Different Native American Powwow Dance Styles
Men’s Traditional
Men’s traditional is a storytelling dance. This style of dance originated when the men would come back from a hunt or a war. This is a way of giving praise & demonstrating the battle or hunt.
Men’s Fancy
Men’s fancy dance is a relatively new style of dance compared to the others. This dance style has the flashiest regalia with bright colors, large feather bustles, colorful beadwork, extravagant applique patterns, etc. This dance also requires endurance as there is fancy footwork involved, speed & arobatic like steps.
Men’s Grass
The grass dance is one of the oldest styles of dance. It is generally considered a fast style of dancing. Faster than traditional, but not faster than fancy. The style is a constant sweeping motion to micmic the way grass flows and moves in the wind.
Women’s Traditional
Before World War I, women were generally not allowed to dance in the circle at powwows. They were allowed to dance around the edges of the dance circle. Traditional dance was inspired by the way these women would dance along the edge of the circle. It is described as as a style of dance that symbolizes dignity, grace & modesty. The dancers show respect & honor by draping shawls over their shoulder or carrying fans made of eagle feathers & raising them gracefully while they dance.
Women’s Fancy
Women’s fancy dance came many years after men’s, making it an even newer style than men’s fancy. The shawls represent the opening of a cocoon when the butterfly emerges. The regalia for this dance is also very flashy with the shawl being the focus & the centerpiece. This dance style is very athletic & much like the men’s fancy, requires endurance.
Women’s Jingle
Women’s jingle is known to be a healing dance & the jingle dress is believed to bring healing to the sick. The dresses come in many colors & are decorated with flashy materials, beads, embroidery & more. Jingle dancers wear 365 jingles on their dresses representing a prayer for every day of the year. Dancers should be light on their feet, keeping feet movements low to the ground while also bouncing on toes to the music. The dance is generally done in a zigzag pattern to represent the story of our journey through this life.