<Adapted
from the book of the same name>
Special
Powwow Events
Specials are unique in their own right. Specials
are a series of unique activities that are performed within the
dance arena the fourth circle. Specials take various forms and
include many types and themes. Specials include: memorials through
song and dance; acknowledgements of individual or group accomplishments;
Hand Drum contests and exhibition dances including:
The Give Away
The Give Away is an integral part of
a powwow as it represents the generous nature of Native peoples.
Give Aways allow an individual(s) to mark an important occasion,
for example, being a Head Dancer or dancing in the circle
for the first time. Giving gifts is a way of honoring certain
individuals or groups among Indian people. Here the gesture
is far more important than the value of the gift; it is an
honor both to receive and to give gifts. |
Angelica Mahkimetas Giveaway. University of Illinois at
Chicago, 2003.
|
Children Recieve Candy as Part of a Giveaway. University
of Illinois at Chicago, 2003.
|
Arissa Yolanda St. Germaine Giveaway. University of Illinois
at Chicago, 2003.
|
The Two Step
The Two Step is one of a few dances where
men and women dance as partners. Women choose their partners.
Couples, holding hands, step off with the left foot and
continue, dragging the right foot up in time to Grandfather's
heartbeat.
If a man refuses an invitation to dance, he has to "pay" (money
or craft item) to the asker.
>>>add video link<<<
|
Valerie D'Ana and Neal Warrington. University of Illinois
at Chicago, 2003.
|
The Fish Dance
Performed by the men and boys, it is an interpretation
of the life of a fish. The dance requires agility on the part of
participants as they imitate the movement of the inhabitants of
lakes and streams.
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The Snake Dance
|
A social dance which is an interpretation
of the life cycle of the snake. Dancers follow each other
in a single line, moving in and out in a snake like manner.
The colorful line of dancers weave throughout the arena
and curls into a tight circle as the snake goes to sleep.
Then
the dancers unwind to depict the awakening of the snake,
and the "shedding of the skin."
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|
The Swan Dance
A Woodland dance which imitates the birds in flight. The leader
is followed by dancers who will move into a "V" formation
at the change in the drumbeat. Women and girls perform this elegant
dance.
>>>add video link<<<
The Round Dance
In the Round Dance, dancers move in rows of circles clockwise
around the drum in aside step, with the faster moving line in the
middle close to the drum and the slower toward the outside. The
entire line moves as one body, each in harmony with the rhythm
of the drum.
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Back to Online Essays
|
The book Chicago's Fifty
Years of Powwow has many more photos and offers insights
that are not presented in this Online Essay. To obtain a copy
of your own, follow this offsite link to the webpage for the Chicago
American Indian Center. |
|
