The History of Grass Dance
The grass dance stems back to the day when Native Americans ruled the land. According to Pow Wow's website, the pow wow dance form originated with the Ponca Hethuska Society and Omaha tribe. The dance movements were meant to represent what sweet grass looks like as it swayed in the wind. Native Americans considered grass as the hair of mother earth, according to Pow Wow.
Other People Are Reading
-
Preparation
-
Grass dancers had to find an area best fit for the dance and were also charged with preparing the land prior to the ceremony. Certain events, such as the tribe's move to a new camp, called for the grass dance, according to the Prairie Island website. Once the dancers identified the spot, they would flatten the grass, fill any holes and finally bless the dance area, according to Native Spirit's website.
Regalia
-
Dancers did more than just show respect for grass in their dance form. Dancers also attached braided sweet and prairie grass into their outfits, according to Native Spirit. The dancers also incorporated white, gold or silver yarn fringe, sequins and beaded rosettes into their costumes. Grass dancers sported bells around the ankles and wore moccasins, according to NC State's website.
Over time, grass dancers replaced the traditional sweet or prairie grass in their outfits, and instead focused more on making brighter yarn and ribbons part of their regalia, according to Native Spirit.
-
Dance Instruments
-
A grass dancer's regalia went beyond moccasins, headdresses and rainbow-colored yarn and ribbons. The dancers also often carried instruments that added to the presentation of the dance. Typical hand items the dancers held include fans, sticks, goose whistles and hoops and sweet grass braided for hoops, according to Pow Wow. This completed the look of a grass dancer.
More History
-
Today, the grass dance is typically reserved for men, according to Pow Wow. This does not mean that women have not been a part of the traditional grass dance. According to Pow Wow, many women participated the grass dance and wore its associated regalia during the 1970s. Photos exist from the 1800s of women in grass dance dresses. The dance is often a first dance choice for a child.
History of Pow Wow
-
The grass dance is just one of the many pow wow dances created by Native Americans. A pow wow is a Native American social gathering with attendance of hundreds of tribe members, according to NC State. The roots of pow wows date back to early to mid-19th century. Pow wows became popular in the Native American community, and tribes started to adapt the dance forms, such as grass dance, into their tribes.
-
References
- Photo Credit native american pow-wow image by Joy Fera from Fotolia.com
