The War Dance
The War Dance cannot function as it once did, but it is one of the principal features of a pow wow. Traditionally, the War Dance was a major event in itself that was performed after a battle to record the…
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Women’s Fancy Shawl Dance
The Women’s Fancy Shawl Dance is a relatively new addition to the pow wow dance competitions. Until fairly recently, women performed their fancy dancing in traditional garb.
The Pow Wow Announcer, Arena director, and Head Dancers
The Pow Wow Announcer, Arena director and Head Dancers lead the pow wow activities and make sure the powwow runs smoothly.
Dance Regalia of the Fancy Shawl Dancer
This article gives a general overview of the proper attire for a Fancy Shawl Dancer. Rather than the double-bustle the early Crow girls wore to dance the Fancy Dance, today’s Fancy Shawl dancer wears a dress made of a shiny…
Crow explanation of how the ladies Fancy Shawl Dance competition began
At Crow Fair in Montana, I was told another story about the Fancy Shawl Dance. While the Crow people also equate this dance form as an expression of re-emergence and renewal of life forces, they have a very different explanation…
Cherokee Butterfly Legend
Some say the modern day Pow Wow competition dance known as the Ladies Fancy Shawl Dance has its roots in a ceremonial dance called the Butterfly Dance. Here is a Cherokee account of how that dance came to be.