Native American Dancers
Native American dancers are a part of a very special art form within each
culture. Many dances are performed for events, such as weddings, birthdays,
and religious ceremonies. Some Native American dancers are needed simply to
perform for fun and entertainment while others are needed to help protect
and raise the harvest. The types of dances performed by the Native American
dancers varied by the region in which they lived.
The most famous dances for the western Arctic Native American dancers are drum
dances performed to honor deceased relatives. On the other hand, western
Washington and British Columbian Native Americans use the Spirit dance at potlatch
or a community gathering to honor a host or celebrate family events such as marriages
and births. The Great Basin people dance the Bear Dance to ask for enough
food for the tribe and the Sun dance to honor the Sun. The Pueblo Native
American dancers of the Southwest have dances for farming and the need for water. The
Native Americans of the Plains including the Blackfoot, Lakota, and Crow Native
Americans, are well known for their powwow dances performed for recreation but
have very specific rules and traditions to be upheld. The Northeast Iroquois
Native American dancers have Social Dances that they perform in between sacred
rituals and are often satirical and humorous. The Southeast Native American
dancers are known for their exciting Creek Stomp Dance performed for the Green
Corn ceremony each year.
Most dances no matter the region were performed either done by men alone or women
alone. Many dances are done in a circle because Native American dancers
believe that everything before, during, and after life is connected with no end
as in a circle. These dances in large part are named after animals such
as eagles, bears, and buffalo.
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