Native American Dance Culture

The Native American Dance consists of a rhythmic and inspiring dance that plays a huge role in their culture. Indigenous cultures like the Native Americans, have adopted and embraced thousands of years of forming these dance routines and carry them on from generation to generation.

The significance of these dance routines is to mix spirituality, emotions, and simple enjoyment with the tribe and its community. These dances were symbolic and may be a way to express prayer, emotion, or celebration. Today, these dances are used to protect military personnel when they are sent off to war.

Early Northern Americans used dancing as a tool to express stories. Young men would dress up in their finest attire and paint their bodies accordingly to the story being revealed. During the dances, the men would "act out" their detailed experiences from their past battles. Today, dances such as the grass dance and the pow-pows are shared performances that resemble their dedications and special connection with Mother Earth.

Grass dances are a common dances and that are practiced universally around the Native American culture. Traditionally, men were the majority of the tribes, but some cultures allowed women to perform.

Traditionally the Sun Dance was known as the most religious ceremony practiced among many tribes across the Great Plains. The Native Americans would make a passage to give their respect to the buffalo. They expressed their appreciation for the buffalo's life and its pain tolerance by ritual piercings to pay back for its sacrifice.

Below is a link of a Native American Tribe Dance:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ash2lTvR8E