dakotahdawn

I have recently taken an interest in the jingle dress and dancing but I am a little bit lost. I have gone on the web to search more about it but the information I am finding doesn't match up with what I am reading here on this site.

I am half Dakota through my mother and I have always had an interest in my culture and dancing. It's just that I don't know who to turn to for more information. I have already asked my mother's family but they know just as much as I do, which is nothing.

I don't want to disrespect anyone but if you could please give me some information about the jingle dress, the steps, or anything, it would be great!

musicedu77

what i would do is go to a ojibway powwow and ask them...or go on here and ask other ojibway jingle dancers here...they should be able to answer your questions better than us non ojibway jingle dancers here...the steps i can tell you that its just something that you have to learn by watching ...theres no book about how to dance jingle...just watch their feet...eventually when you get up there and dance you add your own movement...ask questions to other dancers...this site is filled with infromation on the jingle dress you just have to look through the threads...how to make a jingle dress, where to buy jingles at etc..since im assuming your in dakota area theres tons of powwows there so just go to them..

musicedu77

hint: dont buy mcphersons ...they rust easily and best place to go is i forget the web addy but theres a thread on here that has to do with buying jingles...that dealer has the best price of jingles ive ever seen...also when rolling jingles make sure you wear gloves...i tried to roll jingles with out useing gloves long ago and my hands got scratched up big time..ouch!...also i dont know if its your first time dancing or what but generally a giveaway is a must to enter the circle..theres a thread on this as well.. family members are great resource of information on giveaways and such.. just take it all one step at a time and its great that your getting this al done now being that its the beginning when theres all sorts of powwows going on..good luck

musicedu77

advice: also beadwork threads are good sources too...whenever i have probs that my ma doesnt have time to answer i always go to the bead work thread..
use a pattern for your jingle dress...you can never go wrong with a pattern (you can buy those at crazy crow.com, nocbay.com) i think even the store on here sells patterns
dont copy another persons moves and designs..for a giveaway it takes bout a year to put together...theres a thread that will give ya ideas on giveaways.. the way you snazz up your jingle dress is according to your own tastes...if its your first time dancing best bet leave it plain that way youll have more time to work on your beadwork set..thats just a thought

dakotahdawn

Thanks for the advice musicedu77. I've never danced before but I do have the interest to. Again, my family doesn't really know that much about dancing except for my aunt who was a fancy dancer at an early age. I do attend powwows but only once a year up in Sisseton, SD for the 4th of July powwow. You see, I'm an army brat and I've moved around so many times and I only get to see my family from SD once a year if I'm lucky. Right now I live in Kentucky and I don't hear about any powwows in this state.
I guess my problem is who do I go to once I feel that I am ready to dance? Do I just go to a powwow and confront somebody? I don't want to offend anybody or make a fool out of myself in the process.

dakotahdawn

Did anybody in your family teach you how to dance at a young age? Or did you go to any of the Objibwe powwows to learn? Nobody taught me the ways of my people and everytime I ask my mom or grandma something about our language or anything really, they just give me this look like I'm wasting their time or something. You said I should go to an Ojibwe powwow; where are they?

quicksilverwade

I noticed that you are not getting any feedback. What you are asking is best left to personal human contact, not the internet. You probably aren't ready to jingle, why don't you dance fancy shawl?

paintedsun22

Don't tell the girl not to jingle and to fancy instead. That's mean!! Obviously she isn't ready because of the questions she is asking but she came to us for help, not discouragement... Now that that's out of the way... go to a powwow and ask any and all jingle dancers you see. you can even ask the arena director or an elder if they know of someone who can help you learn the right way. I agree with previous comments about the dress. you can ask the elders about giveaways and most will be glad to give you advice. watch the tradish men dance. the basic jingle step is like that, only peppier. watch other dancers' feet. take time to do it right and you'll be fine.

quicksilverwade

Of course I'm mean, what do you expect? Living in Kentucky obviously affords a big disadvantage to anybody trying to learn to dance. Your instructions are in want of substance for you're telling it all wrong.

Only peppier? You are in need of some Red Bull for giving such wanton information.

paintedsun22

That's how it was explained to me when I first started jingling. At least I tried to help and not discourage... Should I try to explain it again or tell her not to even think of jingling since she "obviously isn't ready"? I can't exactly show her...

musicedu77

well those questions ya need to ask to ojibwe elder....so like i said before go to an ojibwe powwow...when they are im trying to find out myself..where ontario has some really good powwows or even go to minnesota since youre nearby there...im not saying that your ready or not thats determined by the the elder to say...ithink even michigan has some really good ojib powwows...you just have to look..good luck

native_flutterby

minnesota and wisconsin are full of us ojibs, so if you can mosey up this way we could help you. my mother would be of great help, and i also know of a few elder women who have the rights to what you are asking for...the main thing to have ready when you approach them is a gift (whatever you can afford, or whatever you think is of value of the information) and tobacco.

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musicedu77

thats very much true ya should ask the elder dancer in person dont ask any one on the net...however its always good to ask questions about how to attach jingles on the jingle dress etc..just go to a ojib powwow and ask and ya be fine....dont fret ya get yar answers ..