Play song

Name

Performed by

Description

Native Words

Translation

Notes

To perform the dance, the women who want to dance each choose men partners, who are usually a brother of their mother, or the brother's son. Before the dance, the women prepare food for their partners, and the men in turn present gifts to the women who chose them.

Only two men and two women dance at a time, but since the dance is performed a number of times during the day, the dancers take turns so that everyone has a chance to dance at least once.

Here at Gallup, the dance is performed much as you would see it at Hopi. First is an entrance song, with several related themes, then a slight pause, and a second song is sung for the dance.

The songs recorded here are old eagle dance songs. The first is for the entrance of the dancers, and second song is for their dance. The singers then return to the first song for their exit.

The instrumentation for the bear dance is unique, and represents the sound of a growling bear. A heavy notched stick is held on a resonator and scraped with a bone or piece of pipe. Originally the resonator was an inverted basket placed on the ground, but about 50 years ago a sheet of tin tacked to a wood frame replaced the basket, and of course made a louder sound.

The dance at Gallup was performed much like at home, except that since the ladies already had their partners, the two lines danced on both times the song was sung, rather than just waiting for the second time. Because one or two of the men were performing in the other dances that evening, they were wearing dance bells, but normally these are not used. The singing here is solo, although it is usually performed by a group.

Here at Gallup, one couple performs the dance much as they would at home. The first song is for their entrance, then a pause, and the second song is sung for their dance. The singers then finish by going back to the first song for their exit.

The Zuni Olla Maidens have been appearing at Gallup for many years. Visually they are known for their beautiful jewelry, and their ability to walk while balancing fragile water jars (called ollas in Spanish) on their heads without holding them. As a singing group the Olla Maidens are unique. An all women's singing group is very rare in Indian music, and it is probably due to the Gallup Ceremonial itself that this group was formed. Each night they sing different songs for the audience, some are of their own composition, and some are borrowed. The rain song, recorded here, is borrowed from the traditional rain ceremony described above.

The Mountainway is performed in the winter months to treat a patient whose illness has been attributed to direct or indirect contact with bears. Since the bear is a mountain-dwelling animal, the Mountain-Way is performed to restore the patient's harmony with the world, the bears, and other mountain animals.

The Feather Dance is performed by two or more dancers who dance back and forth holding special wands decorated with ribbons and feathers. the singer and helpers sit or stand to one side of the dancers. The singer drums upon an inverted basket while a helper accompanies with a gourd rattle. A main feature of this dance is when an eagle feather is placed in a basket on the ground between the singer and the dancers. As the dance proceeds, the eagle feather which had been lying in the basket mysteriously rises and begins to dance in time to the song. When the dance is over, the feather lies back down in the basket. This year at Gallup, the feather portion of the dance was omitted, although it has been performed here in other years.

In the performance recorded here, the singers perform an entrance song, then a dance song, and then return to the first song for their exit.

The Pawnee in Oklahoma first learned of the Ghost Dance in 1891 from the Caddo and Wichita, who had first received instructions from an Arapaho delegate. Within a year or so after the Pawnee began to practice this new religion, the main leader was arrested and jailed at the request of the U.S. government agent at Pawnee. He was later released upon condition that he would not participate in any further Ghost Dance activities. However, the religion had already made its impact, and dances continued to be held in secret.

When the buffalo didn't come back, and the white people stayed on, many followers of the religion became disillusioned, and by 1900 most tribes were changing to other religions. Some followed the missionaries and became Christians, others took up the Peyote Religion, and other returned to the Sun Dance which they had been practicing before.

The Ghost Dance is performed in a circle, all the dancers facing inward, and moving with quick sideward steps to the left, so that the circle of dancers, all singing, moves clockwise. Rattles are the only accompaniment to the songs. To see this dance performed is very rare, and it is fortunate that members of the Pawnee tribe were willing to perform this historic dance at the Ceremonial so that other might see it. In this performance the Pawnee sing four songs - an opening prayer song and three dance songs.

The song performed here at Gallup is part of the Bird series, but because the song tells about the night hawk, it has here been called the Night Hawk Dance.

Amoung the Crow, the Sun Dance originally was not an annual event as with other tribes, but was held only when an individual, who had lost a close relative at the hands of a hostile tribe, desired to sponsor a dance to obtain the power and vision to avenge the death of his relative.

The U.S. Government eventually stopped most tribes from performing the Sun Dance. This probably was due to the tribal unity and spiritual strength which resulted from this dance, which may have been considered a military threat. Also, missionaries considered it a religious threat, and were offended by the self-inflicted wounds which sometimes accompanied the dance. Some tribes continued to perform the dance in secret during the banned years. The ban has now been relaxed, and many tribes have resumed the Sun Dance Ceremony. The Crow revived their Sun Dance a decade or so ago, but emphasis is now placed on annual renewal, prayer, thanks, and healing. The dancers, under the direction of an older experienced man, go through many purification ceremonies in preparation. They dance up and down in place, bobbing on their heels, while blowing an eagle-bone whistle in time to the son, which is usually sung by a group of men with women helping.

Here at Gallup the Crow perform a short segment of their Sun Dance. The song recorded here is sung by one man and a woman. The eagle bone whistle of the dancer can be heard in the background.

When a young Apache girl reaches womanhood, a coming-of-age ceremony is held for her so that she will be healthy and strong throughout her life. Her family will ask a medicine man who can perform the mountain spirit ceremony to select a group of dancers to perform. At times during the dance, the young girls will dance near the mountain spirit dancers so that they may be protected from evil during their future lives. Other than this, and driving away evil from the area of the ceremony, the dance is done for the entertainment of the spectators. It is important to note that even in a purely entertainment situation, such as the Gallup Ceremonial, this dance can only be performed under the supervision of a qualified medicine man.

In this recording, we first hear the characteristic hu hu hu hu hu call of the mountain spirit dancers. The singers, using a water drum, sing two songs for this performance. At the end of the first song, the always-popular clown draws noticeable laughter from the audience.

The Laguna group has succeeded in developing a secular musical and choreographic style which compares favorable with older traditional dances, and is popular with many Indians. The roots of this new style are not arbitrary, but go back to the traditional Laguna Comanche Dance songs and dance steps, which show a degree of Plains influence.

The Turkey Dance presented here at Gallup is both new and traditional at the same time. It is new in its originality and secular setting, but it is traditional in that it is an authentic Laguna expression of a turkey dance performed in the summer months. In this performance, they sing two Turkey Dance songs, one for entering, and one dance song.

The Kiowas have long been popular at Gallup, and are noted for their fast-moving dance style. The first song performed in this recording is called a ruffle dance song because during the first part of the song, when the drum is rolling, the dancers vibrate in place, "Ruffling" their feathers, searching out their enemy. In the second part of the song they perform "the attack", a very fast war dance which ends abruptly. The dancers must know the song perfectly in order to stop at the end of the song. This ruffle dance song is then repeated for another burst of action. The Kiowas were leaving the dance area, but the audience asked for more, so they returned and performed another fast war dance, this time to a regular fast war dance song.