Original Fancy Dancing

[WhoMe]

Fancy dancing has been around for almost 100 years now. It has forgone a drastic change since it's humble beginnings.

The Ponca Tribe is credited with it's origin.

The modern Chicken and Round Bustle Dancers resemble early fancy dancers in both style and regalia.

Is there anybody that can interpret the original way of fancydancing (1913 to 1930)?

If so, the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian is looking for someone to interpret Original Fancy Dancing at this year's powwow.

[Wojapi4Me]

I know several people who have period fancy outfits, but those are more from the 1950s and 1960s. My dad knows this style of dancing, but is a traditional dancer now.

This would be awesome to see, but I think it would be hard to find people who know this style that are young enough to perform it. Hope it works out.

I've been wondering when Old Style Fancy Feather was going to be a category? I can still keep up with the youngins', but I need something to go into when I can't :)

[middle of the sky]

side note

i still dance fancy like i did when i was 8... manitoba style..

[WhoMe]

I know several people who have period fancy outfits, but those are more from the 1950s and 1960s. My dad knows this style of dancing, but is a traditional dancer now.

This would be awesome to see, but I think it would be hard to find people who know this style that are young enough to perform it. Hope it works out.

I've been wondering when Old Style Fancy Feather was going to be a category? I can still keep up with the youngins', but I need something to go into when I can't :)

There is a formal request to the Ponca Powwow Committee to introduce a category for "Old Style Fancy Dancing" in the works. What better place than White Eagle, Oklahoma - "Home of the Original National Men's Fancy Dance Contest."

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You are right about finding someone with both the knowledge and talent.


That is why I'm posting this "talent search" on Powwows.com

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This year's theme for the National Powwow is: Origins of the Powwow.

We have suggestions in each contest category of "original dancers' who will interpret the "original way the dance was done" for eight dance categories.

The three powwow emcees will bring in the grand entries in their Native languages like they did in the old days.

[BeadMan]

About 12 or so years ago one of the powwow groups in the Tulsa area had a "Fashion show" of period fancy dance outfits. There were 20s, 50s, 80s, and 90s, outfits and dancers. I have seen pictures and video, it was awsome! Sandy Rhoades was part of that, might give him a call.

The University of Tulsa has a great ethnology video and sound archive with some rare footage of early fancy dancers. Any good dancer should be able to watch that and get a good sense for what the style was like, the rest would be making the outfit.

I'd volunteer, but I'll be out of the country when that powwow takes place.

[WhoMe]

About 12 or so years ago one of the powwow groups in the Tulsa area had a "Fashion show" of period fancy dance outfits. There were 20s, 50s, 80s, and 90s, outfits and dancers. I have seen pictures and video, it was awsome! Sandy Rhoades was part of that, might give him a call.

I'd volunteer, but I'll be out of the country when that powwow takes place.

Thanks Bead man

I think Sandy would be a great candidate to interpret the original fancy dance but seeing as this is sponsored by the NMAI, they specifically request that the person be Indian and if possible, of the tribe that started the dance.

They have been in contact with Ponca individuals and were told "no one has the knowledge to interpret the dance" as it was done in the period 1913-1920.

There is one dancer from Tulsa who I have seen that does a wonderful interpretation of "The Evolution of the Fancy Dance." He has told the NMAI that he is planning on petitioning the Ponca Powwow Committee into bringing an Original Fancy Dance Contest to the Ponca Powwow. I think it is a fantastic idea and goes along with the powwow trend of retro-contests (old style jingle and old style grass).

I have been reviewing early tapes of fancy dancers in the early wild west shows. But these tapes only have 1 to 2 seconds of individual dancers. At least we can see what they looked like.


But as of today, we are still looking for a person to interpret an Original Fancy Dancer.

[quicksilverwade]

I was thinking that Walter Ahhaitty would have information, no?

[WhoMe]

I was thinking that Walter Ahhaitty would have information, no?

qsw,

It's worth a shot. Maybe he can even do the interpretation. I have his email.