The retreat

[WhoMe]

I heard that dancing backward means you are retreating. Anybody else heard of this?

Do you dance backward or in a circle when you contest?

[Privateer6]

"Retreat Hell, we're fighting in a different direction!" :)
Seriously though, that's what I've been told; so I don't dance backwards. Sharp zig zags yes, backwards no.

[redthunder]

Yeah, i have heard the same.

I always dance clockwise, even when some traditional dancers are dancing the other way. In small powwows, i find myself sometimes the only one dancing that way.

I guess it's just that different cultures and nations believe differently.

[anishtradish]

A lot of tribes out west, the men dance counterclockwise becuase they say thats how the men danced in the old days. Symbolic of them going to protect the women and children.

[Kiwehnzii]

I think whome means backwards ala Michael Jackson.

Nah, I don't do that.

[between2worlds]

A moon-walking tradish dancer? argggh - a mental image I did not need this morning !!

[SuzzeQ4]

confused? when you say backwards do you mean moving in the oposite direction then your facing or do you mean counter clockwise?

Some nations dance counterclockwise (they consider clockwise backwards, like my husbands people, he's Mohawk) And some Nations dance counterclockwise during the honor song for those who have passed on. There are lots of different examples of why someone may go counterclockwise depending on their Nation, so figure this out as it pertains to your Nation before you do it.

Suzze

[WhoMe]

confused? when you say backwards do you mean moving in the oposite direction then your facing or do you mean counter clockwise?

Some nations dance counterclockwise (they consider clockwise backwards, like my husbands people, he's Mohawk) And some Nations dance counterclockwise during the honor song for those who have passed on. There are lots of different examples of why someone may go counterclockwise depending on their Nation, so figure this out as it pertains to your Nation before you do it.

Suzze

Suz,

I mean like walk foward, walk backward = dance forward, DANCE BACKWARD.

The reason for this post is I have been reading powwow programs and some say "the traditional dancer tells a story of encountering the enemy or searching for tracks of an animal.

So expounding on what I heard "dancing backward symbolizes retreating"... either the story the traditional dancer is portraying is he retreated while the others warriors continued to fight or ....

the traditional dancer is telling the story of one smart animal who covered his tracks by walking backward! *L

[WocusWoman]

Suz,

I mean like walk foward, walk backward = dance forward, DANCE BACKWARD.

The reason for this post is I have been reading powwow programs and some say "the traditional dancer tells a story of encountering the enemy or searching for tracks of an animal.

So expounding on what I heard "dancing backward symbolizes retreating"... either the story the traditional dancer is portraying is he retreated while the others warriors continued to fight or ....

the traditional dancer is telling the story of one smart animal who covered his tracks by walking backward! *L

Interesting, sounds like a goot question for my uncle up on the Umatilla Rez, he's an old traditional dancer.

[SuzzeQ4]

Suz,

I mean like walk foward, walk backward = dance forward, DANCE BACKWARD.

The reason for this post is I have been reading powwow programs and some say "the traditional dancer tells a story of encountering the enemy or searching for tracks of an animal.

So expounding on what I heard "dancing backward symbolizes retreating"... either the story the traditional dancer is portraying is he retreated while the others warriors continued to fight or ....

the traditional dancer is telling the story of one smart animal who covered his tracks by walking backward! *L

AH! now I get it, wasn't sure. In that case I have no idea & will leave the answering to the guys
Suzze

[spottedeagle]

I have always been taught never to move backwards while dancing because it symbolizes retreating.

[ebt]

northern trad.

never dance backwards, and never dance counter, just because you seen it done, dancing counter in the longhouse is different that dancing counter at powwows, please ask elders who know whats going on when it comes to dancing counter at powwows, myself included,
thanks
ebt