luvstraightdancrs

Cherosage,

Thanks to you also for your comments. So you will know, my husband has been straightdancing for 40+ years, gourd dances as well and is a tail dancer for Otoe Eloska. Our children, a teen boy straightdancer and daughter, ladies southern cloth have been dancing most of their life as well. I gourd dance and participate with southern cloth when I dress. I also design and make southern style dance regalia.

My husband also comes from a well respected family, his father was instrumental in starting several of the pow-wows in Oklahoma and served on many native american committees and worked with state officials. Just so you'll know where I come from.

Will look forward to meeting you somewhere on the trail.

CHEROSAGE

Luvstraightdancrs:
This is good to know. We have probably danced together, maybe even know each other. Do you all get to Quapaw OK often? Maybe even Ottawa Tirbal Powwow. We do go to others but not often the last 2 years. Hope to see you all again.

I thought I see these women raise their fans to about their eye level.

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BOB

luvstraightdancrs

Cherosage,

Been to Quapaw a few times. Probably did see you there, maybe even met. Looking forward to summer in Oklahoma and traveling as much as possible this year. Like the large dances but you just can't beat the smaller tribal pow-wows! Will probably do Red Earth, Perkins, Stroud, Seneca, Wyandotte, Tahlequah, Otoe, Pawnee and Quapaw this year.

Went to Lame Deer and Crow Fair last year! Talk about great!! Want to hit Rocky Boy, Shokapee or Hinkley this year or next. Hopefully we will meet at one of the above sooner or later.

Later!

ogapahndn

I was taught to bow and turn to the drum on the honor beats. When I am dressed cloth or buckskin I always do this. It is respect. I dance mostly fancy shawl now. However, sometimes during contest when it's a good song and I'm really feeling it I will dance towards the drum and bow to honor it. I let the music move me when I dance and sometimes this just happens.

luvstraightdancrs, sounds like you go to most of the powwows I go to! I'm sure we've seen each other! CHEROSAGE, very good words and advice!

STATE

My mom is full blood Ponca, and she told me NOT to go down during the round dance and to dance it on the double beat. On the honor beats, I just turn a little. I used to dance it slow and go down, and when she finally saw me do that, she said that I was to change and showed me how to dance that style. That is how she said I was to dance round dance and since that time I have received several comments from my elder folks that it was correct. Even from some of my husband's elder lady relatives (who are Comanche), agreed. It has blessed me over and over because I feel that when I am dancing, I am doing it for my mom's folks and she is really proud that I continue to dance it the was she was taught.

Okwataga

I'll have to say I've never been taught how to dance, jsut they threw me out there kind of thing

anyway, I don't bend for round dance, or raise my fan, nor do i do this on grand entry, most the women around here that i've learned from don't do this either.
So I don't know - the correct and proper ways, shoudl ask someone from a powwowing tribe(more from an elder) but everywhere and everyone will do this and say things differnently from each other.

ogapahndn

I realise I need to clarify my previous post. I forgot we were discussing different times to bow. I only bow during the intertribals and contests. Sometimes during grand entry, but never during round dance.

CHEROSAGE

You know I think this thing may be a regional way to show respect to the drum. I have seen this in Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Kansas. I'm not a woman dancer but I say if you want to really know how someone is dancing just ask a dancer from the other sex. The Elder ladies can tell you if a male dancer is wrong, the same goes for the men. My Wife gets tired of me criticizing the women during their dances. I also here Grams, Mom,Aunts and my Wife when the men dance. I just know that I like to see this respect to the drum. Now during the round dance it doesn't matter to me, I know that I will raise my fan sometimes. I learned to dance among the Cherokees, Osages, and Quapaws, etc.. Just my perception. I may be old fashioned and like some of the old still.

Any Stomp dancers?

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BOB

ogapahndn

Hey Bob! I'm a stomper! I'm trying to get my mom to show me how to shake shells.

CHEROSAGE

Great!!!!!
Get Some cans and just go out and do it. Go to Copan and try to help. Get about third in line and follow the one in front of you. Good luck and hope you can some day shake for me.

Maybe see you at Quapaw.

Shake away.

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BOB

DIANE BROWN

Hi Every one- I have not posted in a while as we have been very busy in our presently crazy upside down life-- we are in hopes this willnot last more than anoter month or 3.
The ladies here bow only on honor beat during the contest or exhabition. I have been watching as I recently made my First Grand Entry-- Gail i hope you see this- I entered the pm of sat- for the Spotted Eagle contest here at home. My yellow roses were unique, in that most of the women use black or white as a boackground- mine is gold,My bag is completed- the wolf i beaded is on a "cherokee back groud colors" of green and gold- I am very proud of all that i hve accomplished in order to make my first grand entry-- It was a thrilll- and at last i can now feel that I am Honoring my ancesters by dancing for them- even if it is Golden Age when i have entered the Sacred Circle . I cant waite ti dance again this weekend at the ej. check it out on the calander. There is a BIG special for the fancy war dancers- usually pays over 1 thousand to the winner take all. Drums do as well or better most of the time- for the winners. Keep dancing!! Diane/az

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DB/AZ

RB

Why is that you dont bow during round dance?? Im just wondering.

DIANE BROWN

Hi , i've heard about 'stomp dance ' from several friends-- can you tell me some history about it-- and how it came to be a 'cherokee'thing??? i am aware that it is continuing today-- How does one sooooooooo far removed from OK> learn about these things>>>>> cherokeeladyaz

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DB/AZ

lightningflash

Stomp dance is the traditional religion for the Cherokee people, as well as the Creek, Choctaw, and other southeastern people. You can find a little more information about it on the Cherokee Nation website, at:

http://www.cherokee.org/Culture/CultureInfo.asp

but generally stomp dances are closed to outsiders.