Should jingle competition be separated between traditional and contemporary?

[n8tivechick]

Ok.... This has been bugginf me for the longest time! i know there are some judges at contest powwows that like the contemporary step and some judges like to stay traditional.... What do you think?

-Kelli

[n8tivechick]

Ok that is my .02 cents

-Kelli

[BEZHIG IKWE]

You can't read the judges minds.

I sometimes run books for contests and you can't predict how judges will score dancers. Simply dance your style and enjoy yourself doing it.:dancer:

[Kiwehnzii]

Nativechick, what is your concept of traditional jingle?

Just wondering.

[MP-girl]

Sometimes traditional and contemporary are separated at pow-wows, mainly in the great lakes area.

I think it's because in this area, the jingle dress dancers aren't as flashy and fancy as the contemporary dancers; their dresses aren't decorated with colorful designs.

[Kiwehnzii]

Yoohoo!! Nativechick

What is your idea of traditional jingle dancing and why do you prefer it?

[n8tivechick]

Well i think that traditional step is not as many kicks and fancy moves. and contemporary is when you kick high and move in a complete circle. ok girls... i need your help i am lacking words to describe this..... but Kiwehnzii i hope that helps

-Kelli

[Zhing-us]

Well I think that they should separate the different catagories... because not everyone can or wants to dance all high strung like they do in contemp.. and just like the drum contests two different catagories are emerging and we just gota go along with it..like how could you judge northern and southern singing...?
but i think what really separates the conteporary from the old style is the footwork (old style use to be only the side- step but as the new style of dancing emerged so did the free-style of the straight jingle songs but it tends to be not as "wild" and no full circles), the use of fans (since in the old days the jingle dancers never carried a fan only a pouch for their medicines) and the use of plumes (correct me if im wrong) . Even the motion itself the , body language.......um...lol.....its just different....!

[Kiwehnzii]

Zhingus, as far as I know, you are right on the money about traditional (old-style) jingle.

I knew somebody would come up with a reply like yours. I didn't want to post it cuz I'm a dude. Miigwetch.

[Majii]

Definitely, the contests should be treated separately.

My experience from powwows I've been to. When all the jingle dancers are competing. The traditional/old style don't even get a chance. The contemporary dancers always win because their steps are more fancy. Some dancers steps are no different than fancy shawl.

The more time that goes by, the real meaning of being a jingle dress dancer is being lost.

[STATE]

I have traveled to Ontario and have asked about the different styles of dancing Jingle. I have a few friends who dance "old style". One being Dana Runsabove. She always said that the feet don't really leave the ground , they slide. No feathers, no turning circles, etc. I have another good friend who dances jingle also,Yvette Ewalk, and she dances the side step on the down beat instead of the up beat. Therefore, she has a different rhythm on her sidestep. That is old school side step that was given to her. Alana Baker danced a deadly sidestep at Indio this year. No fan, no feathers, just raising her hand on the honor beats of the side step. She is another outstanding old style jingle dancer. At Hinckley Celebration they used to have and oldstyle jingle contest and it was the most beautiful display traditional Jingle dancers. Both styles are outstanding to watch and I commend the dancers who have been given the right to dance this style.

[n8tivechick]

STATE: no feathers or fans? i might be wrong but i never heard of old style not using them.

-Kelli

[Kiwehnzii]

State is correct. No feathers-no fans.

[hidatsachic24]

well i think they should seperate traditonal jingle and contemporary jingle
into seperate catagories...maybe have all same moves..except with contemp
have the high step and with traditional add the crow hop on top of tradish and
side step...except a part of me still thinks that the side step shouldnt be used
for competition because its used as a healing dance...wouldnt that take out the
purpose of the dance if used for competition basis?i mean it should be danced at powwows
b/c even the spectators need healing if soemthing comes up but should never be
given money to...i know alot of jingle dancers who do take money becasue of their
side step and i think its wrong....aight all this thinking is giving me a headache*lol*
well i hope none of you take this as an instult...if you do i apologize but sometimes things dont come out right when i say it...thats why these posts should never be taken as if your talking to the person
in real life..its only for suggestion or topic thats all...:p

[dwnsouthndn]

i think that comtemporary and traditional should be seperated because like many people stated before that they are different in so many ways and then again they all serve the same purpose.
As I posted before in another forum that my niece was asked to dance for my mother when she became ill. When she was taught to do the side step for healing, she was told to use no fan, feathers, and they preferred to have the hair unbraided!! She was taught to raise her hand on the honor beats.
When the catorgories are combined, it is up to the judges on what the judges like to see a dancer do wether its comtemporary or traditional.