YEHOSHUA Israeli
PRONUNCIATION:	yeh-HOH-shoo-ah
TRANSLATION:	Joshua
SOURCE:	Yehoshua was choreographed by Dani Dassa, one the leading Israeli dance choreographers now living in the Unites States.
BACKGROUND:	This dance was created with militaristic movements in honor of Joshua, one of the great heroes of biblical history. Joshua shared in the hurried triumph of the Exodus, and was chosen by Moses to lead the Israelite attack against Amadek at Rephidim. He was sent to explore the land of Canaan, and captured and destroyed the ancient Canaanite city of Jericho. He was one of the few survivors of the 40-year wanderings. As the appointed successor upon Moses' death, Joshua lead many battles, conquering thirty-one petty chiefs of six tribes. Joshua died at the ripe old age of 110 years, and was buried in his own city, Timnath-scrah.
MUSIC:	Israeli Dances (LP) DAN-005
FORMATION:	Short lines (6 to 10 dancers) of mixed, or segregated, M and W with: A. Belt Hold, R arm under; or B. Front-Basket Hold, R arm under; or C. Low handhold, joined hands held down in "V" pos (this pos was not originally taught by Dani, but he often danced it this way).
METER/RHYTHM:	4/4
STEPS/STYLE:	YEMENITE STEP R: Step R swd (ct 1); step up onto ball of L in back of R (ct &); step R onto full ft down and across in front of L (ct 2). YEMENITE STEP L: Step L swd (ct 1); step up onto ball of R in back of L (ct &); step L onto full ft down and across in front of R (ct 2). The two steps above are often simply referred to as "Yemenite R" and "Yemenite L."
MEAS	MOVEMENT DESCRIPTION
1-2	INTRODUCTION - No action.
I.	MOVING CCW
1	Facing R in LOD, step R (ct 1); step L (ct 2); turn head sharply to L (ct &); turning body to L in RLOD, step R bwd in LOD (ct 3); step L bwd (ct 4); turn head sharply to R (ct &);
2	Turning body to R to face LOD, stamp R twd LOD without wt, body erect (ct 1); bending over, stamp R in place without wt (ct 2); stamp R, taking wt (ct &); straightening up, brush L fwd (ct 3); hop R (ct &); step L fwd (ct 4);
3-4	Repeat action of meas 1-2.
	INTERLUDE
5	Facing ctr, step R swd with a bounce (ct 1); close L to R with a bounce (ct 2); bounce again (ct &); hop R, raising L in front with partially bent knee (ct 3); step L swd (ct &); close R to L without wt (ct 4).
	CHORUS
6	Bending fwd, brush R bwd while yelling "hey-y-y-" (ct 1); straightening up, brush R fwd with bent knee and yell "YAH!" (ct 2); stamp R fwd (ct 3); raise R knee fwd with bent knee and pushing up deliberately with toe (ct &); stamp R fwd (ct 4); quickly raise and lower R heel and yell "HEY!" (ct &);
7	Lunge R fwd, leaving L touching floor extended bwd (ct 1); scoot R bwd with L remaining extended bwd (ct 2); straightening up, step L behind R, displacing R fwd and extended off floor (ct 3); step R next to L, bringing L up in back with knees together and L knee bent (ct &); stamp L next to R without wt (ct 4);
8	Yemenite L (cts 1&2); hop L (ct &); Yemenite R (cts 3&4); hop R (ct &);
9	Stamp L slightly fwd (ct 1); touch L heel next to R with L toe pointing twd L as head only turns to face L (ct 2); turning head to face fwd, step L bwd bending fwd slightly (ct 3); step L next to R straightening body (ct 4);
10-11	Repeat action of meas 6-7, taking wt on last stamp L.
II.	TO CTR AND BACK
1	Facing ctr, step R, L, R, L twd ctr with bouncy motion (cts 1,2,3,4).
2	Moving diag bwd R away from ctr, repeat action of meas 1;
3	Dig R heel with toe up across L (ct 1); small leap R swd (ct &); step L across R (ct 2); repeat action of cts 1&2 (cts 3&4);
4	Step R swd, leaving L in place (ct 1); rock L swd, leaving R in place (ct &); rock R swd (ct 2); hop R, bringing raised bent L knee in front of R (ct &); step L across R (ct 3); step R swd (ct &); step L next to R (ct 4).
	INTERLUDE
5	Repeat action of Fig I, meas 5.
	CHORUS
6-11	Repeat action of Fig I, meas 6-11.
	Repeat the entire dance from beg one more time.
	Repeat Fig I, meas 1, and meas 2 (ct 1 only), holding pose for several seconds.
Copyright © 2004 by Dick Oakes