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My Pueblo friend Sam said it best: "It's like a big
prayer..." We call it a "dance," but it is much more
complex than that. It is performed, but it is not a performance as
our dances are. It is a philosophical/regigious statement, but the
participating dancers are all silent. Pueblo Corn Dances are
held at many Pueblos and at many times during the year. The largest one is
held at Santo Domingo Pueblo at the beginning of August. What is the
dance about? Who participates in the Corn Dances? Where are
they held? Who leads the dances? What is the roll of women and
girls? Why are some of the dancers barefooted? What are "feast
days?" What do the dancers dance to -- are there singers, drummers?
This is not a show for tourists! No photography is
allowed. No admission is charged. What's going on in these events we
call dances? Understanding the Corn Dances will help us get to the
heart of traditional Pueblo spiritual life. Search
indexes under: "Corn," "Dance," "Ceremonies." (Remember that several
Pueblos, the Zuni, and the Hopi have their separate traditions. Write
about specific examples keep your focus narrow because you can't tell it
all!) |
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Bibliography
American Indians of the Southwest, Dutton
Mornings in Mexico, Lawrence (That's D.H. Lawrence, literature
fans) : "The Dance of the Sprouting Corn" 972.08 L43
Handbook of North American Indians, Vol 9 see index "ceremonies"
Masked Gods, Waters, pp. 263ff
Pueblo Children of the Earth Mother, Vol. 2
Southwestern Indians, Bahti
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