Fancy Shawl
The Fancy Shawl Dance is a lively dance style performed at Native American gatherings, including the Northern Cheyenne tribe. Dancers wear colorful outfits with a fringed shawl and perform quick footwork, spins, and twirls. The dance symbolizes the transformation of a butterfly, and the music is upbeat. It’s a way to preserve culture and celebrate life, and it’s open to women and girls of all ages.
This dance was recorded at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio. The conference Transforming Educational Praxis Through Dialogue with Indigenous Perspective invited pre-service education teachers. This program was part of this year’s celebration: North American First People’s Day in Summit County. You can learn more about this yearly celebration at https://walkportagepath.com.
Listen as the dancer explains how customs and regalia are interwoven in the Northern Cheyenne culture of Montana.
