Women's Jingle Dance Photo Gallery - Crazy Crow Trading Post

Rate This Article

 

Native American Jingle Dance Gallery

Womens Jingle Dance Regalia

Photo Credit: JMacPherson from Calgary, Canada, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Jingle Dress Dancer 2018 Canada Day in Calgary.

Native American Jingle Dance Gallery

Womens Jingle Dance Regalia

Photo Credit: JMacPherson from Calgary, Canada, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Jingle Dress Dancer 2018 Canada Day in Calgary.

Photo Credit: Smithsonian Museum

Women’s Jingle Dance :: Fast Paced Native American Dance Style

The jingle-dress dance style began among the Ojibwa in the Wisconsin area around 1920, and sometime during the next decade, it spread to the Sioux of North Dakota. By around 1950, it had spread westward into Montana. But by 1960, this dance style was rarely seen. Women started wearing jingle dresses again in the late 1970s and currently the dance is widely popular. As times change, so has the design of the jingle dress. As tin, sheet metal and Copenhagen(TM) tobacco lids became available, the lids were formed into cones and pierced. Cowries and other shells have been used as regalia decoration since pre-history. Metal cones are much more solid but still represent the sound of the water. The cones are sewn onto the fabric in various patterns or placements, asymmetrically or symmetrically across the dress.

Women’s Jingle Dance Regalia

The jingle dress is a dance dress worn by women participating in the “Jingle Dress Dance” at a Native American Pow wow. The jingle dress is made of cloth and includes several rows of metal cones which are sewn across the dress on the skirt (and blouse, in some areas). These metal cones create a jingling sound as the dancer moves. The traditional Jingle Dress Dance is characterized by the jingle dress and light footwork danced close to ground. As the dancer dances in a pattern, her feet never cross, nor does she dance backward or turn a complete circle. The contemporary jingle dance style can be fancier, when compared to the original dance style, with intricate footwork and the dress design often cut to accommodate the more elaborate footwork. Contemporary jingle dance dancers do often cross their feet, turn full circles and dance backwards. These moves exemplify the differences between contemporary and traditional jingle dress dancing.

Traditionally, 365 cones, called jingles, were sewn onto the dress representing each day of the year, with a prayer put into each cone. Jingles were originally made from the tin lids of tobacco snuff cans. While these lids are again available, and offered by Crazy Crow Trading Post, ready made jingles are also offered. While dancing, these metal cones hit against one another creating a rich jingling sound.

What is a Native American Pow Wow?

Powwows are American Indian events that feature, among other things, Native American dance and song. They are a celebration of heritage and traditions, and a way for Native Americans to connect with each other while keeping their culture alive through dance, song and storytelling. Most powwows are open to the public, offering opportunities to educate non-natives about their culture and traditions, including many different styles of Native American dance styles. While powwows occur year-round, most are held between Memorial Day and Labor Day throughout the US and Canada. They are an important part of Native American life and lots of fun for all who attend. For a list of Native American events, see our Native American Dance Calendar.

Your Source for Native American Dance Regalia Craft Supplies

Crazy Crow Trading Post has long been your number one source for powwow craft supplies for your Native American dance regalia and other needs. This photo gallery represents Women’s Jingle Dance outfits, mostly taken at Gathering of Nations Pow Wow in Albuquerque, New Mexico. We thank Derek Matthews of Gathering of Nations, and others who have given permission to present these photos in this gallery.

Crazy Crow Trading Post – Crafts Supplies for Native American Pow Wow Dance Clothes & Accessories!

Powwow Dance Style Galleries

Crazy Crow Photo Galleries

Crazy Crow Trading Post Crow Calls Sale

Current Crow Calls Sale

March – April 2024

Take advantage of great deals during our March – April Crow Calls Sale! SAVE 10%-20% on popular powwow, rendezvous, historic reenactor, bead & leather crafter supplies. Don’t miss the savings on many popular items like Missouri River Deluxe Hunting Bags, Plains Hard Sole Moccasin Kits, 18th & 19th Century Footwear: Men’s & Women’s Colonial Shoes with Buckles, Riflemen’s Half Boots & Civil War Brogans, Colonial Clothing: Waistcoats, Knee Breeches, 1850s Waistcoats & Frockcoats, Pow-Wow Drums, Hand Drum Kits, Plains Style Lance & Spear Heads, Dream Catchers & Mandalas, Traditional Serapes & so much more!

Rate This Article