Native American Dancing

Native American culture is highly based on dance. Though each Indian tribe may have their own spiritual beliefs and dances they all have one commodity. All Native Americans worship The Great Spirit, also known as The Creator. The Great Spirit is best compared to Jesus Christ, the son of God. The dances performed by Indians are done to connect with spirits for several reasons. The Native Americans believe that everything on earth has a spirit. You  may notice how Indians bend over while dancing, the reason why they do this is because, Indians cherish their land and respect it with great passion. Land is so important to Native Americans because without fertile abundant land they would have no food, water, supplies, medications, and nothing to survive. The following are popular reasons why the American Indians performed theses dances; curing, prayer, initiation, storytelling, performing magic, playing games, courting, hunting, and influencing nature. An interesting stereotype about these dances is that people think that Indians dance only to drums, but this is not the case. In many cases they will dance to the beat of their own costumes which consisted of rattles and bells hanging from there sleeves and vests. Dances that are still alive today consist of the Hopi Snake Dance, the Buffalo Dance, and the Ghost Dance. The Pow Wows are the most well known and recent type of Native American dance. To go into more detail of each of these dances we will explore what makes up each dance, who performs them, and why they are performed. The reason why I decided to explore the dances of Native Americans is because I have always been fascinated with the culture of Indians. I was especially fascinated by the weapons they use, how they used the animals to survive, and the dances performed by the tribes. I find it very important to believe in something if you want any good to come out of your life. The Indians have a very strong belief and admiration for nature and the spirits that were encased inside every object around them. In order to be healthy and provide for their families, the Indians worshiped the Great Spirit. To maintain a good life, they believe that dancing is the best way to express their love, thanks, wisdom, and health.