Minnesota State University- Mankato

Traditional Grass Dance

Ashley Silva
Humanities 281W: Human Diversity and Humanities Traditions
Jeris Swanhorst
July 6, 2014

As history will prove, many cultures have been immortalized through various artistic means. Many include the written word or preserved artwork. The many tribes of Native Americans choose to commemorate their history and honor their ancestors through the art of dance.
One of the most popular dance styles for Native Americans known today is the ‘Grass Dance’. While its exact origins are not known, there are still several pieces of information that can be used to piece together the history. Several sources believe the dance began in the Northern region; ‘the dance was given to the Dakota by the Ponca about three hundred years ago at a place just east of the Black hills of South Dakota’ (Howard, 82). An approximation places this time frame around the year of 1860. As more participants began to experience and learn the dance style, the influence and knowledge of the dance began to spread. The dance reached the Blackfeet tribe in the 1870s, and eventually the Gros Ventre tribe around 1875-1880. From the 1920s to after World War II, an economic change in the United States had a greater impact on the nature of the grass dance. Many of the ceremonial traditions of the dance were lost during this time period and transformed into more of an entertainment form of dance. Along with these changes also came the involvement of women being able to perform the dance; for many generations only men were given the honor of participating in the grass dance.
As the dance began to evolve throughout different regions and tribes, so did the stories of how the dance came to be. Some say that the dance originated when a medicine man told a boy with no use of his legs to search for healing in the prairie. There he observed the gentle swaying of the grass and received a vision of himself dancing in that prairie. When he shared this vision, the use of his legs was restored and he danced in celebration in the first grass dance. Other tales tell of how the dance was used to bless the ground before setting up home areas. ‘Dancing down the grass would make it easier for people to walk around, to put up their teepees. Also, blessing the ground was so nothing would happen to the people’ (Axtmann, 10). Still, others state that the grass dance originated as more of a war dance. Only those who had war honors were allowed to be initiated into the world of the grass dance. ‘Each member was formally initiated into the lodge, at which time his hair was ceremonially cut in the fashion of the society and he was presented with its characteristic insignia…..said to be protection against arrows and bullets’ (Howard, 83). Despite the differences in origin stories, one thing is clear; the movements and styling of the dance has remained the same throughout generations. The grass dance is characterized by bright, colorful clothing and powerful steady movements. Dancers wear a shirt, pants and aprons that have been adorned with long yarn or ribbon as fringe. White fringe is most often preferred but gold, silver and other light colors are used as well. The outfit will also include headbands, harnesses arm bands and cuffs that have matching beading. A porcupine (or deer, moose or artificial) hair roach which can resemble that of the traditional Mohawk style that has been dyed a bright color is also included along with feathers that are meant to move along with the dancers. Many believe that the term ‘grass dance’ also comes from the previous tradition of wearing grass in the belt. Additionally, leaders of the tribe would also wear a feathered accessory called the ‘crow belt’ which could symbolize a battlefield. Bells are worn around the ankles to provide auditory stimulation along with the visual. Beaded or painted moccasins are mainly worn, but younger generations that have embraced modern times may also wear beaded or painted sneakers. To complete the outfit, many accessories can also be worn such as a choker or bone breast plate. Many may also carry a fan, scarf, fur-covered hoop or dream catcher. The importance of the style of clothing worn by the dance is obvious once the dance begins. ‘As you’re dancing you feel yourself stand taller and show everything you’ve got because the Creator has given you everything you have’ (Axtmann, 12). Each movement that is danced on one side, must also be repeated by the other side as a reflection of the need for balance in life. ‘Dancers should keep either up or down with the beat of the drum, nodding quickly, several times to each beat-or moving from side to side; the purpose of this action is to keep the roach crest feathers spinning’ (Axtmann, 11). Once the beat of the drum begins, the participants will begin to bend and twist ensuring that all body parts are moving. While at first glance it may appear to be slightly chaotic with no order, upon further inspection the dancers can be seen to be moving in a clockwise direction. Some steps may include ‘three taps of the toe followed by a dropping of the heel, the right and left food alternating’ (Howard, 84) that could also be meant to mimic ‘the tamping in place of the soil after corn had been planted’ (Howard, 84). The most important step is making sure that the dancer’s feet are consistently touching the ground in tune with the beat of the drum. One way that descendants can keep the spirit of the dance alive is by participating in pow-wows and competitions. Individuals from different regions representing distinct tribal groups all join in friendly competition. ‘As performer’s bodies transfer power to one another and to all powwow visitors, they also communicate with others who might not be present, loved ones who have passed away and a higher spirit’ (Axtmann, 13). For some, competing can not only be a way of honoring the past but to also make a living; some competitions can offer cash prizes ranging up to thousands of dollars. Over the years, competitions have seen a rise in participation. ‘In the tri-state region of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut alone, from 1995 to 2001, the number of powwow events has tripled’ (Axtmann, 7). A simple search online for powwow brings up multiple events all over the country that people are able to attend. Events can last anywhere between a one day event to a maximum of a week. Competitions will have certain rules that are necessary to be met before performing. One particular rule asks that people refer to the clothing worn as ‘regalia’ and not ‘costumes’. Other competitions will require proof of Native American lineage. Overall, nobody can deny the powerfulness of what the grass dance represents. One of the most captivating traits of the dance is the ability to interpret it in many ways. For some, it’s a powerful way to memorialize the loved ones of the past. For others it can symbolize a sense of strength and survival, overcoming adversity over hundreds of years. Indeed, ‘the dance is colorful, its music stirring, and it fully reflects the love of excitement and combat which was such an important factor in the old Dakota way of life’ (Howard, 85). It is often commonly described as a way to bridge both old and new traditions of the Dakota tribe. One thing is for certain; as long as these dances continue to live on generation through generation the memory of the tribes will never be forgotten.

Works Cited: 1. Axtmann, Ann. "Performative Power in Native America: Powwow Dancing." Dance Research Journal 33: 7-22. Jstor. Web. 2 July 2014. 2. Howard, James. "Notes on the Dakota Grass Dance." Southwestern Journal of Anthropology 7: 82-85. Jstor. Web. 2 July 2014. 3. Hatton, Orin. "In the Tradition: Grass Dance Musical Style and Female Pow-Wow Singers."Ethnomusicology 30: 197-222. Jstor. Web. 4 July 2014.