Smiling when dancing???

indigeniuslove · 06-19-2007, 07:41 AM

Hey I always kinda wondered about this but I never knew who to ask and stuff, .. .well I know an elder now who I can ask but I would sure appreciate some opinions on this! I know that fancy dancers are often encouraged to smile when dancing, it's not considered really appropriate for Traditional dancers to smile when dancing... what about jingle? Just wondering becasue sometimes I am having such a good feeling out there I wanna bust out and smile.
:D
Thanks!

**Kiwehnzii** · 06-19-2007, 10:39 AM

The grumpy look is aaiight.

**Kiwehnzii** · 06-19-2007, 10:47 AM

I was just kidding. A nice smile while dancing tells people that you are enjoying yourself and thinking good thoughts.

Mud_Woman · 06-19-2007, 12:02 PM

I would think that smiling while you dance is good. It lets the judges and people know you enjoy dancing.

**WocusWoman** · 06-19-2007, 02:49 PM

I suppose how you feel in a moment is OK. I dance traditional buckskin and have for many years. My granny always told me when I was younger, "no smiling or bouncing," and by all means "NO" looking at boys! LOL, that granny was tough!

Homalosa · 06-19-2007, 09:51 PM

hmm, don't let my mom or elders hear you ask that question! They'll agree with you. I get accused of looking too stoic, or outright angry. I think my thoughts, "stay on beat, stay on beat, don't sweat" are reflected in my face!

Lakota Wiyan · 06-19-2007, 09:58 PM

I think it is okay to smile when you dance, but there is also something to say for "game face", especially on the men. But, one word of caution....there is one young lady, fancy shawl, who smiles when she dances, and she looks spaced out and kinda creepy while she dances. I usually just end up watching her face and not her dancing. If you are going to smile, make it a real smile, not a spaced out, drugged out looking smile!!

Jingling_In_Stars · 06-19-2007, 10:11 PM

I think that its okay to smile when you dance, but I wouldn't cheese it like a cheerleader or miss america!!

Personally I like the serious look, especially when you compete. . I think it lets people know that you mean business!

indigeniuslove · 06-20-2007, 04:30 AM

Thanks for all your responses!

Yeah I don't fake it when I smile, at anytime dancin or not, that's just.... well fake.

Yeah ok so I asked an Annishnabekwe elder jingler and she told me that you're not supposed to smile when you dance jingle as it is a medicine dance, even if you're going contemporary.

As for game face, it does look pretty feirce and I am one who appreciates it when menfolk get to lookin all stoic when they gettin down too.

superndngyrl · 06-20-2007, 02:39 PM

I think smiles are good. If its a nice real smile than go for it.

WhoMe · 06-21-2007, 09:04 AM

Make sure you know the difference between...

Smiling

n

Cheezin!

06-19-2007, 07:41 AM	#1 (permalink)
indigeniuslove Keep it Fancy! Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: East Van Posts: 49	Smiling when dancing??? Hey I always kinda wondered about this but I never knew who to ask and stuff, .. .well I know an elder now who I can ask but I would sure appreciate some opinions on this! I know that fancy dancers are often encouraged to smile when dancing, it's not considered really appropriate for Traditional dancers to smile when dancing... what about jingle? Just wondering becasue sometimes I am having such a good feeling out there I wanna bust out and smile. :D Thanks! __________________ If I am my own worst enemy, should I not also be my own best friend?

06-19-2007, 12:02 PM	#4 (permalink)
Mud_Woman shhh . . im thinking Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: beating the crap out of the other stick figure Posts: 3,772	I would think that smiling while you dance is good. It lets the judges and people know you enjoy dancing. __________________

06-19-2007, 09:51 PM	#6 (permalink)
Homalosa Choc-lack-chick! Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Dallas, Texas (where da powwows at?) Posts: 1,586	hmm, don't let my mom or elders hear you ask that question! They'll agree with you. I get accused of looking too stoic, or outright angry. I think my thoughts, "stay on beat, stay on beat, don't sweat" are reflected in my face! __________________ Honor and respect your elders! "Until the lion learns to speak the tales of hunting will always favor the hunter." -K'Naan O-BAM-UH!!!! www.myspace.com/thobackmuzik www.myspace.com/asanicharles

06-19-2007, 10:11 PM	#8 (permalink)
Jingling_In_Stars JiNgLe DaNcEr Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Tokyo, Japan Posts: 527	I think that its okay to smile when you dance, but I wouldn't cheese it like a cheerleader or miss america!! Personally I like the serious look, especially when you compete. . I think it lets people know that you mean business! __________________ At some point, you have to make a decision. Boundaries don't keep other people out. They fence you in. Life is messy. That's how we're made. So, you can waste your lives drawing lines. Or you can live your life crossing them. . ~Grey's Anatomy~ 人生は短すぎる、楽しもう

06-20-2007, 04:30 AM	#9 (permalink)
indigeniuslove Keep it Fancy! Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: East Van Posts: 49	Thanks for all your responses! Yeah I don't fake it when I smile, at anytime dancin or not, that's just.... well fake. Yeah ok so I asked an Annishnabekwe elder jingler and she told me that you're not supposed to smile when you dance jingle as it is a medicine dance, even if you're going contemporary. As for game face, it does look pretty feirce and I am one who appreciates it when menfolk get to lookin all stoic when they gettin down too. __________________ If I am my own worst enemy, should I not also be my own best friend?

06-19-2007, 10:39 AM	#2 (permalink)
Kiwehnzii Oldfart Join Date: Mar 2001 Posts: 2,869	The grumpy look is aaiight.

06-19-2007, 10:47 AM	#3 (permalink)
Kiwehnzii Oldfart Join Date: Mar 2001 Posts: 2,869	I was just kidding. A nice smile while dancing tells people that you are enjoying yourself and thinking good thoughts.

06-19-2007, 02:49 PM	#5 (permalink)
WocusWoman N8tiffUmatillaMAMA Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Interior Alaska Posts: 2,727	I suppose how you feel in a moment is OK. I dance traditional buckskin and have for many years. My granny always told me when I was younger, "no smiling or bouncing," and by all means "NO" looking at boys! LOL, that granny was tough!

06-19-2007, 09:58 PM	#7 (permalink)
Lakota Wiyan THE Lakota Wiyan Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: He Sapa/Mni Luzahan/Inkpata Posts: 419 Blog Entries: 1	I think it is okay to smile when you dance, but there is also something to say for "game face", especially on the men. But, one word of caution....there is one young lady, fancy shawl, who smiles when she dances, and she looks spaced out and kinda creepy while she dances. I usually just end up watching her face and not her dancing. If you are going to smile, make it a real smile, not a spaced out, drugged out looking smile!!

06-20-2007, 02:39 PM	#10 (permalink)
superndngyrl photo fun Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: in front of the computer Posts: 4,291	I think smiles are good. If its a nice real smile than go for it.

06-21-2007, 09:04 AM	#11 (permalink)
WhoMe PauWau Coordinator Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Land of 370 Broken Treaties Posts: 5,555	Make sure you know the difference between... Smiling n Cheezin! __________________ "Today, recognizing and respecting the origins of powwow aids in our Cultural Survival. If enough people break the rules because they are not satisfied...."We will have no culture." WhoMe

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