Buckskin Dancing

One of the oldest form of  Native American Women’s Dance is Buckskin. This is a dance of elegance and grace. The movement is smooth and flowing.

The ladies wear fine, hand-crafted buckskin dresses, decorated with intricate bead designs. Northern dresses are fully beaded on the shoulders, or cape. Southern ones, the beadwork is mainly used to accent. They are equally beautiful. The women carry fringed shawls over one arm.

Much like the Men’s Traditional dance, there are many differences in the ouftitting of this women’s style among the various Native American tribes. The jewelry is breath taking. Breastplates made from hair bone pipe, and glass beads can hang to the waist, or all the way to the ankles.

The latter is Northern, the former, Southern. Hair barrettes are hand beaded, and beaded pieces for the fur that hangs from the lady’s hair can be quite intricate indeed. Some ladies, who have either been princesses, or the younger ones who are princesses still, wear beaded crowns, given to them by their societies. The moccasins are either fully beaded (Northern), or accent beaded (Southern).

Ladies’ Buckskin Dancing is slow, and poised. Circling the drum, they bob to the beat of the drum, letting the long fringe on their sleeves sway in time. They carry a beaded purse, swinging it as well, and a shawl, folded on the arm, swaying likewise.

These highly respected American Indian women dance in rhythm with the Drum by swaying and slightly bending at their knees. These movements are very slight. This slight movement, however, creates a beautiful effect in moving their leather fringe in a breezy swaying motion. Northern dresses usually have fully beaded yokes, while Southern dresses have applique beadwork.

Find out more in the buckskin forum.

See more pictures of buckskin dancing in the buckskin gallery.

TOPICS: Native American Dance Styles Page | Types of Dancing | Powwows.com, Pow Wow

7 Responses to “Buckskin Dancing”

1. Patricia says:

   September 23, 2011 at 6:16 pm

   Hello, I am looking for an Indian Pow wow to see. Do you
   have any coming up near Ohio or in Ohio this October?
   Please let us know.

   Reply
   • Paul G says:

     September 24, 2011 at 12:08 am

     Here is what we have listed for that time:
     http://www.powwows.com/calendar/displaymonth.php?mode=search&srchMonth=October&srchYear=2011&srchLocation=OH&x=11&y=11

     Reply
2. littlefawn says:

   January 9, 2012 at 10:35 am

   i am looking for a buk skin dress. do you have any for sale? and what is the price?

   Reply
   • Paul G says:

     January 9, 2012 at 11:36 am

     Look on our Trading Post:
     http://www.powwows.com/gathering/classifieds

     Reply
   • Deb says:

     May 23, 2012 at 3:55 pm

     Little Fawn,

     What size are you looking for.
     What kind of beads?
     How tall are you?
     All Buckskin?
     Just the dress?

     Reply
3. moon18 says:

   December 2, 2012 at 10:21 pm

   i was wondering if anyone can help me I would really like to learn more about buckskin dance and hopefully get to learn how to dance. I’m Luiseno and Diegueno. I would really be thankful.

   Reply
   • Paul G says:

     December 6, 2012 at 10:42 am

     Take a look at our Buckskin forum. Talk to local dancers.

     Reply

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