LAKE GENEVA POWWOW

Father's Day Weekend
LAKE GENEVA, WISCONSIN

Men's Regalia and Dances

Men's Traditional Dance

Many dance traditions have blended together over the years into a style with less specific tribal affliation. But certain dances belong strictly to the traditional dancer:

• Straight dance, a dignified dance with a steady pace, without fancy footwork
• Crow hop, in which the dancer will "hop" to the beat of the drum
• Sneak-up, in which the dancer imitates a warrior in the field or a hunter looking for prey. This dance begins with a drum roll, and all the dancers low to the ground. The drum then picks up a normal beat, and the dancers rise and start to dance. Occasionally, some drum beats sound like "gunshots," which cause the dancers to be wary, drop low, and look around. Then the drum returns to the dance beat.

The regalia of traditional men dancers varies greatly. Some common elements include a ribbon shirt, a breastplate of bone beads, a bandolier bag, and a single bustle worn on the lower back. Decorated aprons may be worn, as well as leather leggings or leg fringes with bells or deer toes around the knees. Traditionals will also wear beaded arm bands and cuffs, and they will often carry a large wing fan or a dance staff..

Fancy Dance

The Fancy or Feather Dance is relatively new, having developed in the 1920s. It is typically a young man's dance, although many older dancers continue to participate. Fancy dancers dance faster than other styles and sometimes add freestyle moves. An important part of the regalia is the large, bright twin bustle with added feathers, fluffs, and colors. On their heads, fancy dancers wear a roach and a beaded headband, sometimes with a rosette. Their bodies are covered by beaded and fringed aprons, and small rosette bands are worn on their upper arms. Sleigh or hawk bells, or deer toes, are strapped on just below the knee to create additional music as the dancer moves.

Grass Dance

One story says that in the old days, it was the job of the grass dancers to flatten the prairie grass in the arena before a powwow. Today, these dancers resemble a multicolored whirlwind. The grass dance is a very fluid style, and the dancers try to move the fringe on their regalia as much as possible -- constant movement is one sign of a good dancer! The heavy fringe on their regalia symbolizes the tall prairie grass. A matching apron covers the waist, and fringed sidetabs complete the outfit. Bells are worn just below the ankles above the moccasins.

Learn More

Etiquette
Powwow Staff
The Arena
The Four Circles
The Spirit Fire
The Songs
Men's Dances
Women's Dances
Social Dances
Powwow Calendar