Whats your view on Jingle Dancing today

[Sioux_chick]

Okay, I have heard a lotof talk lately about the change in the way Jingle Dress is changing. Women who were considered "contemporary" a few years ago are now being seen as ol'style in a way. A lot more dancers are, in some opinions, dancing too wild for this style of dance. No longer focusing on foot work but more on "spinning" and covering more of the arena floor to be noticed more by the judges. What do you think? Has contemporary turned into wild?

[Mr Oakley]

I think it has (wild). Only a couple ladies can get away with it when they dance more contemporary.

[ojibwaywmn]

In certain aspects, I feel that it has gotten too "wild". Some pow wows I have danced in, ones with the neon colours, bling bling, and twirling are considered.

I bet some people don't even know or remember what the true "old style" jingle dress dancing looks like. And not to recognize the original is sad.

[quicksilverwade]

In certain aspects, I feel that it has gotten too "wild". Some pow wows I have danced in, ones with the neon colours, bling bling, and twirling are considered.

I bet some people don't even know or remember what the true "old style" jingle dress dancing looks like. And not to recognize the original is sad.

Where are the jingle dress police? I remember hearing about the jingle dress police and how they would question any dubious jingle dress dancer that looked out of place.

[ojibwaywmn]

LOL.....I knew that would happen.

[wakinyanwanbli]

What Jingle has turned into

now days alot of the younger jingle dress dancers are putting more fancy shawl moves into thier foot work, my opinion is it kind of looks sloppy! one day an elderly woman told me was, " the jingle dress dancers might as well put on a shawl when they dance because they dance more fancy than jingle, i feel that is somewhat true. i can some what relate to what your saying

[ma-heench]

There was a cool contest tie breaker at the Regina Urban Powwow last weekend. It was between teen girls. One girl, Tasheena Bison dances contemporary and the other girl one of the MacArthur triplets dances old style. The contemporary style girl just couldn't get anyone's attention, even though her dancing was good, because the old style girl just looked so serene, composed and smooth. When we get used to one thing, it always swings back to the thing we miss.

By the way, the MacArthur girl won.

[chazziff]

There was a cool contest tie breaker at the Regina Urban Powwow last weekend. It was between teen girls. One girl, Tasheena Bison dances contemporary and the other girl one of the MacArthur triplets dances old style. The contemporary style girl just couldn't get anyone's attention, even though her dancing was good, because the old style girl just looked so serene, composed and smooth. When we get used to one thing, it always swings back to the thing we miss.

By the way, the MacArthur girl won.

yea i know what you mean - there alot of girls out there that choose the more contempory style becuz they think they won't be noticed/place if they dance more original style. i personally think it does look more smooth and composed too - more lady like. more often than not its the contempory/wild style girls/women who place.

i'm tryna "convince" my daughter to try her hand at old style jingle - she's eight. my sis and everyone has said she should (she dances when no one's lookin .. lol ... and she's pretty good)

but she's like "no one else dances like that (old style)" and i always tell her "mitchell's mom (alayna tootoosis) does" (they are in the same grade). i would very much like to make her some old style dresses, etc. keep the tradition up. sooo now i'm gonna make her an "old-style" traditional cloth cape and skirt set with beaded flowers etc on it - just like her cree kookums.

[WhoMe]

My view is that the Anishinabe Kwe take great pride in knowing that this is their dance.

I feel some pity also knowing that they have lost control of "their dance" and it's destiny.

I view many young people "who are not Anishinabe" now determine the new directions of this dance.

Thus, the Anishinabes - who it rightfully belongs to - no longer have control of the new directions this dance and the dress that accompanies this dance.

Individuals who do not have the traditional knowledge or uphold the traditions that accompany this dance are in a better position to corrupt this dance though switch dancing and inappropriate dancing while in a jingle dress.






What do you think?

[chazziff]

yea the Anishinabes have lost "control" of their dress/dance - there has been alot of artistic license taken by other tribes/people. its all claudia adams fault .. lmao .. just jokes but she was the first dancer i remember coming out with fancy dresses, contemporary footwork ...

i'm sure the originators of the dance did not expect their dance to have neon sequin/satin applique work, high stepping footwork, fans or huge plumes/feathers on the dancers or even the dancing for money (competition). but if the orginators had access to the materials of today - would they have opted for it too?

[WhoMe]

yea the Anishinabes have lost "control" of their dress/dance - there has been alot of artistic license taken by other tribes/people. ... but if the orginators had access to the materials of today - would they have opted for it too?

The Anishinabes do have access to these materials today. Yet, many opt to dress in simple and humble jingle dresses.

--

I have to agree that Claudia is one of the first people I can remember that came out with "forward thinking" jingle dresses and dance style.

[chazziff]

what i actually meant was - way back when if they did have access to those materials - would they still made them simple or went elaborate? what if the originators didn't have spectacular sewing skills and couldn't?

[ajidamoo]

I think it should be more traditional. How do these dances evolve into something contemporary anyway? I haven't danced Jingle very long, but things should be done as close to tradition as possible or as best as you can do. As a matter of fact, why does any style of dance change? I want to understand that. Maybe I just haven't been around powwows enough to know these things yet.