Chicken Dance at Powwows

[Brackett481]

I have been to many powwows lately where a chicken dancer or two have requested a song. I quess it is like a specialty. During this specialty, I noticed that both traditional dancers and grass dancers came into the circle to dance the song. Are these other style dancers typically allowed to dance with a chicken dancer in a specialty, or should it just be the Chicken out there?

I know there are many specialties for both grass and tradish, but is this one of them?

[darkwaterlum]

For here on the east coast, there are very few powwows that have a seperate chicken cateogory, I either have to dance with the grass dancers, I have seen some chickendancers compete with the traditional dancers, I think its up to the A.D., but i prefer to dance with the grass dancers, because their songs are usually more upbeat, and I have yet to see a Southern drum sing a double beat for a grass category....haha At the last few powwows the MC would give me a seperate song just for an exibition, and sometimes a grass and or a traditional dancer would join in. Hey there has been times when a Duck and Dive or stooping song was sung, and I would join in with tradtional dancers...so I think that it really falls on the MC and/or the AD....

[Emmy]

For here on the east coast, there are very few powwows that have a seperate chicken cateogory, I either have to dance with the grass dancers, I have seen some chickendancers compete with the traditional dancers, I think its up to the A.D., but i prefer to dance with the grass dancers, because their songs are usually more upbeat, and I have yet to see a Southern drum sing a double beat for a grass category....haha At the last few powwows the MC would give me a seperate song just for an exibition, and sometimes a grass and or a traditional dancer would join in. Hey there has been times when a Duck and Dive or stooping song was sung, and I would join in with tradtional dancers...so I think that it really falls on the MC and/or the AD....

Its not up to the AD or MC at all. Its up to the dancer. Back west most of the chicken dancers dance in traditional...Its a traditional dance. not grass.

Ps, i just saw a southern drum sing a double beat not two weeks ago.

[bahnisiain]

around here i have seen chicken dancers witht eh grass dancers and with the traditional dancers.

[Kiwehnzii]

All I know about this dance, I learnt from a gentleman from Alberta. I will share one thing and one thing only. It is called a prairie chicken dance where he comes from and there are teachings and a society to which this dance belongs.

[Joe's Dad]

All I know about this dance, I learnt from a gentleman from Alberta. I will share one thing and one thing only. It is called a prairie chicken dance where he comes from and there are teachings and a society to which this dance belongs.

Hey Ki...What prairie are you talking about? The southeast prairie or the northeast prairie?

Juss kiddin! You make a good point. When you see as many shicken dancers coming in on a Grand Entry up in the Northwest as you see dancers coming in at other powwows, it's drives the point home.

[darkwaterlum]

" Its not up to the AD or MC at all. Its up to the dancer. Back west most of the chicken dancers dance in traditional...Its a traditional dance. not grass......"

I was just saying for the powwows that I have been to so far here on the east coast...usually the AD would ask which category do we prefer, and would normally suggest the grass category....

[CloudN9ne]

" Its not up to the AD or MC at all. Its up to the dancer. Back west most of the chicken dancers dance in traditional...Its a traditional dance. not grass......"

I was just saying for the powwows that I have been to so far here on the east coast...usually the AD would ask which category do we prefer, and would normally suggest the grass category....

it's usually inexperienced ADs that make that choice for you!!!
i usually make my own choices when i dance chicken a powwows, but it's mainly you hop into the tradish catagory!!

[Wakalapi]

There are two categories that people often mistake for one another: Prairie Chicken and Round Bustle. I was told the Prairie Chicken dance comes from the Blackfeet and the Round Bustle dance comes from the Umatilla. Prairie Chicken songs are some of my favorite songs to sing on a northern drum. (oh sorry, this ain't the drum forum but I'm just saying....)

When invited to judge, I really wish each of these styles had their own category. But in the Northwest, "Mens' Traditional" usually means Northern Traditional, Southern Straight, Coastal Buttonblanket, Round Bustle, Prairie Chicken ... well ANYTHING besides Grass or Fancy. I am not fond of how they often lump so many very different styles together.

[kneegrow_native]

Around here in the inland northwest, Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, I have been seeing a lot in both grass and traditional.

I have been to pow-wows around here where you will see a Prairie Chicken Dancer in with men's grass, but if their is a men's traditional special you will see them jump in that too.

It is almost like the 80's and early 90's when a lot of pow-wows did not have a grass or jingle category. I remember seeing a few grass dancers get in with men's traditional rather than fancy until they were eventually given their own category.

The only real solution would be their own Prairie Chicken category.

[djaaron319]

Prairie Chicken

Oki Napiks, Well for that one that said Praire Chicken dance is traditional your right in that since its a tradish dance style but its not Northern Tradish. it is related to the grass dance in many ways even though Prairie Chicken dance is its own dance it has relation to grass. This Prairie chicken dance is a touchy subject. I dance this style and most of my elder male family did at one time. This is our peoples dance and to me its up to the dancer to dance in what categorey he wants if this categorey is not present. but up here in the north west in blackfoot country we always have it as a categorey so its all good. but i have dance in grass and tradish. so its up to the dancer. well thats my thoughts and opinion. I am no expert on this either i only know what my elders tell me and that the best u can do is to follow that.. aight laters kitakitahmahtsin

[oldstylechicken]

i would have to agree with djaaron319 about the chicken dancer making the choice of either dancing in grass and tradish categories and its true up here in blackfeet/blackfoot country that we have the chicken dance category so its all good. I think it would be awesome if other powwows would have it as a category to, so then it would bring more chicken dancers from all over.

[stater chick]

well her in tha states the chicken dancers have been danceing with the grass dancers and the traditional dances!! but in canada they have there own category!!

[Brian_wask]

chicken dancing

undefinedI Thing That A Parire Chicken Dancer Knows What He's Doing . It's What You Feel Inside You .if Your Happy Than You Will Dance Good If Your Sad Than You Wont Dance As Good As You Do. Be Happy With Yourself Don't Try To Dance Like Someone Else You Dance For The People Who Are Sick And That Can't Walk I Speak The Truth Thank You

[Mato Winyan]

Hey Brian......

Thanks for reminding all of us of those thoughts.