Uploaded May 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 days ago
The Men's Traditional dance is the first dance of the Men's category at powwows and has roots in the Lakota, Dakota, Nakoda, and Comanche people. This dance originated as a representation of men going to war, with each move symbolizing a particular action in battle. As with other dances, there are two styles of Men's Traditional: Old Style and Modern Contemporary. Old Style dancers perform without spinning or moving backwards and typically wear a single feather bustle. In contrast, Modern Contemporary dancers utilize multiple feathers, paint their faces, and incorporate more complex and fancy dance moves. This style emerged in the 1980s.
The Men's Traditional dance is the first dance of the Men's category at powwows and has roots in the Lakota, Dakota, Nakoda, and Comanche people. This dance originated as a representation of men going to war, with each move symbolizing a particular action in battle. As with other dances, there are two styles of Men's Traditional: Old Style and Modern Contemporary. Old Style dancers perform without spinning or moving backwards and typically wear a single feather bustle. In contrast, Modern Contemporary dancers utilize multiple feathers, paint their faces, and incorporate more complex and fancy dance moves. This style emerged in the 1980s.
