POW-WOW TRAIL 09

Jingle dress dancing is currently very popular, though it was hardly seen ten years ago. Dresses are usually made of bright satin cloth or velveteen. Hundreds of large tin cone "jingles" are sewn on in line or chevron patterns. Chewing tobacco can lids rolled into cones make the best jingles. Dancers perform with an up and down motion due to the tightness of their dresses creating a pleasingly rhythmic clacking of jingles. Dancers usually carry fans for hand objects.

Grass dancing is a popular northern plains men's style that has spread to the southern circuit. The dancers wear brightly colored yarn or ribbon fringe sewn to their pants, shirt, and aprons. They do not wear feather bustles but usually wear long beaded harnesses with matching belts. Grass dancers wear their bells on their ankles. The dancers move their entire bodies, rocking and gyrating with strenuous movements and elaborate footwork. They wear either eagle feathers or eagle plumes attached to springs in their porcupine hair headdresses.

Women fancy dancers all use bright embroidered shawls with long fringe and full beaded or sequined capes and leggings. None of the women's categories wear bells. Fancy dancers dance with fast, intricate footwork and energetic body movements to a very rapid drumbeat.

The outfits of both male and female fancy dancers use bright vivid colors and are flashy. Men wear brilliant hackle feather bustles on the their backs, necks and arms. Men also wear full beaded harnesses or beaded or sequined capes and aprons. All male fancy dancers wear large ankle furs, and bells at their knees.

Women traditional dancers wear ankle length white or smoked buckskin dresses with long fringes extending from their full beaded dress tops. They carry themselves with dignity and grace. Their subtle and precise steps cause the buckskin fringe of their outfits to sway in gentle harmony with their bodies. Other outfit parts are bone breastplates and beaded or brass tack belts and elaborate braid ties. Women carry fans and shawls as hand objects.

Male traditional dancers wear natural outfits utilizing more historical articles, older beadwork patterns, and natural colors. Men usually wear a single large eagle feather bustle on their back. It is currently popular for many dancers to wear eagle feather "wings' on their shoulders and feather "visors" on their foreheads.

The Crow are a people who pride themselves in the difference their culture has from other Plains tribes. The Crow people speak a different language, trace their heritage through their mothers, and band together in clans. Their dancing is unique and they are known for it.

The modern Crow Men's Traditional style had its beginning in the 1920s and '30s. Crows wear brocade capes and aprons over colored tights or bare skin. Long breastplates replace traditional loop necklaces.

The southern powwow circuit and isn't commonly seen in the north except at very large events. Straight dancing corresponds to traditional dance and has its roots in warrior societies.