Impromptu head dancer?

[Czechy]

At some of the smaller events the Head Man and Head Lady dancers are chosen on the spot, without much warning. If this happened to you, how would you acknowledge the honor of being chosen? Would you make a donation to the powwow committee or what?

[Eagle Plumes]

Ive done..

Ive givin money to the drum of my choice and i have donated a craft to the comm it really depends on what im thinkin at the time

[WocusWoman]

I've often been asked on the spot. It's aggravating, but if I'm not too busy with my vendor's table, I usually gladly do it. I figure if they are not prepared to ask ahead of time, they should not expect me to give them anything either. I usually just want a thankyou for doing it, and nothing else.

[Privateer6]

What I would like to know is what should you do if asked to "fill in" for a head dancer? I almost had to do that once.

[kiyaanii mom]

You definetly don't need to have a special!

Whatever tickles your fancy. If you are appreciative, then you can show it. But a lot of powwows pick head man and women dancers per each session. It is advertised that way. So nothing is expected from the individual, except that they perform their duties as best they can.

[WhoMe]

Having an impromptu head dancer defeats the purpose.

Head dancers originally helped sponsor and host the event by advertising the powwow and feeding visitors.

Today, this title is largely symbollic as many dancers do not wait and allow the head dancers to be the first to begin the dancing.

Thus, there is really no reason to pick head dancers on the spot unless you just want to honor them with a "symbollic" title.

[Str8Dancer49]

Having an impromptu head dancer defeats the purpose.

...

Today, this title is largely symbollic as many dancers do not wait and allow the head dancers to be the first to begin the dancing.

Thus, there is really no reason to pick head dancers on the spot unless you just want to honor them with a "symbollic" title.

It seems that some committees do the "picked per session" head staff as a way to save money..... that's fine I guess, but to me it always seems a bit on the cheap side.

And WhoMe is right - alot of folks don't wait to dance till the head dancers are up. But there's also a flip side to that - especially w/ the "picked per session" head staff. Some times the head dancers don't dance every song like I've always been taught you're supposed to when given such a position. A number of times, I've been sitting around waiting through half a song for the head dancers to get their rears out in the circle, and finaly I'll just go. The rest of us dancers can't be expected to sit around waiting if the head dancers are not gonna do their job.

[Eagle Plumes]

When im asked for a session i dance like I normally would ,making sure im close by incase im needed, like sombody said no special to me theres not a lot to it. Theres times i would prefer a session type dance its easier on my body!!! lol

[Eagle Plumes]

Im wondering if some even know to do that, I do i teach my kiddos to make sure they are familliar with head staff so they can begin dancing after the head dancer takes his or her first step, with me its showing my boys to watch their headman, its simple to do but I know alot dont, either out of sloppyness or just dont know thats what they need to do.

[WhoMe]

Many people have "recently" entered the powwow arena.

For this reason, they don't know to wait for the head dancer(s) to begin and lead each dance.

Watch how many children just start dancing when each song starts.

Doesn't education begin with our children?

[Pushtay Hill]

Head Dancers...

In our tribal circles,the Whipman has always been the head man,...but with these adoptions of other tribal ways,now we have arena directors who are part of the circle. Which is fine,I've worked as a arena director and organized the grand entry with all the Flag bearers,Veterans,Royalty,and so on. I first saw the head man dancer at a Haskell Pow-Wow and when he did an honoring,that also is where I saw a Special,and it was simply an honor song with a giveaway afterwards,no contest or anything fancy. Nowadays,Head Dancers seem to be expected to put on a big contest of some kind! Some pow-wow posters are just "Specials,specials,specials!!! It's crazy! Anyway back to the original topic,...It's all the norm now,pay your head staff pay top dollar to a group of singers who have a big name,..you ain't got a good pow-wow unless you have a "big Special"!

[RedShield]

I know at the Columbus pow wows they have recently gone to picking their head staff daily, and my wife was chosen at the pow wow this past weekend for Saturday...
I know if this would have been done ahead of time, we would have a giveaway ready, but doing this in that way we had no time to prepare, do I think it's a good idea... it has its good points and bad points, I know with the heat last weekend, my wife appreciated the break the next day, but because of the way she was raised and the teachings we both follow we would like to have known so we could prepare to do things the right way when honored this way... from now on I think we'll make sure to carry extra tobacco with us to at least show the proper respects to the drums that are there... at least in that way, some of our teachings can still be followed if this situation pops up again.

[TKMJ Productions]

In the summer heat, I can see why head dancers are sometimes picked on the spot. It does get hot out there in the circle under the sun. Dancers do need a break. Picking by the session is a good way to do things.

On the other side, Picking head dancers on the spot is sometimes a "best dressed" or "best dancer" contest for the powwow comittee.

The powwow comittee should also compensate the "on the spot" head dancers for their work. At least a nice gift basket and some gas money should be included.

[Steffan Redhawk]

In the summer heat, I can see why head dancers are sometimes picked on the spot. It does get hot out there in the circle under the sun. Dancers do need a break. Picking by the session is a good way to do things.

On the other side, Picking head dancers on the spot is sometimes a "best dressed" or "best dancer" contest for the powwow comittee.

The powwow comittee should also compensate the "on the spot" head dancers for their work. At least a nice gift basket and some gas money should be included.

There's a few rigs out there I've made that are nicer than mine, and a few of the guys are horrible dancers... I'd be appauled if that happened to them.

Belive it or not, I have to agree with WhoMe (first time for everything <G>) I think it's bull**** for a committee to WAIT until the last minute to choose head male/females, especially if they change per session, to me, it shows the committee is unorganized, and if it's a contest powwow, it shows me their cheap.. I'm gonna kill 2 birds with one stone here... I'm also gonna post on the head dancers competiting...

I think a head dancer competiting has a unique advantage, the fact that he/she is obligated to be there for every dance (this includes spotchecks) so, in competiting against a head dancer, you gotta be there every dance too :) lol...

Back to waiting to choose:

I understand if a head male/female (person) has problems getting to a powwow, health issues, car breaks down, ect ect ect... Being asked to step up in a case like this, to me is an honor. However, I was asked at a powwow in indiana last year (one of the two I danced at) to be head man for a session, and of course, I declined.. (didn't feel like dancin to be honest with ya).. So, they found some kid in a fancy dance outfit, I think one of my friends was the Head Male that evening, not sure... I didn't attend that powwow this year, won't be next year probably either, partially because their committee had things straight a few years ago, and now, it's like a fair... I don't attend those either


Long post, sorry if I bored ya

[CHEROSAGE]

It seems that some committees do the "picked per session" head staff as a way to save money..... that's fine I guess, but to me it always seems a bit on the cheap side.

And WhoMe is right - alot of folks don't wait to dance till the head dancers are up. But there's also a flip side to that - especially w/ the "picked per session" head staff. Some times the head dancers don't dance every song like I've always been taught you're supposed to when given such a position. A number of times, I've been sitting around waiting through half a song for the head dancers to get their rears out in the circle, and finaly I'll just go. The rest of us dancers can't be expected to sit around waiting if the head dancers are not gonna do their job.

For starts, I don't have a problem with a committee picking head dancing staff per day or session. I have been to a few dances that were well organized and gifted these picked dancers. I have even been asked occassionally. When I was asked, I felt honored, and asked for a special dance. I took the money and split it between the drum committee and maybe someone special to me at that dance. I think I even gave some tobacco and odds/ends of stuff that we had on hand.

The Idea of new and wierd dancers not respecting the HeadStaff!!!! Well I blame some of that on the AD and MC. The AD could let these people know to stay out until the head staff start. If this is too large a group he could ask the MC to announce the rudeness and ask for the honoring of the head staff. Too often anymore we see the AD as nothing more than the drums waiter/drink goffer. Yes it is important for the drum/singers to have enough to drink but lets get real.

Just a thought. Thanks.