it in televised speeches. Health care workers used it as a life-affirming battle cry. It has inspired hope and joy in millions of people at a time when hope was what we needed most.
Jerusalema has been streamed more than 100 million times on Spotify, and it is one of the top searches across the world on the music identification application Shazam. It hit the top five charts in Belgium, France, Hungary, Netherlands, and Switzerland and was No. 1 on Billboard’s world digital song sales chart in mid-September. 2020.
Even though it’s been going on for a year, the dance craze is still sparking competitions and inspiring new groups to join in. I’ve included some of my favorites below, but there’s no way for me to watch them all. If you have a fave, please post it in the comments. And if you’re feeling inspired to do your own Jerusalema video, the dance tutorial is at the bottom. Don’t forget to share it with us!
February 10, 2021 at 9:00 am
Well where have I been? This is new to me but I think at a younger age I could have been into this. I loved to dance but balance is slowly leaving me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
February 11, 2021 at 11:13 pm
I love to dance, too, but while my balance is hanging in there, my flexibility now stinks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
February 12, 2021 at 8:33 am
Hmmm…that too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
February 10, 2021 at 11:19 am
YES YES YES YES YES STEP STEP STEP STEP STEP CHANGE CHANGE CHANGE CHANGE CHANGE…………….. Great stuff. Got this old man up and moving. — Hal
LikeLiked by 2 people
February 10, 2021 at 7:27 pm
Hal–You are not old!!! I see you dancing!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
February 11, 2021 at 11:15 pm
Right! Me, too!
LikeLike
February 11, 2021 at 11:13 pm
I’m so glad! You know you’re in my head every time I post about dancing…
LikeLike
February 10, 2021 at 1:53 pm
What a beautiful thing to see, peole from all around the world dancing to music. It shows our shared humanity better than anything I have seen in a while. Thank you so much.
LikeLiked by 1 person
February 11, 2021 at 11:14 pm
It made me feel the same way! We can all use reminders that we’re part of a global community.
LikeLike
February 10, 2021 at 7:27 pm
I’ve never heard of this, either??!! WTH??? Those little kids dancing……amazing!!! Smiled through all these videos–thank you, Donna!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
February 11, 2021 at 11:15 pm
The kids were fantastic!
LikeLike
February 10, 2021 at 11:16 pm
I watched ALL of them that you posted, what great fun and a contagion of the nice sort.
LikeLiked by 1 person
February 11, 2021 at 11:15 pm
Contagion of the nice sort. I wish I’d said that!
LikeLike
February 11, 2021 at 12:26 am
Shared this on the Phoenix International Folk Dancers’ Facebook page. It’ll make its way into Creative Juice for sure.
LikeLiked by 1 person
February 11, 2021 at 11:15 pm
How wonderful!
LikeLike