Stomp dance

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The Stomp dance is performed by the various southeastern Native American communities, including the Cherokee, Creeks and Seminoles. Active Stomp Dance communities still exist in North Carolina, Oklahoma, Alabama and Florida. One such community meets at the Stokes Stomp Dance Ground which is located in an isolated area of the Cherokee Nation tribal lands. Other grounds include, Hossossv Tvlvhvse Ceremonial Ground on the [Poarch Creek Indian] Reservation near Atmore, Alabama, the White Oak Shawnee grounds and various other Creek and Seminole grounds in Oklahoma and Florida.

The Dance Grounds contain an elevated platform upon which a large ceremonial fire is kindled before sunrise. Women wear modern skirts and blouses that have been modified to incorporate traditional patterns. Men wear blue jeans or slacks and hats which are usually cowboy-style, usually with a single eagle, hawk or crane feather in the hat band. The ribbon shirt is the standard ceremonial attire, which consists of a loose-fitted tunic decorated with ribbons. A traditional Stomp Dance grounds is often headed by a male elder. In the Creek and Seminole traditions the Meko or "king" is the primary ceremonial authority. The Meko is assisted by his second in charge called a Heniha, the chief medicine man called a Hillis Hiya and speaker called Meko Tvlvswv or Meko's tongue/speaker. It is important to note that Meko's are not supposed to publically adress the entire grounds and as such that responsibility falls often on Meko Tvlvswsv. A traditional Creek grounds also employs four Tvstvnvkes (warchiefs/generals/police), four head ladies and four alternate head ladies. The chief speaker calls the people to the dance for each round in the Native language. The women wear turtle shell shakers, or shackles on both legs (typically 13 or less on each leg). The shakers are hollowed out shells which have holes drilled in them and are filled with rocks, shot, soda can lids or anythig else that will make them rattle. The Traditional Creek and Seminole shell shakers are made of terrapin or box-turtle shells. Following the Trail of Tears terrapin shells were harder to come by and the impoverished Creeks had to resort to using condensed milk cans instead. This tradition countinues today and most women start out with a set of "cans" before moving up to having their own set of shells.

Every dance must have at least one woman to carry the rhythm. The order of the dancers is male-female-male-female in a continuous spiral or circle with young children and the odd numbers trailing at the end. The song is led by a lead man who has developed his own song on the mulitude of variations of stomp dance songs. The songs are typically performed in call and response form. The dancers circle the fire in counter-clockwise direction with slow, stomping steps set to the rhythm created by the women stomping with their shell shakers. As the dance progresses, as many as several hundred people may join the circle. The dance continues until at least four rounds or four songs are completed by the dance leader. At this point, the dance concludes until the next leader is called out to sing. There is normally a 2-5 minute break between leaders. The dance frequently continues throughout the entire night until dawn of the next day. The Stomp Dance is not meant to be a grueling and physically challenging event but almost every participant on the grounds will dance most of the night. Prior to the dance dinner is prepared at the Grounds, often at family camps. Throughout the night guests that arrive are welcomed to help eat up the leftovers. The foods eaten at Stomp Dances are typical southern delicacies such as corn bread, mashed potatoes as well as certain specialized indian dishes such as pork, grape dumplings, hominy, frybread, and numerous traditional dishes ensure that everyone gets their fill. At some point in the ceremony, a special medicine made from specific roots and plants gathered for the people in attendence and is given to the participants at the ceremonial ground. This medicine is for the physical and spiritual benifit of the members of the dance at the ceremonial ground.

[edit] Connection with ancient dance forms

During the yo Stomp Dance, at various rounds in the dance, one of the ancient Ah-ni-ku-ta-ni dances called the Running Dance does emerge. In this variation, the dancers do not form a spiral into the water, but form a snaking, sinuous line of people that haphazardly circles the fire. This is a variation of a more traditional social dance performed during the Green Corn Ceremony and is the only element of the Stomp Dance that resembles the ancient running dance, which was the final social dance performed during a traditional Green Corn ceremony.

[edit] References

• Cherokee Nation Cultural Resource Center, Tahlequah, Oklahoma.
• Cherokee, ISBN 1-55868-603-7, Graphic Arts Center Publishing
• Writings and History of the Ah-ni-ku-ta-ni, central archives, Cape Girardeau, Missouri, Ah-ni-ya-wi-ya Religious Organization. HCR 64 Box 816, Grassy MO 63751
• Ah-ni-yv-wi-ya Newsletters, Ah-ni-ya-wi-ya Religious Organization. HCR 64 Box 816, Grassy MO 63751
• 13 Moons On the Turtles Back. A Native American Year of Moons, ISBN 0-698-11584-8, Putnam and Grossnet Group, 1997
• "The origins of the redbird smith movement" Graduate thesis by Robert K. Thomas.
• Lewis and Jordan, Creek Indian Medicine Ways, University of New Mexico, Albuqueque, 2002
• Howard and Lena, Oklahoma Seminoles, Medicines, Magic and Religion, University of Oklahoma, Norman, 1984