Our first turn as head dancers....HELP!!!!

steelemagnolia63 · 04-28-2008, 09:57 AM

We were very honored and greatly humbled to be asked to be the head dancers at a small gathering this past weekend. We have often spelled the head dancers (they love their class clowns) when they needed a break, but we have never been the head dancers. They even asked us to do a bigger gathering in June, did I mention that I am scared half out of my mind that I am going to fall flat on my face....

I guess that we have finally graduated to being respectable adults, instead of the clowns at the back of the two step bringing up the rear and making everyone laugh. It's our job and we do it so well, if anyone needs professional hecklers and goof-balls we are for rent cheap...

I didn't fall on my face so that is a good thing. I do have to admit to being totally terrifed that I was going to. This feeling was made even worse by the fact that it was a very small gathering so there wasn't anyone for me to blend in with. I felt like all eyes were on me and my bumbling feet. They didn't seem to want to work with me on Saturday. I felt very brittle for the first few dances. Jim, my other half, was right there telling me that I was doing fine. He is a wonderful dancer (Thank you Creator), he makes me look good even when I am off beat.

So now I have about a month to get over stage fright, figure out how to do the crow hop, ( I look more like a demented goose having some sort of spasam) and make my feet stay on the beat. Anyone got any advice for getting past this fear of falling on my face???

Barb · 04-28-2008, 11:39 AM

When I have been put in line ahead of the very exsperianced and well respected Golden Age Ladies, I have learned to just try and quiet my mind and listen to and feel the drum.

timmy tiger · 04-28-2008, 01:15 PM

I know what you are going through. I've been dancing for a number of years. When a friend of mine was the AD for a large contest pow wow. I don't compete, I dance to dance. At this pow wow, instead of hiring one Head dancer for the weekend, they did it in day's or shifts like. One of the days my friend came up to me and asked me to be the Lady Head dancer. I tried to tell him that I don't compete and that I didn't think that I was good enough, he said "Don't worry about it, I'll help you out."LOL Famous last words. No, actually he was very nice and kind about it. But as the AD and with all the contests going on--he was very busy and I knew the so I just went with the flow and did the best that I could. I had a good time.

The best thing that I could tell you is: don't worry about what the other's may or may not be thinking, just go out and have a good time and enjoy yourself, enjoy a good drum and have a good time. The rest will all fall right into place.

soopashinaab · 04-28-2008, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steelemagnolia63

We were very honored and greatly humbled to be asked to be the head dancers at a small gathering this past weekend. We have often spelled the head dancers (they love their class clowns) when they needed a break, but we have never been the head dancers. They even asked us to do a bigger gathering in June, did I mention that I am scared half out of my mind that I am going to fall flat on my face....

I guess that we have finally graduated to being respectable adults, instead of the clowns at the back of the two step bringing up the rear and making everyone laugh. It's our job and we do it so well, if anyone needs professional hecklers and goof-balls we are for rent cheap...

I didn't fall on my face so that is a good thing. I do have to admit to being totally terrifed that I was going to. This feeling was made even worse by the fact that it was a very small gathering so there wasn't anyone for me to blend in with. I felt like all eyes were on me and my bumbling feet. They didn't seem to want to work with me on Saturday. I felt very brittle for the first few dances. Jim, my other half, was right there telling me that I was doing fine. He is a wonderful dancer (Thank you Creator), he makes me look good even when I am off beat.

So now I have about a month to get over stage fright, figure out how to do the crow hop, ( I look more like a demented goose having some sort of spasam) and make my feet stay on the beat. Anyone got any advice for getting past this fear of falling on my face???

You were asked to be the head dancer for a reason... if they didn't think you were capable they wouldn't have asked. Go out there and do the best you can, no one is perfect... not even me!!

cherokeemom06 · 04-28-2008, 04:12 PM

Just don't do what the head lady at a powwow I was at did. She literally walked around with her nose stuck in the air, didn't speak to any of the other dancers unless they had came with her (like two people) and only spoke to a friend of mine when she couldn't find her husband! LOL

steelemagnolia63 · 04-28-2008, 05:06 PM

I've danced at a couple of pow-wows where the head lady reduced some of the younger ones to tears... she never bothers me cause I think that it would be more than I could stand and I'd forget myself and tell an old lady where to get off at... I do confess that I get intolerant of mean spirited people who abuse their position as elders...

I'm to easy going to get stuck up, and to flabbergasted with being asked, to forget how it feels to be starting out. I think that first and foremost we should be enjoying ourselves, and it should be fun, not a chore or like a root canal to be out there dancing for the Creator and not ourselves...

I had a great time being the head female it was a bit awe inspiring to be the one that made decisions and was asked if what someone had on was ok... I am thinking wow how am I going to handle answering if someone's reglaia was ok, when the arena director brought a group of young girls, from a local girls club,over to ask questions about our regalia and different traditions. I guess that I never thought of myself as being qualififed to answer questions, give advice and GASP start being looked at as one of the aunts or mentors... I am just happy being me and hoping that I make my people and all native people proud. Please the Creator and make my elders and my ancestors proud.

So call me humble, honored, and grateful because I certainly don't think that I deserved this great honor and responsiblility...

**Eagle Plumes** · 04-29-2008, 11:07 AM

Ive been headlady moretimes than I can remember, my advice to you is one dont worry too much you will do fine, as said before you were asked for a reason, I always talk to people and welcome them when im Head-Lady, I also take rolls of quarters to hand to the little ones who catch my eye its just a lil thing I like to do to do for the little ones to show them im glad they are there. Always be avalible, for specials, and when its time to dance its not cool to be lookin around for head staff all day or weeknd. Also if Isee someone who really looks like they want to dance but to shy or not sure if its ok, I ask them and take them by the hand and dance with them, ive had several folks come up to me yrs later and say you invited me and I really enjoyd that. Makes me feal real good. But just enjoy yourself and you will do great!

CHEROSAGE · 05-01-2008, 02:39 AM

Congrat's on being asked to help the Committee in this way. Just remember that you are the dancers Rep for the Committee.

As for your Crow Hop, just take small steps with the drum. If you really want to look really good and generous, you may want to ask a friend who knows the Crow Hop to lead out for you. Don't forget this friend when you are honoring folks. You are putting others up front ahead of you, humbling oneself.

Just a thought.

NancyJo · 05-01-2008, 08:45 AM

I was head lady this past month..........something I tried and it worked fantastic is to go shake the other ladies hands and thank them for being there. You end up making some good friends. Just relax, have a good time.......be ready at all times to dance or do what the MC ask you with as much grace as possible. You'll do fine!!

steelemagnolia63 · 05-01-2008, 10:21 AM

Thanks for all your advice.... If I can't get the Crow hop down in the next month getting someone else to lead it out the might be the best idea... it is the hubbys favorite dance but I just can't seem to get it under control where I think that it looks right. I think that I had the only thing that women do is the gentle steps of tradional dance drilled in my head to much, you know only the feet and the fringe move...

So if you drive by my yard in the next month you'll see me outside crow hopping, or rather demented goose stepping.... LMBO...

I know that a little prayer goes along way, and you ladies, please keep me in your prayers that I don't fall flat on my face the first weekend in June. I promise to do my best to make us all proud.... Thanks!!!

steelemagnolia63 · 06-11-2008, 04:29 AM

Well for the record.. we survived this our first real planned ahead head dancing weekend... the heat was insane... 100 + with high humidity on one day and 95 with a breeze on Sunday... It actually went very well, and I did not trip and fall, althought I did a bit of sway in heat there along with the rest of the dancers....

We did a small give away, we made prayer ties and small bundles of tabacco and sage tied off with feathers and some beads in the colors of the four directions and necklaces for the kiddies.... Most of the dancers were amazed it seems that give aways are getting to be a thing of the past...We gave out the prayer ties on Saturday at the end of the day and half way through the day on Sunday we called all the dancers to the circle and gave out bundles that we had made for everyone...

My crow hop still looks like smomething that is a bit possessed but it is improving.... :)

We must have did something that pleased the Creator because we have been asked to be the head dancers next year at this same gathering and we are now on stand by for another pow-wow in August, in case the head dancers can't make it.... at least being on stand by is not so last minute.....

04-28-2008, 09:57 AM	#1 (permalink)
steelemagnolia63 AKA...Falling Leaves Join Date: May 2007 Location: Pennsylvania, how did that happen?? Posts: 110	Our first turn as head dancers....HELP!!!! We were very honored and greatly humbled to be asked to be the head dancers at a small gathering this past weekend. We have often spelled the head dancers (they love their class clowns) when they needed a break, but we have never been the head dancers. They even asked us to do a bigger gathering in June, did I mention that I am scared half out of my mind that I am going to fall flat on my face.... I guess that we have finally graduated to being respectable adults, instead of the clowns at the back of the two step bringing up the rear and making everyone laugh. It's our job and we do it so well, if anyone needs professional hecklers and goof-balls we are for rent cheap... I didn't fall on my face so that is a good thing. I do have to admit to being totally terrifed that I was going to. This feeling was made even worse by the fact that it was a very small gathering so there wasn't anyone for me to blend in with. I felt like all eyes were on me and my bumbling feet. They didn't seem to want to work with me on Saturday. I felt very brittle for the first few dances. Jim, my other half, was right there telling me that I was doing fine. He is a wonderful dancer (Thank you Creator), he makes me look good even when I am off beat. So now I have about a month to get over stage fright, figure out how to do the crow hop, ( I look more like a demented goose having some sort of spasam) and make my feet stay on the beat. Anyone got any advice for getting past this fear of falling on my face??? __________________ Life should not be measured by the number of things that we aquire on our journey but by the number of lives that we touch along that road.

04-28-2008, 11:39 AM	#2 (permalink)
Barb Dragonfly Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Here !!! Posts: 123	When I have been put in line ahead of the very exsperianced and well respected Golden Age Ladies, I have learned to just try and quiet my mind and listen to and feel the drum. __________________ ClothDancer02

04-28-2008, 05:06 PM	#6 (permalink)
steelemagnolia63 AKA...Falling Leaves Join Date: May 2007 Location: Pennsylvania, how did that happen?? Posts: 110	I've danced at a couple of pow-wows where the head lady reduced some of the younger ones to tears... she never bothers me cause I think that it would be more than I could stand and I'd forget myself and tell an old lady where to get off at... I do confess that I get intolerant of mean spirited people who abuse their position as elders... I'm to easy going to get stuck up, and to flabbergasted with being asked, to forget how it feels to be starting out. I think that first and foremost we should be enjoying ourselves, and it should be fun, not a chore or like a root canal to be out there dancing for the Creator and not ourselves... I had a great time being the head female it was a bit awe inspiring to be the one that made decisions and was asked if what someone had on was ok... I am thinking wow how am I going to handle answering if someone's reglaia was ok, when the arena director brought a group of young girls, from a local girls club,over to ask questions about our regalia and different traditions. I guess that I never thought of myself as being qualififed to answer questions, give advice and GASP start being looked at as one of the aunts or mentors... I am just happy being me and hoping that I make my people and all native people proud. Please the Creator and make my elders and my ancestors proud. So call me humble, honored, and grateful because I certainly don't think that I deserved this great honor and responsiblility... __________________ Life should not be measured by the number of things that we aquire on our journey but by the number of lives that we touch along that road.

04-29-2008, 11:07 AM	#7 (permalink)
Eagle Plumes Just Bead it! Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: MId-West Posts: 11,310	Ive been headlady moretimes than I can remember, my advice to you is one dont worry too much you will do fine, as said before you were asked for a reason, I always talk to people and welcome them when im Head-Lady, I also take rolls of quarters to hand to the little ones who catch my eye its just a lil thing I like to do to do for the little ones to show them im glad they are there. Always be avalible, for specials, and when its time to dance its not cool to be lookin around for head staff all day or weeknd. Also if Isee someone who really looks like they want to dance but to shy or not sure if its ok, I ask them and take them by the hand and dance with them, ive had several folks come up to me yrs later and say you invited me and I really enjoyd that. Makes me feal real good. But just enjoy yourself and you will do great! __________________ I got a fevah! And the only cure is more cowbell!!!

05-01-2008, 02:39 AM	#8 (permalink)
CHEROSAGE Pow Wow Committee Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: , mo Posts: 1,330	Congrat's on being asked to help the Committee in this way. Just remember that you are the dancers Rep for the Committee. As for your Crow Hop, just take small steps with the drum. If you really want to look really good and generous, you may want to ask a friend who knows the Crow Hop to lead out for you. Don't forget this friend when you are honoring folks. You are putting others up front ahead of you, humbling oneself. Just a thought. __________________ BOB

04-28-2008, 01:15 PM	#3 (permalink)
timmy tiger Head Dancer Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: where ever there are babies or children you can find me Posts: 15,680 Blog Entries: 3	I know what you are going through. I've been dancing for a number of years. When a friend of mine was the AD for a large contest pow wow. I don't compete, I dance to dance. At this pow wow, instead of hiring one Head dancer for the weekend, they did it in day's or shifts like. One of the days my friend came up to me and asked me to be the Lady Head dancer. I tried to tell him that I don't compete and that I didn't think that I was good enough, he said "Don't worry about it, I'll help you out."LOL Famous last words. No, actually he was very nice and kind about it. But as the AD and with all the contests going on--he was very busy and I knew the so I just went with the flow and did the best that I could. I had a good time. The best thing that I could tell you is: don't worry about what the other's may or may not be thinking, just go out and have a good time and enjoy yourself, enjoy a good drum and have a good time. The rest will all fall right into place.

04-28-2008, 04:12 PM	#5 (permalink)
cherokeemom06 Jingling mommy.... Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Kentucky Posts: 266	Just don't do what the head lady at a powwow I was at did. She literally walked around with her nose stuck in the air, didn't speak to any of the other dancers unless they had came with her (like two people) and only spoke to a friend of mine when she couldn't find her husband! LOL

05-01-2008, 08:45 AM	#9 (permalink)
NancyJo Cloth Dancer Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Texas Posts: 320	I was head lady this past month..........something I tried and it worked fantastic is to go shake the other ladies hands and thank them for being there. You end up making some good friends. Just relax, have a good time.......be ready at all times to dance or do what the MC ask you with as much grace as possible. You'll do fine!!

05-01-2008, 10:21 AM	#10 (permalink)
steelemagnolia63 AKA...Falling Leaves Join Date: May 2007 Location: Pennsylvania, how did that happen?? Posts: 110	Thanks for all your advice.... If I can't get the Crow hop down in the next month getting someone else to lead it out the might be the best idea... it is the hubbys favorite dance but I just can't seem to get it under control where I think that it looks right. I think that I had the only thing that women do is the gentle steps of tradional dance drilled in my head to much, you know only the feet and the fringe move... So if you drive by my yard in the next month you'll see me outside crow hopping, or rather demented goose stepping.... LMBO... I know that a little prayer goes along way, and you ladies, please keep me in your prayers that I don't fall flat on my face the first weekend in June. I promise to do my best to make us all proud.... Thanks!!! __________________ Life should not be measured by the number of things that we aquire on our journey but by the number of lives that we touch along that road.

06-11-2008, 04:29 AM	#11 (permalink)
steelemagnolia63 AKA...Falling Leaves Join Date: May 2007 Location: Pennsylvania, how did that happen?? Posts: 110	Well for the record.. we survived this our first real planned ahead head dancing weekend... the heat was insane... 100 + with high humidity on one day and 95 with a breeze on Sunday... It actually went very well, and I did not trip and fall, althought I did a bit of sway in heat there along with the rest of the dancers.... We did a small give away, we made prayer ties and small bundles of tabacco and sage tied off with feathers and some beads in the colors of the four directions and necklaces for the kiddies.... Most of the dancers were amazed it seems that give aways are getting to be a thing of the past...We gave out the prayer ties on Saturday at the end of the day and half way through the day on Sunday we called all the dancers to the circle and gave out bundles that we had made for everyone... My crow hop still looks like smomething that is a bit possessed but it is improving.... :) We must have did something that pleased the Creator because we have been asked to be the head dancers next year at this same gathering and we are now on stand by for another pow-wow in August, in case the head dancers can't make it.... at least being on stand by is not so last minute..... __________________ Life should not be measured by the number of things that we aquire on our journey but by the number of lives that we touch along that road.