Haro’a Haktana is a circle folk dance from Israel choreographed by Yonatan Karmon in 1959. The full title of the song is “Haro’a Haktana min Hagai,” which translates to, “Little Shepherdess From the Valley,” so that means a short Valley girl who hangs with sheep, right? As with many Israeli dances outside of the kibbutzim period, the choreography doesn’t have anything to do with the story of the song. Maybe the shepherdess is chasing sheep in ever-changing directions?
| Dance Name: | Haro’a Haktana |
| Original Script: | הרועה הקטנה |
| Pronunciation: | hah-ROH-ah hah-kuhtah-NAH |
| Translation: | The Little Shepherdess |
| Aliases: | Haroa, Haru’a, Haro’ah Hak’tanah |
| Country of Origin: | Israel |
| Choreographer: | Yonatan Karmon |
| Year: | 1959 |
| Dance Type: | Non-Partner | Solo Circle |
| Dance Category: | Oldies IFD |
| Native Presence: | Historic |
| Skill Level: | Intermediate |
| Energy Intensity: | Lively |
| Song: | Haro’a Haktana min Hagai |
| Lyricist: | Rafael Eliaz |
| Composer: | Moshe Wilenski |
| Time Signature: | 2/4 |
| Dancer Formation: | Individuals in Closed Circle |
| Hand Hold: | hands down, no holding (modern version) |
| Leads to: | R w/ R |
| Date Taught: | 11/28/2023 |
| Teacher: | Cherie |
| Published: | May 27, 2023 |
| Updated: | April 18, 2026 |
Classic Music: Effi Netzer
Teach & Demo by Rokdim
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Lyrics
LyricsTranslate.comKa'asher te'atzemnah einai ve'eshkach et edri veyonai, od ezkor, od ezkor, yedidai, haro'ah hak'tanah min hagai. Kochavim yid'achu me'alai vehachoshech yichas et chayay, ach ani od er'eh lefanai haro'ah hak'tanah min hagai. Ba'ilan ye'almu tziporim veharu'ach yidom beharim. Yacharish chalili vezimro, ach eshma et tzilah be'evro. Vehayah ki efkach et einai, vehineh haro'ah min hagai. Ke'gadia shechamchamah bein gadai hi po'ah vesho'elet: matai? Hi sho'elet: matai, bachuri, tevarech et imi bech'fari, vetochal mepriha beganah, vetish'teh im avi miyeinah. Va'ashiv laro'ah hak'tanah: lo esva mepriha beganah, lo eshkar miyeinah begatah, rak bikashti lishko'ach beitah.When my eyes shall close And I shall forget my flock and my pigeons I shall yet remember, I shall yet remember, my friends, The little shepherdess from the valley. Stars shall extinguish above me And the darkness shall cover my life, But I shall yet behold before me The little shepherdess from the valley. In the tree birds shall go silent And the wind shall go still in the mountains My flute and its tune shall go silent, But I shall hear her ringing sound as it passes by. And were I to open my eyes, And lo, she is there, the shepherdess from the valley, Like a tawny goat kid among my goat kids She bleats and asks: When? She asks: When, my lad, Will you bless my mother in my village, And eat from her fruit in her garden, And drink with my father from her wine? And I shall respond to the little shepherdess: I shall not satiate from the fruit in her garden, I shall not indulge from her wine in her winepress, I have only desired to forget her home.