Post by Okwes on Feb 20, 2006 19:53:58 GMT -5
Women's Northern Traditional
This stately dance involves a slow-moving or non-moving bouncing
step, rhythmically dipping and swaying to the beat of the drum.
Dresses of buckskin, wool or other material are heavily decorated
with beading, quillwork, elk teeth, bone or antler or shells. The
colors for this dance tend to be more subdued than in other outfits.
At the Gathering of Nations eleven judges will evaluate the dancers
in each category. Judging examines outfits - how well the various
pieces contribute to the ensemble (is it cohesive) and the quality of
the beadwork or other handcrafting - and the dancing itself.
The dance of traditional women of the Southern part of North America
differs from the Northern Traditional Dance while incorporating some
of the same elements. It is an elegant, slow, graceful walk and
gentle sway in time to the music of the drum. The gentle motion of
the shawl folded over the arm must be in harmony with the motion of
the body and with the drumbeat.
A gentle tinkle sound accompanies the dance as dresses decorated with
many small tin cones near the hem of the dress and tin tubes on the
beaded pouches that decorate the belt. Beautiful but heavy
breastplates and chokers made of bone and crystal beads, and
intricately beaded medallion necklaces, purses and buckskin moccasins
and leggings are the necessary pieces of the outfit.
Each piece may be decorated with beadwork that matches or
compliments the dancer's favored color. A beaded drag hangs at the
center back of the dress and a silver or beaded drop hangs from the
front of the belt. Often a beaded crown completes the outfit.
There are as many variations on the dress as there are individuals.
The origin of each piece and its use also varies from tribe to tribe
but many pieces have originated from the tools that women carried and
used most often in their daily work such as awl cases, knife pouches
and even straps used as horse whips or to bundle and carry things.
This stately dance involves a slow-moving or non-moving bouncing
step, rhythmically dipping and swaying to the beat of the drum.
Dresses of buckskin, wool or other material are heavily decorated
with beading, quillwork, elk teeth, bone or antler or shells. The
colors for this dance tend to be more subdued than in other outfits.
At the Gathering of Nations eleven judges will evaluate the dancers
in each category. Judging examines outfits - how well the various
pieces contribute to the ensemble (is it cohesive) and the quality of
the beadwork or other handcrafting - and the dancing itself.
The dance of traditional women of the Southern part of North America
differs from the Northern Traditional Dance while incorporating some
of the same elements. It is an elegant, slow, graceful walk and
gentle sway in time to the music of the drum. The gentle motion of
the shawl folded over the arm must be in harmony with the motion of
the body and with the drumbeat.
A gentle tinkle sound accompanies the dance as dresses decorated with
many small tin cones near the hem of the dress and tin tubes on the
beaded pouches that decorate the belt. Beautiful but heavy
breastplates and chokers made of bone and crystal beads, and
intricately beaded medallion necklaces, purses and buckskin moccasins
and leggings are the necessary pieces of the outfit.
Each piece may be decorated with beadwork that matches or
compliments the dancer's favored color. A beaded drag hangs at the
center back of the dress and a silver or beaded drop hangs from the
front of the belt. Often a beaded crown completes the outfit.
There are as many variations on the dress as there are individuals.
The origin of each piece and its use also varies from tribe to tribe
but many pieces have originated from the tools that women carried and
used most often in their daily work such as awl cases, knife pouches
and even straps used as horse whips or to bundle and carry things.