grass dance
Native American celebration
A grass dance is a men's style of Native American powwow dancing characterized by flowing, swaying movements that mimic grass blowing in the wind.
Dancers wear colorful regalia with long yarn or ribbon fringes rather than traditional feather bustles.
The dance originates from Plains tribes, with competing origin stories—some say dancers once flattened grass to prepare ceremonial grounds, others trace it to a healing vision.
He's been practicing grass dance since he was twelve.
Largest Nebraska city
- LakotaWestern Sioux people
- SiouxPlains Indigenous nation
- warrior societyMartial cultural organization
- sacred ritualCeremonial act with religious significance
blessing · oral tradition · ancestral · cultural preservation · revival · adaptation
Energetic noisy activity
- feathersBird's lightweight covering
- ribbonworkDecoration using narrow fabric
- fringeOutermost edge or margin
- beadworkStrung ornament craft
moccasins · leggings · cuffs · aprons · rosettes · harness · angora · quillwork
Struck percussion cylinder
- drumbeatRhythmic percussion sound
- singersThose who vocalize melodies
- tempoRate of musical performance
- callContact by phone
song structure · chanting · vocables · melody · rhythm · drum circle
Struggle for supremacy
- intertribalBetween tribal groups
- grand entryImpressive, showy entrance
- arenaVenue for contests
- emceeCeremony host
judges · categories · prizes · exhibition · circle · veterans · specials · protocol
Omaha
Largest Nebraska city
- LakotaWestern Sioux people
- SiouxPlains Indigenous nation
- warrior societyMartial cultural organization
sacred ritual · blessing · oral tradition · ancestral · cultural preservation · revival · adaptation
bustle
Energetic noisy activity
- feathersBird's lightweight covering
- ribbonworkDecoration using narrow fabric
- fringeOutermost edge or margin
beadwork · moccasins · leggings · cuffs · aprons · rosettes · harness · angora · quillwork · breastplate
drum
Struck percussion cylinder
song structure · call · chanting · vocables · melody · rhythm · drum circle
competition
Struggle for supremacy
- intertribalBetween tribal groups
- grand entryImpressive, showy entrance
- arenaVenue for contests
emcee · judges · categories · prizes · exhibition · circle · veterans · specials · protocol · etiquette
stomp
Tread heavily
footwork · head bob · sweeping · spinning · mimicry · fluid motion · athletic · endurance · precision · synchronization
- American dancebreakdancing, hip hop, hustle, Charleston, lindy hop
- Plains IndigenousCree, Blackfoot, Dakota, Lakota, tipi
- ritual dancescorroboree, barong, dervish, jingle dress, grand entry
- powwowgrand entry, regalia, drum circle, jingle dress, drumming
- reservationsreservation, booking, hotel reservation, room reservation, table reservation
- First NationsCree, Ojibwe, Mohawk, Blackfoot, Inuit
grass danceballroom dancing
Formal partnered dance styles
ballroom dance · waltz · Viennese waltz · ballet · minuet
grass, dance, grasses, grassy, grassland, grasslands, dances, danced, dancing