Native American Dances

By Spencer Fayles, NuTasha Fischer, and Giovanna VanDyke

 Specific Dances

Men/ Women Fancy Dance

Womens Northern Traditional Dance
Native Hoop Dance
Men/ Women Fancy Dance
Video

Men Fancy Dance Video

Giovanna
 Fancy Dance
The Dancers

Men, Women, Children

Mostly known as the Fancy Dance
Has been known for other by other
names
It used to be known as a war dance, now
they dance to preserve their culture and
religion
The Men compete in contemporary pow
wow dances
Men and women dance in groups but they
can also have solo dances

Giovanna
 Fancy Dance
Dance Description

Men's fancy dance

Flashy, colorful and highly energetic
Requires strength and stamina
Rhythmic; follow the beat of the drum
Women's fancy shawl dance
Started in the 1930s
Represents the opening of a cocoon when
the butterfly emerges
The shawls are colorful and flashy, are
embroidery or have ribbon work.
Competition
Dance to the beat of a drum and when it
stops they have to strike a pose.
There are singers that sing beats
Giovanna
 Women's Northern
Traditional Dance

Video of Women's Northern Traditional Dance

Tasha
 The Dancers

Who Dances?
Females of all ages
Very respected dancers
How Many Dance?
Usually performed in groups at pow wows
Significance of Northern Traditional Womens Dance
Religion
Ties to ancestors
One of the oldest of all the Womens dances

Tasha
 Dance Description

The Meaning of Movement

Ancient Style of dancing done by ancestors

In a circle, the women dance in a non-moving bouncing step, where they follow the
beat of the drum with swaying and dipping. ( Southern is slow movements )
Bodies always straight
Sometimes bend at the waist when fan is raised
Women stand tall and proud
Very Nostalgic Dance
Women are judged based off of how well dignity is maintained throughout dance.

Dance Space

Usually in a field or open space in a circle

Many Dancers Participate

Tasha
Regailia

Things Carried
Varies from tribe to tribe ( Northern has more beads than Southern)
Originated from tools women carried and used in day to day life
Awl cases (Purse)
Left Hand
- Straps for whipping horses and carrying objects
Fan ( usually raised in salute to drums honor beats )
In Right hand
Both Northern and southern dancers wear
Concho belt (knife pouches)
Tobacco pouch ( at side or back of waist )
Breastplate made from bone pipe and glass beads (At the ankles ) Southern is
at waist.
Fringe Shawl over Left Arm

Tasha
 Regailia

Wool or Buckskin Dresses

Heavy beading,
Quillwork,
Elk teeth
Bone or antler shells
Lots of Fringe to show rhythm
Knee High Heavily beaded moccasins
( Southern has accent beads )
Leggings
Overall Neutral ish Colors

Tasha
 Regailia

Neck
Usually wear scarf or choker
Other Jewelry is optional
Holds significance to tribe/family
Hair
Feather in hair ( One or many )
Usually Hawk or Eagle
Ribbons in braids (optional)
Barrettes in braids ( optional )
Pieces of fur attached to hair
Either Braided or flowing

Tasha
Native Hoop Dance

Children, Men , and Women participate.

Past use was ceremonial.

Used for healing purposes

Currently performance oriented.

Stories explain life's connections

Spencer
Native Hoop Dance

Light on the feet

Smooth, seamless transitions

Elements of surprise

Uses smaller kinesphere

Rhythmic

Prop Oriented
Spencer
Native Hoop Dance

Traditionally danced on dirt areas

Now danced in auditoriums

Colorful costumes, beads, tassels, ribbons.

Anywhere from 4-50+ hoops can be used

Danced to drums

Spencer
 Evolution of Cultural Expression

Dance History

Dance has always been sacred to the Native American People

Religion
Harvests
Hunts
Giving thanks
Weather
War
Misc Celebrations
Dances were done freely
Done with a very specific purpose for each tribe
Dances Around a fire
Everyone Danced
Tasha
 Evolution of Cultural Expression

Present day dancing

Ghost Dance
1880s to give them hope
Paiute Indian Wovoka

Todays dances
regionally and tribally specific
( Northern/Southern Dances )

Dancing associations
established in 1870
They shared dances with one another
Semi Religious festivals / ceremonies

Fancy Dance : created by Ponca tribe in 1920s and 30s

An attempt to preserve culture and tradition
1930s women danced Fancy Dance

Even Before Fancy Dance, powwows were being established

Creating dances that were not illegal to dance
Tasha
Contributions To American Culture

Raised many animals for food.

Turkeys, llamas, guinea pigs, and honeybees.

Farmed many items

Corn, pumpkins, tomatoes, vanilla, irish potatoes.

Products made
canoes , tobacco, cotton

60% of the present world's food supply comes from American Indians agriculture.
Primarily corn & Irish potatoes

Idea for U.S. government was adopted from the Native Americans
Borrowed from the system used by the Iroquoin League of Nations.

Spencer
Native American Changes from
Acculturation.

Disease killed an estimated 90% of Native Americans when settlers came.

Many traditions and customs were lost.

Major loss of identity

Moved from home lands onto unwanted lands and reservations.

Loss of language

Estimated 200-300 languages lost

Spencer
 Acculturation

- Have Non-Natives danced traditional Native American Dances?

- People have danced because they have either studied about at a college or for fun.
- They Native American reaction was that they werent opposed to the non-natives,
they made them feel welcomed
- There has been a reaction to the Native American that dont really celebrate
the dance
- They (Native Americans) have had their culture of dancing lost through the past
generations and want to bring it back, so that the present generation can learn and
teach the future generations.
- Culture of the dances have changed with having to add new dances at the pow
wows.
- There are different styles
- The dance has stayed traditional
Giovanna
Oppression or Privilege Today

- There land is taken from them by people who have more money and political
influence
- They live on reservations, because their ancestors got pushed away
- In some states they still havent pass the indian citizen act,this means that
they dont have full citizenship

- A privilege they have is that know the US has scholarships for Native Americans
- Within the Native American Tribe, there help out the families that are in need
for their child's Daycare, School and other expenses

Giovanna
Conclusion

Native American Dances hold deep traditional meaning to each tribe that participates in these
powerful, spiritual gatherings.

These dances Keep the spirits of the Native American people alive despite the struggles that
they have endured.

Above all else, dance has kept them together and reminds them of their rich and proud heritage.
Works Cited
Sources are from the internet, books and research articles

Kurath, Gertrude Prokosch. Native American Dance. Encyclopdia Britannica, Encyclopdia Britannica,
Inc., 19 Dec. 2008, www.britannica.com/art/Native-American-dance.
Tribal Vision Dance Men's Fancy Dance 2014. Tribal Vision Dance, 16 Jan.
2015,https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-E8WXFzTDqs.
Fancy Dance Book; written by Leslie
Johnson.https://www.leeandlow.com/uploads/loaded_document/234/Fancy_Dance_New_Bebop_20
15_PDF.pdf
Womens Native American Outfits. Pinterest.
American Indians and Disease. Nativeamericannetroots.net http://nativeamericannetroots.net/diary/325
Native American Contributions. NRCS.USDA.gov
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/nrcs141p2_024206.pdf
Revitalizing Native Cultures. Pbs.org http://www.pbs.org/indiancountry/challenges/cultures.html
Attaway, Jennifer Whitefeather. Womens Traditional Powwow Dance. Mantaka Dance Keeper
www.mantaka.or/page34.html
Legends Of America Since 2003 Native American Dances
https://www.legendsofamerica.com/na-dances/3/