What is expected of Head Dancers

[WhoMe]

I have been to powwows where there are head dancers who aren't friendly, look mean or bored, publically gripe, show up late, don't get out to dance every dance and didn't show up at all for an entire session.

What are some expectations of good head man and head woman dancers?


Should money be docked from their honorarium if they don't follow these expectations?

[LSS]

Should dancers be docked for whatever reason? I'd say yes, BUT, it needs to be outlined and in writing that way there is no question at the end. Never mess with a mans money! Some people are still struggling with this concept!

I've been Head Dancer on a number of occassions and will continue to do so. A Head Dancer is selected by a committee/community based off of their reputation and dependability; esp. to serve as a representative. Nothing like a negative Head Dancer to kill your pow wow....and it shows.

I know this is a bit off subject, but I'd like to share a positive experience that illustrates the benefits of being a model Head Dancer. One of my most positive experiences came this past year in October at the Meherrin Pow Wow when I was Honored to have one of my closest friends, who is a non-Native, to speak on behalf of my wife and myself. We had a song sang by Medicine Tail and the one acknowledgment that stands out in my mind was when Ron and Judy Gibson came out to show their appreciation for both of us. I almost cried b/c I have looked up to them, and many others, for a long time. Their acknowledgment of us, to me, was of social acceptance. It made me feel good to know that we have learned correctly and are doing so!

Oh yeah....Larry!....Thanks for making my roach!

Jason

[CHEROSAGE]

Hey Jason, if you see Ron and Judy (alias Pawnee Woman and Party Woman) again tell them there are some folks back home wanting to say, Hi.

I believe that the Headstaff must be positive, on time if not early, and should dance all the dances called for or at least have a stand in if you must go to the rest room. You are the Committees representative to the other dancers. Dancers that have been around a while will know what is going on. As far as docking the gift money, I wouldn't, just let the headperson know you were displeased. (Unless you have a contract, which I have never signed one, no one knows how much the gift will be). I was taught and believe that your word is all you have worth ANYTHING. You should always honor your family and yourself. Do your best.

[Eagle Plumes]

There is a reason you were picked!

You would not even be picked if somebody had not thought you could do the job you were being picked to do ,so when im head lady dancer i do my best and should I need to step out I always pick a woman I can trust to fill in for me but it is rare that I have to do that cause i try to do all the "things" i may need to do when im not needed in the arena. When I was nursing my youngest child I would have one of my nieces fill in for me and they loved it because it was getting them ready for when it was theit turn to be head lady. BUt never have I done it for the money or got a god like complex I go out there and do my very best . In fact im now getting ready for a upcoming pow-wow that im head lady for .

[kiyaanii mom]

Headman and headlady are suppose to be the lead dancers on all intertribals. So they need to be there at that time. I have see some powwows, where everyone is sitting around waiting for the headman. Then the head lady will just go out or sometimes I see another man just get up and go out. A super good head man and lady will also participate on all specials and dance with the honoree. It all shows respect.

Docked? Probably not. I've never seen a contract for head man or head lady. As long as committees are careful about picking respectful people for these positions, then I don't think people will need contracts for this.

[WocusWoman]

I've been headlady a couple times here for "free." I was just asked, and I did the best job I could. I think people probably expect too much now days, that's why they take being asked for granted; and don't show up, aren't on time, do a disappearing act, etc.

[Wakalapi]

LOL I remember a powwow where the head man and head woman were just the first man and woman dancer to show up (I ended up being the arena director, the first breathing person to step out of a car without an outfit). Somehow, it all came together and worked...

[crazywolf]

Boozhoo niji,

I have been head man at a few pow wows. I was told by friends of mine that I needed to prepare for giveaway for this honor, and at one pow wow, I did so, the head lady was unprepaired, so I had to buy the brunt of the giveaway. I was told by the pow wow committee that this was not a necessary thing that I was doing, but I told them that it was tradition, so they relunctantly accepted. A couple of years later I was told by someone that quit that committee that they were angered by my insistance of having a giveaway. I was told that I upstaged them. Upstage the committee?

Somewhere on here I read about paying the head staff, and the only one I can remember, was for contest pow wow, where each head person got what a first place adult contest winner would get. I have been at pow wows, where one of the head staff got docked for not doing a complete job. I also know there was no contract, and there also was no preagreed upon set amount of payment.

I have been at pow wows, where the head staff was nowhere to be found during the startup of a set of intertribals, and finally after waiting for an entinre song, I finally went out there and danced. I was kinda berated by one of the older members of a drum, and I stood my ground, and said, that if the head man had been doing his job, then this would not have happened. This guy had been consistantly late for the whole pow wow. Worse yet, I know this man was a member of the state recognized tribe that put on the pow wow, so he will probably be back next year.

At the pow wow it takes me about a hour to get dressed in my outfit. When I am head man, I allow myeself two. I have giveaway to get ready for, I try to work on that throughout the year before the pow wow, and try to coordinate this with the head lady before the pow wow (impossible at times when she is picked last minute). I also try to get up early and just float around the grounds, so that means no 49 until 4 in the morning. To me, this is like the highest responsibililty I will probably ever have in pow wow life, so I take it seriously.

Derek

[traddancer2021]

Well, your head dancers, are there to lead the dancers into the arena.....on every occasion. They are there to esscort people around the arena in specials, and they are there to be positve role models on everyone there at the pow-wow. When your late, or just don't show up your breaking your contract....your not there to perform your job.....so why should I give you money that you have not earned? You were NOT a positve role-model, you did NOT lead the dancers in the arena, you were NOT here to esscort the people around the arena during our specials today.....so.....I paid someone else to do it for you!

[kiyaanii mom]

Well, your head dancers, are there to lead the dancers into the arena.....on every occasion. They are there to esscort people around the arena in specials, and they are there to be positve role models on everyone there at the pow-wow. When your late, or just don't show up your breaking your contract....your not there to perform your job.....so why should I give you money that you have not earned? You were NOT a positve role-model, you did NOT lead the dancers in the arena, you were NOT here to esscort the people around the arena during our specials today.....so.....I paid someone else to do it for you!

Good point

[TKMJ Productions]

just my oponion on the subject

I do sound for a lot of powwows throught the year and have seen a lot go on with head dancers. I usually try to help set up a meeting between the myself, head dancers, arena director, head vet, and the MC so I know what is going on. Usually at the meeting, responsibilities are discussed and agreed upon. This helps out a lot. Everyone knows what each is responsible for.

As far as head dancers go, they should dance by the guidelines set by the powwow comittee and the arena director or as tradition dictates for the area. A head dancer should do reserch beforhand as to what is their responsibility to each powwow. The head dancers also need to have knowlege of the intertribal dance styles.

For some head dancers it is a money thing. for others it's a honor to be asked. I have seen head dancers make huge mistakes in protocol because there knowlege is limited or they think there are the Creator's gift to the powwow. The trick is to do the best job you can and follow the rules set by the comittee and the arena director. Just like anyone else, a head dancer can be asked to leave if he or she is not doing their job.

The bottom line is: If you can't do the complete job in an honorable way, Don't accept the position.

[Eagle Plumes]

When Im head-lady dancer I like to inform family and friends of my position but they also know I may not be able to sit and visit the way we like to because im always listening to the m.c so ill know what is expected of me next wether it be being called up fro a give-away item or when its time to dance, even bathroom breaks are done when i know there is something going on that wont involve me, and if for some reason I cant go rite out I send in a niece or a dancer that I know, knows what is expected of them, if I do that I inform the A.d of what im doing. I did that when I was nursing my kiddo's and worked out quite well.

[Steffan Redhawk]

Head Dancers

I am Lakota... Raised around Ok. Pow wows.

I've had the honor of being head man on several occasions, I have never had someone 'fill' in for me on bathroom breaks, and I'll show you why:

The way I was taught, the head man and woman's duties are to be there for every dance. I was taught that it is okay to dance one time around as head man, then dart for the bathroom if needed. I have never taken this as a courtesy, it's not like I dance around once, and then stand around talking to some cute ndn girl for an hour or two... oh I wish....


There are times when you can't make it, but I avoid those times, if the commitee needs to talk to me, they can come out and dance with me. They don't have a problem with that down south, but up here, sheeeeit... Your lucky if they don't page you to come to the comittee booth... Some comittees IMO have no respect for the circle.

I miss down south, the old school water boys, the hay around the circle, the drums that stick to the old ways... hard to find up here, and with times changing, so do the way things are done...

Do I want to walk over to your comittee booth while I'm head dancer so you can ask me when I want to do my giveaway?

NO!

You wanna know? Wait til the right time, or come dance with the rest of us, and ask in a good way... I've heard elders up here say that conversations shouldn't be going on while your dancing... LOL... I respect those elders wishes, but I also offer my views to them.

I feel that if you can't have a conversation in that arena, then you shouldn't be there. When the emcee is talking, he's having a conversation with the dancers, and the spectators, much like when a feather is lifted, or a drum whistled, we communicate through our dancing, our actions, and how we honor others. Speach is no different, as long as it's done in a good way. Keep the BS out of the arena, everthing else is fair game.

If your head man, or head woman, and your not within a few paces of the arena (unless your stuck in a port o pot) your not doing your job. Stay there until the flags are retired, even in that case, stick around for the 2step, otherwise, everyone else will look like clowns. (no offense intended, but I've seen some horrible 2 steps)

This is my opinion, if I've offended anyone, I apologize, this is the way I was taught, and the way I respect the most.

[TKMJ Productions]

I am Lakota... Raised around Ok. Pow wows.

I've had the honor of being head man on several occasions, I have never had someone 'fill' in for me on bathroom breaks, and I'll show you why:

The way I was taught, the head man and woman's duties are to be there for every dance. I was taught that it is okay to dance one time around as head man, then dart for the bathroom if needed. I have never taken this as a courtesy, it's not like I dance around once, and then stand around talking to some cute ndn girl for an hour or two... oh I wish....


There are times when you can't make it, but I avoid those times, if the commitee needs to talk to me, they can come out and dance with me. They don't have a problem with that down south, but up here, sheeeeit... Your lucky if they don't page you to come to the comittee booth... Some comittees IMO have no respect for the circle.

I miss down south, the old school water boys, the hay around the circle, the drums that stick to the old ways... hard to find up here, and with times changing, so do the way things are done...

Do I want to walk over to your comittee booth while I'm head dancer so you can ask me when I want to do my giveaway?

NO!

You wanna know? Wait til the right time, or come dance with the rest of us, and ask in a good way... I've heard elders up here say that conversations shouldn't be going on while your dancing... LOL... I respect those elders wishes, but I also offer my views to them.

I feel that if you can't have a conversation in that arena, then you shouldn't be there. When the emcee is talking, he's having a conversation with the dancers, and the spectators, much like when a feather is lifted, or a drum whistled, we communicate through our dancing, our actions, and how we honor others. Speach is no different, as long as it's done in a good way. Keep the BS out of the arena, everthing else is fair game.

If your head man, or head woman, and your not within a few paces of the arena (unless your stuck in a port o pot) your not doing your job. Stay there until the flags are retired, even in that case, stick around for the 2step, otherwise, everyone else will look like clowns. (no offense intended, but I've seen some horrible 2 steps)

This is my opinion, if I've offended anyone, I apologize, this is the way I was taught, and the way I respect the most.

Sounds to me like you "Got it together"! If more head dancers used your ways of doing things, the whole circuit would be better off.

[Steffan Redhawk]

Sounds to me like you "Got it together"! If more head dancers used your ways of doing things, the whole circuit would be better off.

I appriciate that. I have to mention, that I am well compensated for what I do. I do everything in my power to make sure the arena is about hitchless (I'd love to be considered a whipman...)

The commitees that have used me in the past as a head dancer, do get their arms twisted a little bit, but most are acceptable because of the end result... I don't "twist my ankle" and not dance... I'll hobble if I have to.. but I'll do it in style :D

Muhahahaha

Thanks for the kind post