The Taos Pueblo Hoop Dance
This dance came to the village of The Taos about 700 years ago through a young man's dream. He was very shy and unable to express himself through words. The young man had feelings for a beautiful young woman, but was not able to socialize because of his shyness. One evening he asked the Creator, through prayer, for a way to express himself. That night, through his dream, the Creator answered his prayer, showing him how to create circular hoops from the branches of a willow tree....and how to go through these hoops and create shapes representing other living creatures in the world, such as the Eagle....the Snake....the Butterfly....a Turtle....a Flower. With this dance, the young man won the heart of the young woman. From that time on, this dance was used as a courting dance to impress young women and their families.
Warrior Society Dance of the Omaha
This dance was used by the Omaha Tribe to honor their warrior societies when returning home from hunting and war expeditions. Warriors wearing specially made dance clothes, would act out the experiences they encountered, such as tracking the foot prints of animals they were hunting or foot prints of their enemies and how they might creep up on them. The song is a form of a prayer, thanking the Creator for returning the warriors safely home to their loved ones. Originally performed by men only in the early 1900's, this dance evolved into more of a social gathering and included the women into the dance circle. Such gatherings are now called POWWOWS, but are still used for the original purpose of honoring the modern warriors of today, when returning home after completion of duties in the armed forces of the United States.
The Eagle Dance
This dance beautifully depicts the life
cycle of an eagle....when it first learns to walk....when it takes its first flight....and
when it learns to hunt and feed itself and family. At the end of the dance, when the eagle
spirals in a circular motion, it signifies his spirit leaving the physical realm and
returning to the spirit world. Through the Eagle Feathers, an
Indian communicates with God. An Eagle Feather,
to a traditional Indian, is one of his most valued and prized possessions. The song and dance steps have been borrowed from the Jemez Pueblo Tribe
of New Mexico.
The Yakima Swan Dance
The Yakima Swan Dance is performed by young women only. It pays respect and honors the beauty and graceful moves of the White Swan. The White Swan's natural habitat is in the Northwest region of the United States. Through dance, the Indians honor the relationship between the element of water, the beauty of the White Swan, Mother Earth and the female gender of the human race....The givers of life.