The dance is usually a highly charged emotional moment, wherein the dancer prays silently for the couple's success in life.
The custom, predating Hasidism, was mentioned first in the medieval Machzor Vitri and has its basis in the Talmud (Ketubot), where there is an expression ketsad merakdim lifnei hakallah "how does one dance before the bride?".
[2] Examples of early variations of the dance have been found in authoritative Jewish texts such as the Talmud, Rabbi Joseph Caro's Shulhan Arukh, responsa literature, and other rabbinical books.
[2] Although some variations have included gloves, table cloths, wedding dress trains or belts, the handkerchief is most commonly used.
In some instances, the mechitza will be moved aside entirely with all the women present seated facing the men on the other side.