contemp cloth

[LumbeeTurtle]

sum1 could u please define the diff between old style and contemp cloth???

im new to dancing in regalia but ive been dancin intertribals since i can remember almost

do you contemp --staying on the toes the whole time or what??

[Tsiniti]

Toes?? I've been going to Pow Wow's for 9 yrs now, I don't think I've ever seen anyone dance cloth on toes! hmmmm I do know that the buckskin/cloth dancers seem to have their noses higher in the air than just the cloth dancers ..... jmho ..... I've heard several people mention it too, so I'm not the only one with that opinion ..... it's a shame ......

[NDNKIDZ]

I also have never seen a cloth dancer dancing on there toes. So im not sure what you are reffering to, and I have been going to powwows for 30 years. :)

[luvstraightdancrs]

Have a couple of women in Oklahoma that dance Southern Cloth on their toes. Pretty good dancers, not sure that I would call that contemporary.

To me contemporary is more flash and bounce, a faster tempo, too many rhinestones and neon colors and designs all over their clothes. But that's just my opinion.

I prefer old style, slow and easy, lots of fringe movement that comes from the knees and a a stationary arm (no swinging it to move fringe), a full shawl neatly folded and controlled, simpler clothes - more traditional sytle.

Again, these are just my opinions. :)

[Mato Winyan]

Great question!! This is what I would like to see happen in here. All of us trying to define what our understanding of a dance or regalia is.
Some of us express ourselves differently so I think it will really help us to cross those barriers too.

Now the mental picture I get when you mention contemporary dancing on toes is a northern dancer in a flashier outfit (kind of how luvstraightdancrs mentioned.. rhinestones.. colors and bold sometimes outlandish designs) standing in one place doing what most refer to as the washboard style of dance. Now... like I said.. this is MY mental picture, how does it compare to yours? ;)

[NDNKIDZ]

Thats what I was seeing myself Mato. In my area you mostly see southern cloth dancers, who dance aroound the drum and every once in awhile you will see someone dancing in place. :)

[luvstraightdancrs]

The ladies I am referring to literally dance on their toes. In a regular intertribal or contest song for southern cloth. Not washboard sytle. I makes them appear to rise higher on the upbeat and makes their bend look a little deeper. One girl says it makes her fringe swing better - but she was wrong - fringe just kind of hung there.

Sort of like on tip toes then heel.......hard to explain - you would have to see it. They also dress contemporary - lots of beadwork, rhinestones, flashy fabric, sequin dresses and those dang cheater shawls.

[MaggieB]

when i "track" as my mom calls it, I turn my head the way I am "tracking" at Skiatook pow-wow this lady told me that I have a really contepary style. But i have always danced like this. And I have no rhinestones. But i doo have a yellow broad cloth. so yeah i guess i am flash

[Mato Winyan]

Originally posted by luvstraightdancrs
The ladies I am referring to literally dance on their toes. In a regular intertribal or contest song for southern cloth. Not washboard sytle. I makes them appear to rise higher on the upbeat and makes their bend look a little deeper. One girl says it makes her fringe swing better - but she was wrong - fringe just kind of hung there.

Sort of like on tip toes then heel.......hard to explain - you would have to see it. They also dress contemporary - lots of beadwork, rhinestones, flashy fabric, sequin dresses and those dang cheater shawls.

Now I know what you are talking about I think. I saw one girl doing this and it looked like she was on a stair-stepper!! Looked really weird. And she had big feet to make it worse!

[NDNKIDZ]

luv's my daughter wanted one of those cheater shawls. I told her that a full shawl has always worked fine and it will continue too.. LOL I like the way the fringe moves on a full shawl and like you said if they are stepping properly the shawl will move without any help. (swinging arms )

[luvstraightdancrs]

A lot of the girls are going with the "cheater", some have gone as far as finishing it off to look like a purse (one of the high steppers does this. Looks like a handbag! I too think that a full shawl works better, hangs better and moves better. Makes you work a little harder also -- control is one of the things I look for when judging.

If someone wants a cheater I try real hard to talk them out of it. Unless they want to go the route of a half shawl. That to me makes a little more sense. By half shawl I mean the size of the regular shawl, only with a hem at the top and one thickness. That way it can be worn as well. The only real exception on the cheater is when I make shirts out of broadcloth. A cheater works for it because of the weight of the material already not to mention it would cost a lot for a shawl. I think that before a young person or woman, goes to the cheater - they should be able to work a full shawl - if you can't work a full one without moving your arm - how do you expect to work a cheater?

But everyone has their own personal taste and style. I agree with Mato that they look like they are on a stair stepper. I know what I like to see in Southern Cloth and it is Old Style for me - but I prefer it in all dance styles.

[NDNKIDZ]

My daughter just within the last year started pinnning her shawl one on the top and one on the bottom on the inside so it doesnt move around on her, sliiping, sliding and unfolding while dancing, you dont have to adjust it as much. I agree with you that a women or girl must know how to carry a full shawl and dance well with it. :)

[NDNQt]

I think I know what Turtle is talking about when she says on the toes. She literally means that. There are some women out here on the East Coast (predominantly in NC) that have started that. I believe they got it from some Oklahoma dancers that danced out here for a while. Turtle I believe that April Whittemore and Dorothy Gray (from Maryland) have a great style that you can study. Very smooth and continuous.

[LumbeeTurtle]

toes

April dances really good i love to watch her ur right ndnqt

what i meant on toes is that a lot of girls around here (nc) both cloth and skin dip but then come onto their toes cause one of them was teachin me how to do it. the judges must like it because it wins . i learned by just bending the knees to get the shawl to swing but sum gurls swing their arms so the fringe will swing and when they do their high step on their toes (kinda like one of those clidesdale horses) they move their heads like a chicken. their step looks almost violent not graceful but like i said it wins so i dunno then again other gurls do the same step just more graceful

[luvstraightdancrs]

Guess I'll stay in Oklahoma......don't think I could stand to watch a cross between a Clydesdale and a chicken. Cloth (contemporary or old style) is dancing with grace and dignity. Also can't stand to see a swinging arm -- if you can't get it going with your knees then maybe you need to dance another style. :D