Favorite Side step style

[Traditonal Lady]

Agreed!

Flat footed.
You can go the jingle dress gallery and watch the video from the National Powwow from this year. They did an exhibition on each category, orginal style, :)
I hope that helps.

I prefer the flat footed style, keeping the feet close to Mother Earth. I don't like all the fancy steps, it takes away from the "healing" that comes with wearing this dress.

[MrzDancerMom]

I like dance flat footed.
But I think go with what you prefer and are comfy with.

[redberries]

Mmhh...

I do not lift my feet off the ground. I just kinda twist my waist and it moves me slightly. I keep my fan on my hip so it does not wave around. I might go on toes on the drum beat only when honoring the drum from side to side.
If it is on grass and it does not slide too well, then I will jump (very subtle jump) on time with the drum.

[indiansdarkwolf]

flat

flat side dancing is better and it looks elegant.

[Coastalwind]

on the toes cause its apparently more difficult..lol ive watched some awesome jingle dress dancers dance on there toes..i dont know i guess if they're an elegant dancer all together they can dance flat footed or "toe" footed and still look beautiful..but i honestly like watching the slide step done on the toes..i thought the slide step was more of the prayerful/honour songs anyway for the jingle dress? like either way is the "right" way?

[siouxner_sweetie]

I definitely prefer the flat footed, quick stepped movements. The side step just doesn't look right with the contemporary movements thrown in; you know, girls raising their fans all over the place because they cannot recognize the honor beats of the side step... and sometimes when girls try to side step on their toes, they just look like they are clogging and convulsing around!! I dance straight songs more "contemporary" style, but side step is one of those dances that should just be left the way it was meant to be!! (I even like it when the girls take off their plumes and leave their fans behind and do the "washboard" thing with their arms, really nice!!) But hey, props to the girls who can do the side step on their toes and actually look graceful!!

[milehi*pwdiva]

I like flat footed style but one thing I don't favor at all flat foot or on toes is the ones that get too fancy like spinning while raising your fan but I guess I just old style lol

[Dat1NdnGuy]

hhhmmm I think theres alotta women who do all styles and do them well, but i've seen an increase of women gettin really erratic from the waist up....i'm not talkin about doin da "washboard" thing...but just movin their shoulders and wild head movements and such. I dont understand it, it just doesnt look too lady like.

[babygirlz2005]

does anyone have info on Rocky Boy powwow? when is it, what is the prize $$ and specials etc?

[Kaina1128]

i like it when they do it on their toes. it seems harder to do.

ditto

[Czechy]

I like both styles but IMHO not very many dancers do either one really smoothly and gracefully. When I sidestep I dance the same way redberries does, keeping my feet together and making little hops or scoots sideways. I have tried to develop an on-toes technique but I can't do it without getting too bouncy.

[ballin_n_shawlin]

ok... i guess... i have to say.... both and neither... at the same time! ha ha ha... whether you do it flat footed or on your toes... but i was taught to "ipseca" to the side step.. .and that it's really not a "SIDE STEP" at all.....
but i was taught 2 keep my feet togehter (whether on my toes or flat footed *depending on what shape i'm in*) that my feet should come apart and to do the "wash board movement" with my arms...

so i guess thats considered "old style" but it's what my great-grandmothers taught me... so that's the only way i'd dance.

doesn't matter 2 me if it's flat footed or up on the toes... both look good.. as long as your feet stay together :D

[Kaina1128]

ok... i guess... i have to say.... both and neither... at the same time! ha ha ha... whether you do it flat footed or on your toes... but i was taught to "ipseca" to the side step.. .and that it's really not a "SIDE STEP" at all.....
but i was taught 2 keep my feet togehter (whether on my toes or flat footed *depending on what shape i'm in*) that my feet should come apart and to do the "wash board movement" with my arms...

so i guess thats considered "old style" but it's what my great-grandmothers taught me... so that's the only way i'd dance.

doesn't matter 2 me if it's flat footed or up on the toes... both look good.. as long as your feet stay together :D

that's like how ho-chunks dance....right?

[ojibwaysweetie]

When i dance side step, i dance flat on my feet...I prefer watching it done this way too...looks more smoother...more...ojibway lol jk

[ballin_n_shawlin]

that's like how ho-chunks dance....right?

yeah.... i think so... there womens traditional dancers??

it's something like that.. but not as big of jumps... and of course it's done 2 the sidestep lol