FANCY
SHAWL
DANCE
The Fancy Shawl Dance is very popular with
young women today as a competitive dance at pow -wows throughout the Plains. Over the years,
there have been many women's dances, but this
more recent dance allow the female dancer more
feedom of movement and an opportunity to solo.
In the older traditional dances, women wore
buckskin dresses and later, dresses made of
cloth, but they always carried a folded shawl
into the dance circle.
In the Fancy Shawl Dance, the shawl is
unfurled and becomes an integral part of the
dance.
In the Northern Plains, it is thought that the
Fancy Shawl Dance originated as the
Butterfly Dance.
When a female butterfly's mate is killed in
battle, she mourns his loss and goes into her
cocoon, as interpreted by the movement of the
shawl. Her eventual emergence celebrates her
freedom and her new life.
Cloud Dancing
Walk in Peace | |
