kills-two-crows

Which do you prefer?
myself: oldstyle, you would'nt think but it requires a lot more leg power

Kiwehnzii

Are you talking about the really old style where they wore long underwear and a small bustle? That's true old style.

You mean to say you got that kind of outfit? Check out the pics in the gallery.

QunnTheEskimo

What makes you old-style? Tell me about the difference as you see it and where and when the split started.

And to the last reply: I have that kind of outfit: but I don't quite dance grass in it.

Scrubmaster JD Dawg

Sup yall,

I don't anything about a "split" or about old style and contemporary or any of that stuff. I am not sure you could draw a line between anything in culture because so much of it is contextual and everchanging, original if you get what I mean. If there had to be a line between the two I would have to say the line could be between those guys who do things on the floor like the charleston and guys who know grass dance dance "steps".
Like it or not there are dances who dance grass and dancers who dance grass dance steps. There is a strong difference between the two for those who know those steps and were taught what this dance means, its history and its traditions...an example of this would be grass dance societies like in Rocky Boy where this teaching is alive and strong. There are also dancers who are very inventive and are pulling moves from all types of sources like the "electric slide" etc.
There are pros and cons to the state of this dance Pros: I feel...there are dancers who are strongly practicing grass dance rituals and there are dancers who are making new waves in the world of Pow Wow dancing such as Julius Not Afraid and many others. The cons: I feel that there is a lack of balance due to the fact that we have seperated the two assuming that they are two different things...they are not...we have created this idea of "old style" and therefore have made some false assumptions about its reality. For example, many assume that old style means to dance like an old man, others feel that old style is something else, and then others feel it is something and so on. By doing this we have lost sight of what grass dance is and is not, drawn lines where there are none and decisions based on this have affected or defected an ability to understand "grass dance steps" and the rituals that are part of the ceremony.
I am not saying either one of them are wrong or right, I am not even going to go there with that. I have just observed this dance for a while and have been fortunate enough to have older men talk to me about this dance. Aho

Jd

Jammer

I here ya JD. When I say old style I don't mean dancing like an old man. A friend of mine dances more of his tribes style. What the people in his tribe taught him and so on. His movements and so forth are what he was taught and what his father and so forth were taught. When I say new style I woud have to say those who looking like the be doing the splits and stuff. Doesn't really take on the effect of stompin anything down, only stretching the legs and what not. HEH.

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TradisH~*~QueeniE

I totally agree with you on that one Jon

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Tiyospaye Yazzie

Learned the old school basics then when matured enough started the innovation phase but keeping to the basic forms of old school. So it more of a blend of old school vs. new school, a balance.

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Dancin by the bay

I consider myself contemporary because I am new to the grass and for the powwow life. I've been in college and so busy with completing I never had time to learn but I would take tips from my cousins who dance grass. I respect the old style dancers and don't compete with the contemp or old stylers because I don't feel I'm competent or deserve to dance with them. Scrubmaster JD Dawg I respect your views and will review them because I fall into the dance grass stepper and not necessarily the grass dancer. I'm learning along the way and thanks for those I've met you answer my questions without portraying me as an idiot grass dancer.

the-grass-punk

i like oldstyle but contemp has more leg power to it oldstyle u barly lift ur feet but its fun and the have reall cool regalias and bussles:D but i do contemp so i like them both there really fun ;)

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billyjoejimbob

I prefer to dance old style but watch contemporary. There is a point in your life where your either too old or to fat for ANYTHING contemporary!

Dancin by the bay

God I hope thats not true for everything!

tradish_wiyan

I prefer old style. I'm not much into the contemp style of grass dance. There is nothing more beautiful than an old style grass dancer...complete with the outfit and the moves...you know the kind who are dancing in maybe a ten foot area with the shoulder movement and the leg movement...whoo-hoo.:D

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Matasawagon

"There is a point in your life where your either too old or to fat for ANYTHING contemporary!"

:Chatter :Chatter :Chatter

oldstylegrass

but i feel a need to dance both.....so many scrutinizing eyes sometimes....he's not dancing oldstyle....how come he calls him self oldstylegrass....its the pure love for it....watching..learning...feeling ...dancing...belonging...catch my drift..............i love both styles....but prefer to watch oldstylegrass...fo sho

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