Anshey Hageshem (Rain People) Dance by Israel Shiker Notes by Phillip M. Feldman 29 April, 1987 Revised 8 Dec., 2014 This is a four-part circle dance of moderate tempo. On scale of 1-5, the level of difficulty is at most 4. The music has a 16-count introduction ("rain drops"). Part 1: Hands are not joined. Face center. 1-2: Step to right with R and pause. 3-4: Cross L in front of R and rock back onto R. Note: This two-count figure (cross and rock back) occurs frequently throughout the dance. The styling that accompanies it is as follows: Bend both knees slightly and bow your head. At the same time curve both arms and raise them with a circular motion, bringing them (low) over the head with the wrists crossed (forming an "umbrella"). Lower arms while rocking back onto R. 5-8: Step to left with L and make a three-step turn to the right (CW) with R-L-R. *** Phillip's suggested modification of the dance: *** 5-6: Step to left with L, swaying to left, and sway to the right. 7-8: Make a two-step turn to the left (CCW) with L-R. This change livens up a dull phrase in an otherwise exciting dance, and is also consistent with the transition between parts 4 and 1. *** End of modification. *** 9-16: Mirror image of 1-8 (step to left with L and pause ...). Part 2: Facing center. Hands are joined during counts 1-7. 1-4: Walk three steps into the center with R-L-R and lift L slightly. 5-7: Walk three steps backward with L-R-L and drop hands. 8-10: Step right with R (swaying to right), sway to left, and pause. 11-12: Cross R in front of L and rock back onto L (forming umbrella). 13-14: Two in-place steps with R-L (swaying slightly), during which dancers turns 90 degrees to the right (to face CCW around the circle) and join hands. Note: There are no counts 15-16. Part 3: Facing CCW around circle with hands joined during first 8 counts. 1-4: Walk three steps forward with R-L-R and brush L. 5-8: Walk three steps forward with L-R-L and touch right toe next to L, pointing right knee to left. 9-10: Drop hands and make a two-step 3/4 turn to the right with R-L, ending facing center. 11-12: Step to the right with R (swaying to right) and sway to left. 13-14: Cross R in front of L (raising arms) and rock back onto L. 15-16: Same as counts 13-14 of part 2. 17-30: Repeat 1-14 (counts 15-16 do not repeat). Part 4: Begin facing into circle; hands are not joined. 1-2: Step backward on R and rock forward onto L. 3-4: Take a big step forward with R, pivoting 180 degrees to the right to face out of the circle, and step backward onto L. 5-6: Repeat 1-2. 7-8: Take a large step forward with R, pivoting 180 degrees to the right to face into the circle and swinging the left leg in a half-circular arc, and pause. 9-10: Take two steps forward with L and R. 11-12: Step forward with L, pivoting 180 degrees to the left to face out of the circle, and pause. 13-14: Step to right with R (swaying to the right) and sway left. 15-16: Cross R in front of L and rock back onto L. 17-32: Repeat 1-16 (beginning facing out and ending facing in). Transition: Face center and join hands for counts 1-6. 1-2: Step in place on R and lift L slightly. 3-4: Step in place on L and lift R slightly. 5-6: Step to right with R (swaying to right) and sway to left. 7-8: Drop hands and make a two-step turn to the right with R-L. The whole dance repeats three times. End by repeating counts 1-3 of part 1, holding the position of count 3 (knees bent, head bowed forward) for one extra count.