Powwow Dance Tutorial

Tansi! Hello! My name is Angela Gladue, I am from the Treaty 6 Territory of amiskwacîwâskahikan (ᐊᒥᐢᑿᒌᐚᐢᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ), meaning “beaver hills house,” which is the nehiyawewin itwewin (Cree word) for Edmonton. I am a member of Frog Lake First Nation and began Powwow Dancing through my school 'Prince Charles Elementary' when I was 6 years old. My first teachers were Bernadette Coté and Bobbi Joe Cardinal who taught me the basic step to Fancy Dance. I was later influenced by women and other dancers in my community who pushed me to dance hard every week at the Native Canadian Friendship Center through my mid-late teen years. Such inspirations include Mona Lisa Mclean, Rhonda Paul Cardinal, Waniya Cardinal, Kristina Auger and Amanda Lamothe. I have been sharing this dance for many years through out North America and was asked to make this Powwow tutorial for the youth who participated in a summer camp for Right To Play. The steps in this video is some of the foundation that I have personally translated through my own dance journey, and is not a so called "the set in stone way" to powwow dance, but is my style of how I interpret this dance. Part of powwow dancing is to get the foundation of the basic step and to "Dance Your Style!" so I also encourage you all to learn from different powwow dancers as they may have other steps and ways to do this dance. I hope you enjoy this video and that it helps you on your dance journey. ekosi! ay hay - Thank you!

[@sevenofnine3880]

This is amazing. I have been wanting to learn. Mom and myself were not raised in the culture so I'm trying to learn on my own. I am Ojibwe.

[@benayseque3025]

Omg saammmeeee I'm half and I grew up.with my mom I was white washed

[@AtomSonofMan]

This video is friggin' awesome. Thank you. Please make more videos like this!

[@LaraCroft36]

I have absolutely 0 connection to native American culture, I'm from the Benelux. Still, the music and dance call to me. When I see you dance I am in awe. Such beauty. I hope nobody is offended by other ethnicities trying out these dances to the traditional music and singing, because it's done out of pure fascination and love. Thank you for this beautiful video, I've already watched about 5 times, and I'll watch again trying to get used to the moves. Much love! 💗

[@ttt-rq3vs]

As someone that was adopted into a white family (meaning the government will not recognize me as Tsalagi), the Powwow in my state is the only time and place I am not depressed or feeling misplaced. I may look like the White people, but I certainly do not feel connected to them. It's the powwow, the energy and the love, the healing of just being around such selfless kindness and caring, I don't know what I would do if I couldn't at least have the honor of attending a Powwow. And thank you for this. I hope to use this when they allow the audience to join at the end of the night dance.

[@emdrw4650]

Phuck the government! Follow your heart!!! The creator will guide you!

[@caileighgouthro1365]

Although I don't share the same experiences that you've gone through I also feel disconnected from my roots and I do look white but I feel more connected to the indigenous peeps out there rather than what I was raised with.

[@mildredmartinez8843]

Amazing. Great teacher. I have been to several pow wows and i am fascinated by Native American culture. Thank you for teaching us the steps in your dancing. I love the music. I love everything. Thank you.

[@dcgaudreault]

Angela , you are a graceful dancer and a natural instructor. thank you so much.

[@Lunacee]

Hi Denise! Thank you!

[@Glen.Danielsen]

Sister Chief Rocka, I love what you do! White guy here. I attended pow-wow’s with an Iroquois girl friend. There was potent spiritual experience there. So impressed and moved! Great Spirit bless you! 🙏🏽

[@adrienne8757]

fav dance class! amazing demo at the end of lesson

[@caseybc6342]

Thank you for this lesson and your beautiful dances!

[@alexandriabipatnath8396]

This was such a GOOD breakdown of the basic steps. Have been looking for a good video to break it down. This will be my go-to Pow Wow conditioning video - Chi-Miigwech! More of these videos, please!

[@hermine8644]

Thank you Thank you!!! Ive been wanting to learn but no one has been better at teaching me other than you❤❤❤❤

[@aleaseaubreyfrieson5106]

This is beautiful. Thank you for sharing this with us.

[@janajobbikova7508]

I was able to catch it very well from you. It is slow enouhg and all steps are explained properly. Thank you so much! ❤

[@USAtoElsewhere]

Great addition to cardio and other types of dance. Extra use of foot balls and bouncing packs a punch to the calves and feet that I havent felt with any other dancing other than ballet.

[@lindagarrisi283]

Thank you! I shared this with my dance class in Windsor, Ontario. Beautiful!!

[@nettiegould4539]

You’re such a great dance coach! Thank you 🙏 I’m dancing in my first powwow next month and this helps me build confidence to get out there. Much appreciated ❤

[@5045lucky]

Just followed along and you by far are an amazing instructor. ❤️

[@sandratrowsse8380]

Fantastic tutorial....thank you!

[@londonjacksonlj]

"White" female. Cannot help but feel it in my cells. Here to learn no matter what

[@Lunacee]

huh?

[@justsomeonewholikestodraw6309]

Bro what

[@nicogee6323]

Buh lol

[@alsoomse1531]

Nitsííksimatsi’tsi’pa (thank u) I’m Piikani and I’m reconnecting dancing is healing ✊🏽🧡 I really need that

[@sharpieJ4L]

Oki nappi piikani it's nice to see a fellow piikani

[@catherinelee8022]

Thank you Ms.Angela. I will share the basic step, bounce, step out and kris kross with my students tomorrow. Much love and Migwich.

[@hermine8644]

Navajo/Quechua living in Norway here🥰

[@lisamckim3300]

Amazing. Thank you so much for the breakdown of individual steps.

[@haritchie3460]

Grateful your sharing to so many,

[@Jeremiah-rg8zz]

I'm white and half native but my ancestors were full blooded and one thing i know is when it came to dancing i did these naturally but now that i know it was my Native blood I completely understand if this is what our ancestors did Chief Redbird was my great great great great Grandpa and my great grandma was (Cherokee Indian) and (Navajo Indian) My great grandpa was (Blackfoot Indian)

[@mfayant]

Great to see this tutorial. Are the dance steps and moves for women only? I think more Native people want to get into dancing.

[@Sequoiayume]

Thank you for the amazing tutorial !!

[@rubicedano358]

Amazing!

[@mildredmartinez8843]

Beatiful.

[@A.p2691]

Hi first thx for video. But is this a dance for man and woman? Or you don’t have a split of that?

[@aiyanajeanyazzie824]

this is foot work for fancy shawl powwow dancing style, but she says the first step is for anyone with all styles

[@needsbeer]

Tansii Oki

[@dameraoatchess5772]

You should do a tutorial on ur dress and the accessories ❤❤

[@BobJones-sd5wn]

Hi there, im from the Taino tribe and was just wondering if I would be allowed to participate in powwows in dress in the regalia of the northern tribes, and if so, what steps do I have to take to participate?

[@Filiziosbrown]

Can any indigenous people help me with this question-I am a small part native but have no connection to the culture via that line because said ancestor was adopted out of an orphanage as a child. If i started learning some of this stuff on my own, is that appropriation? Wouldn’t be for commercial use, to mock anyone, or without care and a degree of work toward understanding.

[@elijahthesage8510]

Don’t think about too much just dance

[@justsomeonewholikestodraw6309]

Commercial use means that you are selling it so no, i am naitve and was more born into the culture for my nation we are always here for people who want to learn and its great you are interested in your ancestors culture, as a jingle dress dancers all are welcome even if you are not naitve :)

[@hermine8644]

Dancing is for everyone, we’re dancing for those who can’t, we’re dancing to heal, and we’re dancing for our people❤️

[@emdrw4650]

Follow yur heart! Creator will guide you!

[@radupavel5481]

ange i love this. thank you. this can teach my kids. ps. hope you well sis ! :D

[@lisaaghdami3806]

thank you so much.

[@Linette9684]

Hello, Bonjour de 🇫🇷 France

[@teaolive]

Thank you!

[@t-shades7148]

I'm so bad at figuring out when the song is going to end. I try listening and counting the beats but I can never keep up and I miscount.

[@Lunacee]

Hey T-Shade! Do you listen to much powwow music? There are 4 “Push-ups” or “Starts” to the song. After the 4th one you can recognize when the song will end (unless it’s a trick song). This is based on the pattern/composition of the vocables that the drummers create. A start is when one drummer sings the melody, and then the rest of the drummers follow. If you listen to the music, practice listening for the starts :) hope this helps!

[@kittwrites]

Amazing. Chi miigwech!

[@danielguenette1070]

Thank you

[@amycuaresma]

Mîkwec from Alaska ❣️

[@laflare0005]

tansi:)

[@mazzyy5915]

Can you do fancy shawl

[@Lunacee]

Sure! :)

[@Frank_furt_2025]

im native

[@johnconnor7407]

you are beautiful

[@imanmohamed9900]

Bruh

[@coruscantguardclone4796]

hello I am a colonizer like you all in this comment section, I have come to say that as I a colonizer I will take away your rights and make us the colonizer the ruler of the country because we have better tools and guns so good day.

[@thecouncil2056]

😂🤦‍♀️😬

[@jeffredaisastay]

Da hell 🤣

[@ahhhhh4935]

yo mama 🤣🤣🤣

[@StarrSky]

Ok? And?

[@coruscantguardclone4796]

@@StarrSky no rights

[@shartingnfarting]

i was supposed to dance, but silly little me didnt want to-- i dont know if its too late now,, im 17 (almost 18) and i really want to dance but im too afraid to tell my family. they see me as this careless, lazy, tuff gal; wanting nothing to do with "silly" stuff that is not in my interest :// so here i am fulfilling my dream in secret haha

[@StarrSky]

Start dancing. Just do it. In your heart, you’re already a dancer. So dance. Dance from your heart.

[@sumthnwckd6788]

Dance. Don't worry about what others think. It's your Heritage. Celebrate it. Celebrate Creator. Superman has at the end of one of his videos... To Dance is to Pray. To Pray is to Heal. Our People need to Heal. There is nothing "silly" about being who you are.

[@anjaleahsheridan4465]

Youre never to old to learn. My aunty was in her 30s when she started and everyone thinks she’s been dancing since she was little

[@Lunacee]

You can do it!!! This dance is meant for all ages from tiny tots to golden age. You got this!

[@wendeln92]

Why would 17/18 y.o. be too late to learn dancing +/or learning about and participating in your culture? Why keep it a secret? You are still young and you will change your thinking about yourself and the world, that is good, it means you are growing as a person, you are maturing. Your friends and family might rib you a bit but that's OK, they will also probably be very proud of your decision too.