Gourd dance questions

[pecostx]

my father was going to teach me about gourd dancing after my return from Iraq in '08. Unfortunately he died before I was retired from service due to injuries sustained in combat. Now as a veteran I have a strong yearning to learn about gourd dancing and showing respect for veterans. I have most of my regalia put together , but I am not sure if I should use bell gourd or salt shaker for my rattle. Which is more appropriate? Also , if there are any dancers in or around San Angelo Texas , I would like to visit with you sometime.
Pecos

[WhoMe]

my father was going to teach me about gourd dancing after my return from Iraq in '08. Unfortunately he died before I was retired from service due to injuries sustained in combat. Now as a veteran I have a strong yearning to learn about gourd dancing and showing respect for veterans. I have most of my regalia put together , but I am not sure if I should use bell gourd or salt shaker for my rattle. Which is more appropriate? Also , if there are any dancers in or around San Angelo Texas , I would like to visit with you sometime.
Pecos

peco,

I think gourd dancing and showing respect for veterans are two separate things.


Shake it 'like a salt shaka'!

[pecostx]

True I understand that , gourd dancing is just a personal thing for me and I want to do it to revere the veterans and my friends who lost thier lives fighting for freedom, and past veterans who fought. That's just a personal thing I guess.

[Josiah]

What Whome is saying, its not a Veteran's Dance

But rather a Man's Dance

Yes Veteran's partake along with many others from all walks of life

My suggestion is you go to a Gourd Dance and watch first

Gotta learn to crawl before you can Walk!!

[WhoMe]

That's just a personal thing I guess.

peco,

Kewl!

I would suggest using the gourd with the salt shaker.

[Berry Picker]

Its been a long time since Ive seen any real Gourd Dances. They just dont have em out here in the east. So, I might be talkin smack out my other side but..

Arent there Gourd Dance Societies? If I remember right, there are different protocols and such pertaining to the specific Society. Maybe what you should do is find a local Gourd Dance Society that will let you participate. Then, they can fill ya in on how to do your regalia according to their ways. Even then, when you get to an unfamiliar Gourd Dance, there should be a Head Dancer or MC or someone who will tell you what's appropriate for their dance. For example, some people will want you to wear the bi-colored blanket, for others, straight dance regalia is appropriate...

I love and miss Gourd Dances and always wished I could participate when I was at one.

I would recommend learning Southern Straight Dance step if you dont already know for the part of the Gourd Dance where ya move around. Many Straight Dancers dont quite get it right so choose your teacher well.

[Josiah]

Its been a long time since Ive seen any real Gourd Dances. They just dont have em out here in the east. So, I might be talkin smack out my other side but..

Arent there Gourd Dance Societies? If I remember right, there are different protocols and such pertaining to the specific Society. Maybe what you should do is find a local Gourd Dance Society that will let you participate. Then, they can fill ya in on how to do your regalia according to their ways. Even then, when you get to an unfamiliar Gourd Dance, there should be a Head Dancer or MC or someone who will tell you what's appropriate for their dance. For example, some people will want you to wear the bi-colored blanket, for others, straight dance regalia is appropriate...

I love and miss Gourd Dances and always wished I could participate when I was at one.

I would recommend learning Southern Straight Dance step if you dont already know for the part of the Gourd Dance where ya move around. Many Straight Dancers dont quite get it right so choose your teacher well.

Southern Straight steps are not the same as when you Gourd Dance totally different kinds of songs! The Song dictates what kind of steps you would dance
not how you feel at that moment or what you saw somewhere else

[pecostx]

Many Thanks Gentlemen, I am going to go to two Gourd Dances within the next 15 days to watch and learn. I really wish I had taken the time to question my father more about his ways before his passing. Once again thanks for the responses.
pecos

[Berry Picker]

Like I said I dont remember so well. Its been 20 years since Ive seen a good Gourd Dance.

[ac_miss]

Pecos....you're from west Texas, eh? I don't know any decent gourd dance societies out that way, so hopefully the gourd dances you are able to go to are very respectful in the way of gourd dance. I see quite a bit so-called dance societies pop up and they "run" with anything that seems fit for "their" society. Be wary!

[pecostx]

Big Spring has a pow wow but I am going to be making alot of trips to Oklahoma this summer to visit my inlaws.
Pecos

[CHEROSAGE]

Pecos, How was your quest for Gourd Dancing? As Whome and Josiah was saying, and they are very gooooooood teachers, this is a Man's Societal dance. You do not have to be a Veteran to be a Gourd Dancer BUT many of our Gourd dancers are Veterans. You never mentioned what Tribe your Father was of. Are your In-Laws also NDN? Perhaps a living family member can educate you and then your family can sponsor you coming out to dance.

[pecostx]

I am Comanche/Caddo. My inlays are Oklahoma Choctaw. I have able to reconnect with many of my tribe and have attended a lot of powwows since I first posted. I am going to enter the circle possibly in Spring of 2012. My Numunuh(Comanche) brothers have been very helpful. Ura

[CHEROSAGE]

Were you able to dance with the CIVA, the Little Ponies or others? Hope you have a great summer.