Whatz up with side step arm movements?

vjy · 01-07-2005, 06:12 PM

K....here I go.
Was at a New Year's powwow and while watching the women's Jingle category, saw a "contemporary" jingler(sportin' and fat ol' plume and fan n everything) dancing "old style" side step jingle?!?!

I think if you gonna jam "old style" you should stick with it, especially during the duration of the weekend?!?!?Anywayz.
I was told by a older woman, jingler (whose husband is from Red Lake Ojib) that side step dancin' is representin' a woman "washing clothes." So the movement of the arms up and down OR back and forth was imitating that.
What'ya think? I think some women R confused. Or am I?

Let's start an "oPiNiOn LiNe," what'yasay!!

ojibwaywmn · 01-08-2005, 12:57 PM

I like the side arm movement during sidesteps....if it is not overdone. Saw this one jingler at Bismarck Pow Wow, and I loved the way she did her sidestep with the arm movements. She had a beautiful velvet jingle dress with ojibway beadwork on the cape. Although she wore plumes, it wasn't overdone. Simple and elegant.

I have also seen some jinglers totally flashy and trying to do old style. It just didn't look right. So I guess if the style of the dancer is not over the top, then doing old style sidestep is alright.

Shnawbay · 01-08-2005, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vjy

K....here I go.
Was at a New Year's powwow and while watching the women's Jingle category, saw a "contemporary" jingler(sportin' and fat ol' plume and fan n everything) dancing "old style" side step jingle?!?!

I think if you gonna jam "old style" you should stick with it, especially during the duration of the weekend?!?!?Anywayz.
I was told by a older woman, jingler (whose husband is from Red Lake Ojib) that side step dancin' is representin' a woman "washing clothes." So the movement of the arms up and down OR back and forth was imitating that.
What'ya think? I think some women R confused. Or am I?

Let's start an "oPiNiOn LiNe," what'yasay!!

Yeah i agree with that... I love watching old style of sidestep... Dancing in contemporary outfit i tiptoe it through... but i like flat foot sidestep.. watching those few dancers out on the comp' do it old school is amazing :D
am i contradicting myself??

ANYWAYS just love any SIDEstep...i dont' really compete in jingle, just startin back again..

Lesley Smoke · 01-10-2005, 06:37 PM

I seen some girls dance their straight song with a fan and back feathers...

then take their feathers off, so they can sidestep ol'style....
but idunno, either way, it looks good to me
although i like watching oldstyle

ErizonVoyce · 01-27-2005, 01:22 PM

Hmmmm...I Seen Thiz A Lot Too...Wif Tha Armz Movin Up N Down Or Back N Forth...I Wuz Taught 2 Dance Tha Side-Step Wif Mah Handz On Mah Hipz (((Im Ojibwe)))...Jes Lookz Proper...Iunno I Fink Tha Swingin Of Tha Armz...Lookz...Odd...Buh Thas Jes Me.

kruzly · 02-06-2005, 05:23 PM

The swinging arm movement looks silly when a jingle dress dancer is dancing the side step. It seems so out of whack with the song and ungraceful.

AlmostThere · 02-06-2005, 07:48 PM

I would have to agree with ojibwaywmn. But I cant stand when ladies have there arms flying all over the place and looking plain stupid.

**Mr Oakley** · 02-07-2005, 02:53 PM

You ever see how some contemporary dancers crook thier head to the side and look down on the honor beats on a sidestep?? I think it looks funny, and that they look like roosters pecking the ground when they do that. And dancing on tiptoes looks funny too.

nimkiikwe_49 · 02-16-2005, 02:01 PM

I always believed that traditional ladies moved thier arms in a washboard fashion and jingle side step have thier hands on their hips.

shookshooklaquay · 02-28-2005, 01:31 PM

Well I keep one hand on my hip and one hand on my fan however, I move with my fan hand but not whippin it around like some of these ladies...but maybe they move their arms to get some leverage or to keep them moving tee hee if its not overdone it looks nice... and I think some people mistake the side step for a smoke dance. Doing a flat footed side step is hard doing any side step is hard I usually get a cramp in shape or not.

ABENEWA KWE · 03-01-2005, 10:17 PM

i dance old style side step with a fan .... no plume thou .... i use my fan because it was a gift from my oldest sister .... as far as the girls that are blinging and plumed out ... heh heh heh ... it don't bother me much ... at least they are dancing ... that's gotta be worth something rite.

laterz

**Roobz** · 03-01-2005, 10:36 PM

.

Kiiwedinong · 03-02-2005, 06:15 PM

Yeah....swinging the arms around was always done during ceremonies; ladies would be out there doing the round dance for like 30 songs in a row; they would start swinging their arms to keep up with the beat and dance. Its kinda funny how people interpreted this to be oldstyle when actually it was just a form of a "cool down" thingy.

HAHA

**SingingDeer** · 07-07-2005, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by minne-wheats

You ever see how some contemporary dancers crook thier head to the side and look down on the honor beats on a sidestep?? I think it looks funny, and that they look like roosters pecking the ground when they do that. And dancing on tiptoes looks funny too.

yes

Jingle dancing is usually hands-on-hips, or one hand on the hip and the other holding a fan.... sounds like the arm-swingers need to get a shawl and "fancy dance"....

me... I don't compete... don't fit any of the categories really...
I enter with the vets at grand entry, so I dance like the other vets do

... I guess you could say that "I'm a product of my environment"

AlmostThere · 07-08-2005, 10:31 AM

Hol up-- what cracks me up the most is when the ladies look like they have no clue at all. Looking like their doing the "running man" or something..Damn slow down your gunna step out you mocs....Haha

01-07-2005, 06:12 PM	#1 (permalink)
vjy Jinglin'grl Join Date: May 2002 Location: AZ and NM Posts: 38	Whatz up with side step arm movements? K....here I go. Was at a New Year's powwow and while watching the women's Jingle category, saw a "contemporary" jingler(sportin' and fat ol' plume and fan n everything) dancing "old style" side step jingle?!?! I think if you gonna jam "old style" you should stick with it, especially during the duration of the weekend?!?!?Anywayz. I was told by a older woman, jingler (whose husband is from Red Lake Ojib) that side step dancin' is representin' a woman "washing clothes." So the movement of the arms up and down OR back and forth was imitating that. What'ya think? I think some women R confused. Or am I? Let's start an "oPiNiOn LiNe," what'yasay!! __________________ InAgoodWay!! Last edited by vjy; 01-07-2005 at 06:16 PM.

01-08-2005, 12:57 PM	#2 (permalink)
ojibwaywmn Swan Lake Ojibway Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Neechie Capital of Canada Posts: 555	I like the side arm movement during sidesteps....if it is not overdone. Saw this one jingler at Bismarck Pow Wow, and I loved the way she did her sidestep with the arm movements. She had a beautiful velvet jingle dress with ojibway beadwork on the cape. Although she wore plumes, it wasn't overdone. Simple and elegant. I have also seen some jinglers totally flashy and trying to do old style. It just didn't look right. So I guess if the style of the dancer is not over the top, then doing old style sidestep is alright. __________________

01-10-2005, 06:37 PM	#4 (permalink)
Lesley Smoke singaaa Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Ptbo Posts: 292	I seen some girls dance their straight song with a fan and back feathers... then take their feathers off, so they can sidestep ol'style.... but idunno, either way, it looks good to me although i like watching oldstyle __________________ Tha One N' Only LeSLeY

01-27-2005, 01:22 PM	#5 (permalink)
ErizonVoyce Pow Wow Visitor Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: OnTaRiO Posts: 20	Hmmmm...I Seen Thiz A Lot Too...Wif Tha Armz Movin Up N Down Or Back N Forth...I Wuz Taught 2 Dance Tha Side-Step Wif Mah Handz On Mah Hipz (((Im Ojibwe)))...Jes Lookz Proper...Iunno I Fink Tha Swingin Of Tha Armz...Lookz...Odd...Buh Thas Jes Me. __________________ <<<<<>>>>> ~Tha Powwow Trail. Live It. Luv It. Keep It REAL!~ <<<<<>>>>>

02-06-2005, 07:48 PM	#7 (permalink)
AlmostThere The Original OP CREW Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: AZ Posts: 971	I would have to agree with ojibwaywmn. But I cant stand when ladies have there arms flying all over the place and looking plain stupid. __________________ blah blah blah....

02-06-2005, 05:23 PM	#6 (permalink)
kruzly PEACE OUT Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 15	The swinging arm movement looks silly when a jingle dress dancer is dancing the side step. It seems so out of whack with the song and ungraceful.

02-07-2005, 02:53 PM	#8 (permalink)
Mr Oakley >>:+:<< + >>:+:<< Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Twin Cities, MN Posts: 1,061	You ever see how some contemporary dancers crook thier head to the side and look down on the honor beats on a sidestep?? I think it looks funny, and that they look like roosters pecking the ground when they do that. And dancing on tiptoes looks funny too.

02-16-2005, 02:01 PM	#9 (permalink)
nimkiikwe_49 naturally noble Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 262	I always believed that traditional ladies moved thier arms in a washboard fashion and jingle side step have thier hands on their hips. __________________ Miigwetch all's fair in love and pow wow.... see ya around

02-28-2005, 01:31 PM	#10 (permalink)
shookshooklaquay Tiny Tot Dancer Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: South Park Posts: 75	movin tha arms Well I keep one hand on my hip and one hand on my fan however, I move with my fan hand but not whippin it around like some of these ladies...but maybe they move their arms to get some leverage or to keep them moving tee hee if its not overdone it looks nice... and I think some people mistake the side step for a smoke dance. Doing a flat footed side step is hard doing any side step is hard I usually get a cramp in shape or not.

03-01-2005, 10:17 PM	#11 (permalink)
ABENEWA KWE Teen Dancer Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Schenectady, NY Posts: 348	i dance old style side step with a fan .... no plume thou .... i use my fan because it was a gift from my oldest sister .... as far as the girls that are blinging and plumed out ... heh heh heh ... it don't bother me much ... at least they are dancing ... that's gotta be worth something rite. laterz __________________ "When the forest weeps, the Anishinabe who listens will look back at the years. In each generation of Ojibway there will be a person who will hear the si-si-gwa-d, who will listen and remember and pass it on to the children." "Night Flying Woman"

03-01-2005, 10:36 PM	#12 (permalink)
Roobz jingle jangle mornin' Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: åt home Posts: 1,024	. Last edited by Roobz; 08-28-2007 at 03:51 AM.

03-02-2005, 06:15 PM	#13 (permalink)
Kiiwedinong Head Singing Judge Join Date: May 2001 Location: LOTW Posts: 428	Yeah....swinging the arms around was always done during ceremonies; ladies would be out there doing the round dance for like 30 songs in a row; they would start swinging their arms to keep up with the beat and dance. Its kinda funny how people interpreted this to be oldstyle when actually it was just a form of a "cool down" thingy. HAHA

07-08-2005, 10:31 AM	#15 (permalink)
AlmostThere The Original OP CREW Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: AZ Posts: 971	Hol up-- what cracks me up the most is when the ladies look like they have no clue at all. Looking like their doing the "running man" or something..Damn slow down your gunna step out you mocs....Haha __________________ blah blah blah....