How to Dance Traditional Native-American Women's Dances
- 1). Find traditional Native American dance music. Some websites dedicated to preserving Native American culture stream free radio broadcasts. For example, Gatheringofnations.com and PowWows.com Radio provide free access. Many other online sources offer free downloads of traditional Native American women's dance music. Always check for a security emblem on the website's homepage before downloading.
- 2). Listen to the drums. Native American women's dances are grounded in the rhythm of the drums and the dancer's connection to the earth. The dances work best when the dancer feels the rhythm in her body, rather than just mimicking a dance step. So, begin by closing your eyes and listening to the drums, then imagine yourself performing the dance.
- 3). Sway to the beat of the drums. Stay in one spot as you slowly shift your weight from one leg to the other. Match your swaying to the beat of the drums.
- 4). Lift your feet off the ground and start moving to the beat of the drums. Keep your feet close to the ground, even when you are lifting. Move in short, tight steps and continue to sway.
- 5). Add a slight bounce to your movements. This bounce is common for the "Jingle Dress Dance." In this dance, the woman wears a costume covered in small bells. The bouncing action of the dance makes the bells jingle with the rhythm of the drums, turning the dancer into a living instrument.
- 6). Move in a zigzag line around your dance space. The zigzag movement is an important element of the dance because it represents the zigzagging movement of an individual's lifespan.
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