2014 Crow Nation Fair and Rodeo Day 4 Dancing and Ceremonies

This post has been moved to OpenChutes.com. All future postings of Powwows, Indian Relay Races, Rodeos and Rendezvous will be posted there from now on exclusively. So if you’re looking for new images and posts for all those events attended this year, plus all the old posts posted on BigShotsNow.com check out OpenChutes.com. See you there!

It seemed like there was always dancing going on somewhere in the camp. At night they had huge dances in the arbor, which has grand stands so spectators can sit and watch. Each gathering had opening ceremonies with the presentation of the flag and any other ceremony that had to take place. Sometimes it would be smoking the pipe, or a prayer, or just an announcement of some kind. Everyone who was going to dance would gather in a circle and quietly wait until it was time to start the dance. Then the drumming and singing would commence and the dancers would slowly circle the arbor as they began the nights activities.

As you can see in the pictures everyone took the dancing very seriously. It wasn’t a time for fooling around or acting inappropriately. Yet I always felt that there was a joyousness under the serious faces. There certainly was pride. The dancing began around sundown and lasted deep into the night. I shot until I couldn’t squeeze anymore light out of the scene and reluctantly had to stop for the night.

I’m going to let the images speak for themselves as there is little I could say that would embellish their regalia or performance so just enjoy the pictures and perhaps you will be able to hear the drumming and singing in the background.

CrowDance2549Presenting the colors and the flags

CrowDance2523Listening to the opening ceremony

CrowDance2517Listening to the opening ceremony

CrowDance2626The  dancing starts

CrowDance2503Drummers played steadily into the night, their voices never seemed to get hoarse.

 

CrowDance2670                           Young and old danced together

CrowDance2678                        Singing as he dances

CrowDance2524Sitting one out

CrowDance2542Portrait of a young man

CrowDance2593                          Every color imaginable is used.

CrowDance2574Pensive

CrowDance2585                        Portrait of a young boy

CrowDance2708     Putting everything into it

CrowDance2685         This warriors regalia was my favorite

CrowDance2598Many seasons experience

CrowDance2642Preparing to dance

CrowDance2730                           Entering the circle

CrowDance2717                            This warrior’s regalia was my second favorite choice.

CrowDance2783                         Elders completing the circle

CrowDance2779Adjustments are made

CrowDance2799                          Every step is important

CrowDance2808Waiting for their turn

CrowDance2876                             The young learn by watching

CrowDance2749If it weren’t for the power lines this could be 1865

CrowDance2513                     Admirers

CrowDance2641                                     Dancers posing for a family photo

When it got to dark to see out on the field it was time to call it a night. Tomorrow would bring new sights and sounds and it was just a few hours away.