As the dancers are called and the grand entry of the pow wow begins, it is clear there are many different types of regalia and dances. Each one has its own history and beauty. Once you understand what the judges are looking for in a dance and a little bit of the history, a pow wow will be much more enjoyable.

The first thing to notice about the women’s traditional dance is regalia. This is one of the most intricate of all the regalia. The beading is exquisite. The designs on the dress are either related to the tribe or have personal meaning to the dancer. Different tribal areas favor different patterns. For example, the Dakotas normally have rainbows and geometric shapes. The Winnebago most often have floral patterns. Typically the dancer will have a shawl draped over her arm. She will possess an awl, and a knife on the belt of the dress. The dancer will carry a feather or a fan, most often these are eagle feathers.

As the dance begins you may notice that several of the women are bowing their head and seem to be just bouncing a bit to the rhythm of drums. The dancer is trained to focus on the beat of the drums and listen for the honor calls so she can raise the feathers at the appropriate calls. You may notice a sway as the dancer and drum beat become one.

In this dance the feet stay close to the ground at all times. The women’s traditional dance requires very little movement. The judges are looking for poise, elegance and proper responses to the music. When the honor calls are played the dancer should respond. There will be other phrases that have significance to a dancer and the judges will be able to observe these nuances. As spectators begin to understand and listen to drums they will be able to see more of the subtleties of the dance.

It may not look hard but the short, tight steps require great stamina. The song played at the time of the dance is determined by the drummers. It is live and not recorded and the dancer has to listen and concentrate so the honor calls are acknowledged. Each circle plays their own version of the song and so much concentration is required to do the dance directly.

Many times when there is a call for the round dance spectators are drawn to a specific set of dancers. With a little bit of knowledge you can find the traditional woman dancer and get very close to see the regalia. You can also observe the movements and see how careful the stance is. Never touch the regalia of a dancer.

Attending a pow wow should never really be just a spectator occasion. When the round dance reaches out for everyone to join, the call is sincere. The experience is unique and should not be taken advantage of. The kinds of people that share their culture should be respected and enjoyed.