Original Fancy Dance Category

[WhoMe]

As I have been observing over the last couple of years, I have noticed less and less difference between northern and southern fancy dancers. Most modern fancy dancers can switch divisions at will and place in either category without adjusting their dance style or outfit.

The original or "traditional" style of fancy dancer is all but becoming a memory.

At the Gathering of Nations there was a Navajo fancy dancer which wore parts of his regalia from different fancy dancing eras. I think he placed third.

He went bare chested (ca. 1930's - 80's) He wore extended plumes in his roach (ca. 1940's - 50's) He wore the short beaded suspenders (1920's - 1980's) He wore a short fringed breech cloth (1920's -1980's) He painted stripes on his legs (1950's - 1980's) etc. etc.

I know of three other dancers who own period outfits and can dance the correct style that goes with these fancy dance outfits. They are: Morgan Tosee, Kevin Connywerdy and Mike Pahsetopah.


Do you think the powwow world is ready for a Original Fancy Dance Category?

[Zorro]

As I have been observing over the last couple of years, I have noticed less and less difference between northern and southern fancy dancers.

that's cuz them southern doots have finally been seeing the light... lol

[Str8Dancer49]

that's cuz them southern doots have finally been seeing the light... lol

BUUUUUHHHHHH!

"them southern doots" invented fancy dance... northerners betta recognize!

Morgan rocks old style fancy..... black tights and all.....
but there's just not enough guys who know the old school moves to have an "old style fancy" category. It'd be all contemp moves in old style clothes, or newer outfits w/ not-quite-right old school moves - which is exactly what I saw in one old style fancy special contest at Walters a few years back. (Morgan won that one BTW.)

Speaking of old school moves, I'm still waiting for someone to break out with Jack Hokeah's "windshield wiper" move....

[sookout sh'nob]

the Oklahoma Historical society has tapes. You can order copies for research, but they're pricey.

[WhoMe]

the Oklahoma Historical society has tapes. You can order copies for research, but they're pricey.

sookout,

What kind of tapes?

Are they video or audio?

If they are video, do they show old tyme fancy dancers?

[sookout sh'nob]

Video copies of old movie tape reels. You bet your boots they're old school. Try to get in touch with the OHS first - then give me a hollar if they are no longer avilable/in circulation and we'll see what we can do.

http://www.okhistory.org/res/ResDiv.html

sookout,

What kind of tapes?

Are they video or audio?

If they are video, do they show old tyme fancy dancers?

[lostsalt]

How far back do

Video copies of old movie tape reels. You bet your boots they're old school. Try to get in touch with the OHS first - then give me a hollar if they are no longer avilable/in circulation and we'll see what we can do.

http://www.okhistory.org/res/ResDiv.html

How far back do the tapes go? Do they include folks like WOOGIE, etc.?
How pricey, it might still be a good deal.

Lostsalt

[WhoMe]

Video copies of old movie tape reels. You bet your boots they're old school. Try to get in touch with the OHS first - then give me a hollar if they are no longer avilable/in circulation and we'll see what we can do.

http://www.okhistory.org/res/ResDiv.html

Sookout,

I couldn't find any video information about fancy dancers from this website.

I'm a guest speaker there tomorrow for a Indian Museum's and Libraries Conference. My topic is "collecting oral histories from Indian elders, ceremonial leaders and Indian historians."

I'll ask about the dance tapes then.

[sookout sh'nob]

Sookout,

I couldn't find any video information about fancy dancers from this website.

I'm a guest speaker there tomorrow for a Indian Museum's and Libraries Conference. My topic is "collecting oral histories from Indian elders, ceremonial leaders and Indian historians."

I'll ask about the dance tapes then.

They have them for sure, but as I said, they may be out of circulation. Make sure you don't get an intern or a grad student when you ask ;)

[Str8Dancer49]

Hey WhoMe..... one of the Tsontokoy guys (I wanna say it was Gilbert? but I just might be making up a first name cause I really can't remember...) had an old film of Steve Mopope fancy dancing from the mid 1930s..... I think it had a couple of other big name old schoolers in there too.... Ask Vanessa Jennings - she'd prolly know what I'm talking about and may even have a copy of that film.

[T8_err_tot]

At the Gathering of Nations there was a Navajo fancy dancer which wore parts of his regalia from different fancy dancing eras. I think he placed third.

He went bare chested (ca. 1930's - 80's) He wore extended plumes in his roach (ca. 1940's - 50's) He wore the short beaded suspenders (1920's - 1980's) He wore a short fringed breech cloth (1920's -1980's) He painted stripes on his legs (1950's - 1980's) etc. etc.




Do you think the powwow world is ready for a Original Fancy Dance Category?

hey thanx for the props! that's my brother LyDall Yazzie. Our family thanks you for those kind comments and it's about time someone recognizes it. *L* Our family very much enjoys the southern style of dancing. and as time goes on and things change. it's pleasing to see my very own brother stick to those ways. (Im not trying to diss on the contemp. I enjoy watchin this style as well) Our family held up an Old Style Southern Fancy War dance a couple of years back at the Spotlight 29 powwow in honor of my Brother and Dad who have both danced the old style. My father's the one who introduced this dance to us when we were young and didn't know a thing about Powwows. he learned from the Toya and Cozad family who we respect very much. But everytime I watch my brother bust a move out on the dance floor it amazes me that this style once rocked the powwow circle.. and again I thank you for those kind comments and hope to see you all on the powwow trail! And to those old style mens fancy dancers... COME ON OUT AND SUPPORT IT! lol

[WhoMe]

T8,

Yes, it was your brother who inspired this thread. I know both the Toya's and Cozads. They are good people. My dad is going to sing with the Toya's this memorial day weekend at the Black River Falls powwow in Wisconsin. Thanks for the props.

St8D,

I think the person you are referring to is Dewey Tsonetokoy. He is a historian and very knowledgeable.


Sookout,

I spoke with a Dr. Welge, head of their research department. He told me that the earliest powwow scenes the OHS comes from a film that was taken around the late 1930's - early 40's era in Mangum, Oklahoma. If purchased for personal use, OHS film is 9 cents a foot. This particular piece of film is 100 ft.

[WhoMe]

It's amazing how the Northwest roundbustle dancing looks like the original Oklahoma style dancing!

The outfits are also very similar.


I wonder how many people know what a skull cap is?

[sookout sh'nob]

Ahaw, I think that's the one there.

And yes, modern round bustle looks a lot like old style fancy. A lot of cross-cultural fertilization and sharing must have gone on at boarding schools in the beginnings. I'm starting to think that a lot of the positive things we enjoy today are direct results of positive experiences at boarding school .

I work in the projects right now, and one of the things I see here is that good friends are good friends no matter how negative the cirumstances of your environment may be/appear. I think that's how the sharing I'm talking about must have started at boarding school - as part making friendly relationships happen in an incredibly hostile envrionment

Maybe we wouldn't all be dancing these dances if it weren't for that.

Sookout,

I spoke with a Dr. Welge, head of their research department. He told me that the earliest powwow scenes the OHS comes from a film that was taken around the late 1930's - early 40's era in Mangum, Oklahoma. If purchased for personal use, OHS film is 9 cents a foot. This particular piece of film is 100 ft.

[WhoMe]

... we enjoy today are direct results of positive experiences at boarding school ....

*L

Sookout, I'M one of those direct results of a "postive experience"!