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CEREMONIAL DANCES & DANCE REGALIA

THE THRILL AN AUDIENCE EXPERIENCES WHILE WATCHING ANY NATIVE AMERICAN DANCE IS DUE IN PART TO THE BEAUTIFUL REGALIA THE DANCERS WEAR. WHAT IS WORN BY A DANCER HELPS TO RELATE THE STORY BEHIND THE DANCE. THE DANCE MOVEMENTS AND SOUNDS OF THE DRUM AND RATTLE ALSO HELP TO RELATE THE STORY.

AT ONE TIME, THE CHEROKEE DANCES WERE DONE IN ELABORATE DRESS. AFTER 1790 PRESSURE FROM THEIR WHITE NEIGHBORS CAUSED THEM TO ADOPT THE WAYS OF THE WHITE MAN IN ORDER TO SURVIVE AS PEOPLE.

TRIBAL DANCES WERE STILL PERFORMED TO SOME EXTENT BUT WERE DONE IN CLOTHING ADAPTED FROM THE EUROPEAN EXPLORERS AND SETTLERS. SUCH A CHANGE TOOK AWAY THE BEAUTY OF THE DANCES AND THE UNIQUE LOOK OF THE SPECIAL REGALIA USED FOR EACH.