Throwing Money at a Dancer's Feet..

[Niwiwan2005]

As with many other pow-wow customs, there is quite a difference from region to region or from tribe to tribe. Up in the Midwest, many times people will throw money at a dancer's feet when they are dancing
This is often done to show approval of a good dancer or to encourage a young dancer. When it first started happening, the dancers got to keep the money. But at a pow-wow this past summer I saw an arena director direct a young girl to give her money to an elder in the crowd--The little one was a little disappointed.
What I'm wondering is...Does this custom happen at other places, and what happens to the dancer's money?

[Wojapi4Me]

I was always told to either give it to the drum for singing the song that you were able to dance to, or to give it to an elder in the crowd.

That said, I think the AD was out of line in telling the young girl what to do. Her parents, grandparents, aunties and uncles should direct her...not the AD.

One thing I can't stand is pushy ADs and MCs who direct people to do stuff. They should stick to their job and keep out of everything else.

Although the AD told her what most would tell her, as a parent I'd have been mad if it were my daughter...even if that was exactly what I would have told her. It ain't his kid, and it ain't his business.

[bushy_braids]

crow fair

it's a big deal to honor someone by throwing bills at the dancers feet like that... and @ crow fair they allow it even during competitions. most of the time the ad's pick up the money and give 'em to the elders sitting around the arbor. some folks go all out too... throwing down LOTS of money in front of a dancer.
and other times folks honor dancers (in competitions & specials) by putting down shawls, blankets, or even material in front of the dancers for them to dance over... and after the dancer has "graced" the blanket/ shawl - it's fair game for anyone to run out and pick it up.
so at other pws... i've thrown bills down and have been told by the ad or the mc not to do so, as it may weigh on the judge's decisions... (hmmmmmm)
i guess like niiwiwan said... it depends on where ya go and the custom of the region...

[AlmostThere]

[ebt]

its an honor

one of the first times i witnessed this type of custom was at crow fair and the 3 affiliated tribes res. in the 60's but before money, other materials like pendeltons, starquilts, and even a drumstick that would represent a horse for instance and any visitor/guest would be welcome to these gifts. and before that
when dancer won a contest, the dancer had a give away for that honor of winning a dance contest.
i'm lucky to have seen the way things were than.

e

[WhoMe]

it's a big deal to honor someone by throwing bills at the dancers feet . . .and other times folks honor dancers (in competitions & specials) by throwing down shawls, blankets, or even material in front of the dancers for them to dance over... and after the dancer has "graced" the blanket/ shawl - it's fair game for anyone to run out and pick them up.

__

Bushy,

"Has anybody ever threw down their mother-inlaws in front of anybody?"


*L


j/k

[49in_ndn]

it's a big deal to honor someone by throwing bills at the dancers feet like that... and @ crow fair they allow it even during competitions. most of the time the ad's pick up the money and give 'em to the elders sitting around the arbor. some folks go all out too... throwing down LOTS of money in front of a dancer.
and other times folks honor dancers (in competitions & specials) by putting down shawls, blankets, or even material in front of the dancers for them to dance over... and after the dancer has "graced" the blanket/ shawl - it's fair game for anyone to run out and pick it up.
so at other pws... i've thrown bills down and have been told by the ad or the mc not to do so, as it may weigh on the judge's decisions... (hmmmmmm)
i guess like niiwiwan said... it depends on where ya go and the custom of the region...

YUP I know what you mean.. powwowing in different areas have different rules.. sometimes they even have in stated in the rules about putting money down for dancers. I think it is a good thing. Not being able to be up north alot then going back for a powwow and seeing dancer get honored makes me feel good.. it's cool! Like crow fair this last year my hubby was dancing and a complete stranger down money down for him he said it made him wanna dance harder and there was alot of good feeling behind it.

[bushy_braids]

__

Bushy,

"Has anybody ever threw down their mother-inlaws in front of anybody?"

*L

j/k

haha... only YOU would say somethin' like that!
....well come to think of it... i have thought bout jumpin' out there myself a few times - maybe this year! hehehehe

[Smokin' Ace]

haha... only YOU would say somethin' like that!
....well come to think of it... i have thought bout jumpin' out there myself a few times - maybe this year! hehehehe

[kiyaanii mom]

__

Bushy,

"Has anybody ever threw down their mother-inlaws in front of anybody?"


*L


j/k

I thought you're suppose to throw down things of value.... What if your mother-in-law is SCARY! LOL

(Mine is great. I'm just saying what if...)

[badmaninc]

And people think I'm bad. Dude you guys are nuts. Better hope your mother-in-law don't hear about this.

[sir_snagalot]

Money at dancers feet

I thought you're suppose to throw down things of value.... What if your mother-in-law is SCARY! LOL

(Mine is great. I'm just saying what if...)

This is a funny post reminds me i gotta tell a story similar....i was at a powwow talking to a fancy shawl dancer and man did i think things were goin good between us, anyhow, later she danced and i saw people putting dollars out there at her feet, so i wrote my number on a ten with a little note u know..."call me i think yer fine" etc. etc. so later i get a call on my cell phone, at the powwow that evening, a woman is talkin to me and she is sweet talking me so i plan to meet her over by the grand entry and man this woman was crazy....she was old enough to be my grandmother....it turns out after the fancy dancer picked up the money she passed it out to some elders and one happened to be her mother - in law and they pulled a joke on me, and i wont lay tens down anymore...just ones.

[Kakeeya]

Aww you mean you didn't hook up with the grandma? J/k

[T. Jude Fox]

All true.
What I was wondering is that some powwows have this posted: "Anyone who throws money at a dancer's feet, the dancer will be disqualified."
Aaand was wondering how that would settle out in a court of law aka powwow committee. Not the dancer's fault right? Some evil person could go throw out a few bucks to disqualify them on purpose!! Buuut that's stated on the flyer or the dancing rules and regulations.

Otherwise it's a major honor to me and yeah anyone can run out and pick up the honoring and stand and dance on the side until the song is over.

[sir_snagalot]

Aww you mean you didn't hook up with the grandma? J/k

I woulda hooked up with grandma too maybe but she already had a grandpa so that was out of the question.