I am the Rain

I am writing today's post on a very rainy day in the SF Bay Area.

Rain, water, forms of water, and the water cycle – these are all favorite springboards in my dance classes. Whether we are talking about a 1st grade dance class or a 6th grade science project, I find that there is endless movement potential here.

I was delighted to find a new book to add to my list the other day at the library – I am the Rain, written and illustrated by John Paterson. It just came out in 2018.

Sometimes I'm the rain cloud

and sometimes I'm the rain.

Sometimes I'm a roadside rapid

roaring down a drain. 

I can show you rainbows

in mist or morning dew. 

I can be a muddy flood

or a pool of aqua blue.

This is just some of the opening text for this picture book. 

The beautiful text inspires us to change shape, speed, level, and quality multiple times throughout the book. Use it for a structured improv in your class or compose a whole dance. Use the book with a wide range of students – from preschoolers through second graders.

As for music, consider using the piano sound of "Hope" by Michael Wall. You can download it from Michael's site here.

And, find more books for water dances here on the site. Let's dance!

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