THE DANCERS

Little Grass Dancer; Big Fancy Dancer; Traditional Dancers

MEN'S GRASS DANCE
The grass dance is said to reflect the need for balance in life; each movement danced on one side of the body must be repeated by the other side. Some people talk of the grass dance as a gift from the Creator to celebrate joy. The regalia for the dance is comprised of long strands of yarn, ribbon or fabric to represent grass. A headdress (roach) includes two feathers attached in such a way that they rock or twirl as the dancer moves.

MEN'S TRADITIONAL DANCE
This is the oldest form of dance. The regalia is a very personal expression. Elements might reflect items worn by early warriors: a breast plate made of animal bones or shell for protection against arrows; a neck choker for protection against knives; ankle bells or jingling hooves; or a shield made of hide and decorated with important tribal symbols. Often a traditional dancer will wear a single bustle containing eagle feathers, which are considered sacred.

MEN'S FANCY DANCE
This is the most strenuous and athletic. It is fast and features jumps and twirling. The regalia consists of bright colors and flying feathers and ribbons. The dancer typically wears two bustles of bright colored feathers with added ribbon, feather or horse hair hackles and bright arm and head bands repeating the colors and patterns. A headdress roach is trimmed in colored horsehair and featuring two eagle feathers. Dancers also carry highly decorated coup sticks. The coup stick was originally a small stick carried into battle by a warrior. This is the newest of the dances added to the contests dances.

WOMEN'S TRADITIONAL DANCE
Women move their feet in time with the drum keeping them close to the ground. As the drum plays "honor beats," (three accented beats that occur in between the choruses) women raise their fans to honor the drum and their male relatives. Traditional regalia usually includes a fringed shawl folded over one arm, an awl and knife case on the belt and a feather fan. Beadwork patterns and colors will reflect tribal and family affiliation.


WOMEN'S JINGLE DRESS
This dance has its origins in northern Minnesota. According to lore, a medicine man's granddaughter was very ill. He had a dream in which a spirit wearing the jingle dress came to him and told him to make one of these dresses and put it on his daughter and take her to the dance to cure her. When he awoke, he assembled the dress as described by the spirit of his dream. It is made of a cloth, velvet or leather base adorned with 400 – 700 shiny metal jingles needed for the adult dress. Early jingles were made from the lids of snuff cans. These are bent and molded into triangular bell shapes and attached to the dress with ribbon or fabric in a pattern designed by the dancer. The Jingle Dress dancer also raises her fan when the "honor beats" are played on the drum.


WOMEN'S FANCY SHAWL DANCE
Originally called the blanket dance, women danced with a blanket or shawl covering their heads. This is an extremely athletic and strenuous dance involving kicks and twirls and fast movement, resembling the fluttering and flight of the butterfly. Women dance with beautifully decorated shawls often with long ribbon or fabric fringe. The symbols and colors beaded on the high moccasins have tribal and personal significance.