Africun und Atiun Rituult

RAlN 0ANC










"A rain dance is a
ceremonial dance that is
performed in order to
invoke rain and to ensure
the protection of the
harvest."

Afrlcan 1radlLlon ls expressed Lhrough many dlfferenL arL forms such as muslc dance arL sculpLure and beadwork
uance ls an lnLegral parL of Lhe Afrlcan culLure lL uLlllzes symbollc gesLures masks cosLumes body palnLlng and
props Lo communlcaLe 1he dance movemenLs can be slmple or complex wlLh lnLrlcaLe acLlons lncludlng fasL
roLaLlon rlpples of Lhe body and conLracLlon and release uance ls used Lo express emoLlon wheLher [oyful or
sorrowful and lL ls noL llmlLed Lo [usL Lhe dancers CfLen specLaLors wlll be encouraged Lo [oln ln
1radlLlonal dance ln Afrlca occurs collecLlvely expresslng Lhe llfe of Lhe communlLy more Lhan LhaL of lndlvlduals or
couples uances are ofLen segregaLed by gender relnforclng gender roles ln chlldren CommunlLy sLrucLures such as
klnshlp age and sLaLus are also ofLen relnforced Ceremonlal dance performed Lo brlng raln needed Lo waLer crops
8aln dances have been cusLomary ln many culLures raln dances ofLen lnclude danclng ln a clrcle Lhe parLlclpaLlon of
young glrls decoraLlon wlLh green vegeLaLlon nudlLy Lhe pourlng of waLer and whlrllng meanL Lo acL as a wlnd
charm 1hey may also lnclude phalllc and ferLlllLy rlLes
1he raln dance lnvokes raln because lL lnvokes Lhe power of Lhe Law of ALLracLlon vlbranLly powerfully passlonaLely
vlgorously fervenLly and wlLh convlcLlon 1he power of Lhe raln dance lles ln Lhe lnLenslLy and Lhe passlon wlLh
whlch Lhe dancers Lhrow Lhelr enLlre belng lnLo Lhe parLy ln addlLlon Lo preparlng Lhelr face and body wlLh Lhe
proper raln dance makeup and cosLume Lhey hop [ump sklp bounce dance [uggle snakes chanL scream shouL
yell and lmmerse Lhelr enLlre belngs lnLo playlng ln Lhe raln 1hls ls why l say 1hey are noL praylng for raln Lhey are
already playlng ln Lhe raln!"