A Native American Pow-wow program on July 15th was most successful, drawing 32 participants. As part of the Discover Dance series at Rockford Public Library, pow-wow instructor Pat Diaz explained ceremonial dancing in both a competitive and personal context. Two typical types of Native American circle dances demonstrated, include the two step and promenade style dance. In a two step each couple follows the lead of the head dancers, forming a line behind them, whereas in the promenade each couple dances alone.
Diaz shared excellent pow-wow video examples and wore her own traditional regalia: a buck skin dress, a woven skirt and top. Accessories included her personal feather fans and peace pipes. Women’s shawls traditionally include fringe as long as 24 inches. Colors and designs on regalia evoke personal significance and must not be duplicated. Diaz for example wore red, green and black on the ruffle across her bodice, as the colors represent her husband’s service in the Vietnam War.
Keep your eye on Discover Dance as it aims to include Latin, Hula, Swing and belly dance in its fall lineup. For more information, please contact Susan Sinclair at 815-904-5585.
Upcoming Pow-wows:
AUGUST 1-2, Fourth Annual Intertribal and Traditional Pow-wow: About an hour and a half southwest of Rockford, hosted in Prophetstown, Illinois.
AUGUST 8, 14th Annual Honor the Mounds: View a true drumming and dancing pow wow display at Beattie Park in Rockford, Illinois. Also to include food, crafts and living history demonstrations.
