The Web Site for the Study of Native American Pow-Wow Ettiquette and Tradition

Also known as "Old Time" or "Old Style Sioux", the Old Style dancer is a legacy of the modern pow wow. Unlike all of the other dance style found in modern pow wows, the old style dancer's clothes and dance steps basically have remained unchanged since the reservation era of the early 1900's.

With the spread of the Pan-Indian movement, Old Style dancing is being slowly replaced by the traditional Dancers. Do to possible sensitivities of some of the old-time regalia, it is recommended that all hobbyist dance Traditional instead of Old Style.

The Old Style dance is a rare site on the modern dance arena. An Old Style dancer can easily be mistaken for a conservative Traditional Dancer.

The clothes of the Old Style Dancer are made to resemble the dancer's clothing of the northern plains during the reservation age. Several of the trademarks of the Old Style dancer are:

• an otter pelt worn over the shoulders (not like a sash) covered with mirrors
• a single bustle featuring a "mess section" of small curled feather in the center
• a breech cloth instead of aprons
• small strips of argyle fur around the ankles
• the roach worn high on the head, about one hand-length from the hair line
• a more conservative color scheme than traditional dancers.

The primary dance step of the Old Style Dancer is the Toe-Heel. In the Toe-Heel, the ball of the heel is bounced on the ground on beat one, then the same foot is set on the ground on beat two. For beats three and four the same is done with the opposite foot, allowing the dancer to "walk" around the circle. Unlike the modern dances, the Old Style dancer does not begin to dance until after the first line of a song is sung.

The dancers knees should be slightly bent but he keeps his feet underneath him. His back should be slightly bent but with his head high. His arms are bent with his elbows out but his hands close to his side. His head bobs slightly like a birds walking, with his chin up.

When done correctly, the Old Style Dancer should resemble a bird, a tracker, and a proud warrior.