Old Style Jinglin

[ojibwakwe]

Okay this may spark some fires. I have gone to many powwows and it seems that there are so many different versions of the old style jingle dress dance. Why is there even competitions for it if it is taken into different contexts now. It seems that there is no one story anymore. so far what everyone can agree on is that the feet are not supposed to leave the ground and there is no fancy footwork, no feathers or fans.
here's what I was taught. The dresses are to be simple, you don't all that fancy crap on it, no feathers!!! During the side step, you are to raise your hand and not that up and down motion that people do nowdays. Also there are four colors. I see "old Style" dancers in pink and neon green dresses. Sorry but that should be for contemporary.
Mii-gwetch

[MNsitting]

I know the feeling. I had not been to a pow wow in ten years then just attended one this last week. I about had a heart attack when I saw a jingle dancer in neon green spinning around in a circle with one foot up almost to her knee.

[gurskea]

I was pretty mush taught exactly what you are talking about, no feathers, feet don't leave the ground. I do raise my hand during the side step. I don't second guess or make ANY changes to what I was taught. Sometimes I wonder what my Nii-wiiaye would think if he saw what old style is nowdays. He was a very traditional man. I have to say that the story of 365 jingles is in question depending on who the person is. I was told that "as long as the dress makes music." It is even on a youtube vid, just can't remember what one.
One thing to remember is that each person is taught something different and have their own way. A Lakota dancer can be told something completely different than an Ojibwa dancer. I think one thing is certain...it is good to see that the Old stylers are out there and teaching the kids.

[MNsitting]

true true

[Roobz]

I know the feeling. I had not been to a pow wow in ten years then just attended one this last week. I about had a heart attack when I saw a jingle dancer in neon green spinning around in a circle with one foot up almost to her knee.

Yikes that is my biggest peeve when I see jinglers spinning circles.

[MNsitting]

Yikes that is my biggest peeve when I see jinglers spinning circles.

unfortunately it seems to be becoming more common

[soopashinaab]

Just my two cents worth but to even consider 365 cones on a dress is ludicrous considering we didn't live life by a calendar and had no clue as to what a year is. In reality there 365 and 1/4 days in a year with that mentality a woman should have a quarter of a cone somewhere. We lived by seasons not a calendar... Way too many loonies out there preaching the "way"!!

[ojibwaywmn]

365 Cones

I always wondered where that came from. I do chuckle a bit when people use that during explanations of the jingle dress.

[cherokeemom06]

My dress is really contemporary but I still dance with fairly simple footwork and I was taught never to spin in circles. I do my side step about half flat footed, half on my toes. I see these girls doing some sort of scissorstep where they are going foreward during a side step and it just confuses me! LOL I'll agree with whoever said something about the "old style" dresses in these crazy colors. I was thinking about a much more simple, closer to old style design dress in two shades of pink but, to me, even the color would change the category.

[Kamama]

Yikes that is my biggest peeve when I see jinglers spinning circles.

I was always told Jinglers never go full circle (spinning)

[MayChe]

I was always told Jinglers never go full circle (spinning)

me too. I did see a girl spinning like a top but maybe since she thought she was contemporary she could do that.

[MNsitting]

me too. I did see a girl spinning like a top but maybe since she thought she was contemporary she could do that.

could be. It still bothers me when it happens though.

[native_flutterby]

Okay this may spark some fires. I have gone to many powwows and it seems that there are so many different versions of the old style jingle dress dance. Why is there even competitions for it if it is taken into different contexts now. It seems that there is no one story anymore. so far what everyone can agree on is that the feet are not supposed to leave the ground and there is no fancy footwork, no feathers or fans.
here's what I was taught. The dresses are to be simple, you don't all that fancy crap on it, no feathers!!! During the side step, you are to raise your hand and not that up and down motion that people do nowdays. Also there are four colors. I see "old Style" dancers in pink and neon green dresses. Sorry but that should be for contemporary.
Mii-gwetch


hmmmmm i agree to everything but the hand thingy...i was taught that only when the person being healed is in the center do you raise your hand...and even then its if youve gone through the medicine lodge...

[Kiiwedinong]

I know everything. Come to my campfire and I will tell you all the stories of the jingle dress. I will tell you everything you need to know my child.

[ojibwaysweetie]

If the feasting, blessing of the dress by an elder, your offering (all Ojib style) is done first---these little things like the 365 cone thingy, the raising of the hand, the spinning, etc. are minor quirks. Even tho I wouldn't do it LOL. To my Ojib people, let's keep our dress real, cuz thats what matters in terms of the purpose of our dress.