Fancy Dancer 1 (print)

Fancy indian dancers on American flag landscape in a stylized design, by Leana Asher.

Women’s Fancy Shawl Dance

This dance is inspired by the movement of butterflies; the Fancy Shawl Dance is somewhat new to the Powwow circuit, starting around the 1950s and 1960s. The dance has intricate footwork, and spinning that show the fringe on the shawl, as well as the colors of the dancer’s outfit. This style is said to have risen when women wanted to have a dance that would attract attention, much like the Men’s Fancy Dance has done.

The Fancy Shawl Dance was first called the Graceful Shawl Dance and did not include fast movement or high stepping. Today the dancer executes energetic twirls and high steps to a rapid drum beat.

The dresses are made of light fabric to give the appearance that the dancer is floating, as well as to prevent the dancer from overheating. Most of the Fancy Shawl dancers do not wear leggings but calf-high moccasins. The most important element of the outfit is the shawl, and must extend from hand to hand, when the dancer’s arms are outstretched.www.native pridearts.org