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Men's Fancy Feather or War Dance

This dance originated as a way to prepare and excite a war party. Later, it took on new meaning and became a way of expressing deep feelings and of passing on a sense of pride in Native culture.

Fancy feather regalia is brightly colored and includes a double dance bustle made of feathers worn on the back. The bustles are patterned after the tail spread of strutting birds. In the North, the apron and cape have fringe to help accentuate movement.

The fancy dance is exciting to watch, having a fast beat to which the dancers keep rhythm. Fancy dance is athletic and requires a lot of stamina. Along with intricate steps, the dancer kicks, jumps, and turns. Many dancers will spin quickly and land in a split on the last beat of the drum.

Artwork ©L.David Eveningthunder.

Please visit the ArtNatAm Web site for more information about Native American artists.