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For further information about Centreland Singers contact Jonathan Smith: Telephone 01242 237948 | |
There are various viewpoints & beliefs on where and how the Jingle Dress came into being.
It is said that the Jingle Dress came from the Ojibwe people in Canada. One of the people was sick, the medicine man had a dream in which 4 young women wore dresses with jingles attached to them and danced in a certain way around the sick person. The sick person was healed by this. He told The People of his dream, and the dresses were made. He then showed the 4 young women how to dance and what to do as he had dreamed. They then did as was shown to them and the sick person was indeed healed. Another version says that the sick woman tried to dance 4 times and on the 4th time she was successful and was healed.
Today, there are Two Styles of dancing Jingle Dress - Old Style and Contemporary. I have included both styles here describing the Regalia and the Dance. Old Style Regalia- Dress has no appliqué but just ribbonwork. Jingles usually attached to all the dress and always silver jingles. Beaded Leggings and Moccasins always worn. No fan and no plume in hair. A small bag is carried when dancing. Sometimes a scarf is also carried and sometimes a scarf is worn as well. A belt with metal disks or concho's is worn. Hair is still in 2 plaits (although there have been 2 other styles in the past - 1 being 1 plait at the back and the other being sides clipped up and the rest loose).
Dress has ribbonwork and ornate appliqué in abstract, geometrical or picture designs. Jingles can be either silver or gold. Fabrics used tend to be shiny or eye catching. Leggings and Mocs are beaded. Beaded Hair sets (matching) also worn with a matching headband. A big plume is attached to the back barrette. Hair is worn in 2 plaits. A wide flat fan is always carried. Some dancers have beaded tops and or beaded cuffs etc. A belt with metal disks or concho's is worn but this can also be a fabric belt to match the rest of the dress.
Jingle Dress dancers do not however raise their fans during Grand Entry.
You can see both examples on You Tube - just search for Jingle Dress Old Style or Jingle Dress Contemporary. You can also get a DVD on the dance style from most Native American Craft Supply places in the US or Canada. I do have a contemporary style pattern available - but it is not commercial and you would have to live with a hand drawn copy if you wanted one.
This is not to say everyone does all this (some I know do and some I know don't !) but if someone reading this wants to be a Jingle Dress Dancer, I must try to make the person aware of these things so that she can make an informed decision about how she wants to dance and live.
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Clare Wray (left) and Garance Parker at Twin Hills Powwow, May 2009.