Pow Wow Dancing /02/, a photo from Texas, Sud

Photographer's Note

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Pow Wow time is the Native American people’s way of meeting together, to join in dancing, singing, visiting, renewing old friendships and make new ones.

This is a time to renew thought of the old ways and to preserve a rich heritage.

There are several different stories of how the Pow Wow was started. Some believe that the war dance societies of the Ponca and other Southern Plains tribes were the origin of the Pow Wow.

Another belief is that when the Native Americans were forced onto reservations the government also forced them to have dances for the public to come and see. Before each dance they were lead through the town in a parade, which is the beginning of the Grand Entry.

Pow Wow singers are very important figures in the Native American culture. Without them there would be no dancing. The songs are of many varieties, from religious to war to social.

As various tribes gathered together, they would share their songs, often changing the songs so singers of different tribes could join. With these changes came the use of “vocables” to replace the words of the old songs. Thus, some songs today are sung in vocables with no words.

Yet they still hold special meaning to those who know the song. Many songs are still sung in native tongue either newly composed or revivals of old songs. These songs are reminders to the Indian people of their old ways and rich heritage.

Dancers have always been a very important part of the life of the American Indian. Most dancers seen at Pow Wows today are social dances which might have had different meanings in earlier days. Although dance styles and content have changed, their meaning and importance has not. The outfits worn by the dancers, like the styles of clothing today evolve over time, it is not a stagnant culture, but a vibrant and changing way of life. (Source)

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Photo taken during the second day of 18th Texas Championship Pow Wow in Houston, Texas.

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ktanska, PSYOPS, anes_lc, Hendrika, Flamboyant, nicol_g, venslens, Clairedelune trouve(nt) cette note utile

Critiques | Translate

devimeuxbe (58557) 2007-11-12 3:01

Hi Thanh
very beautifull. I like the dynamism, the cropping and of course the colors. It's a nice report indeed
Have a nice day
Bertrand

ktanska (45018) 2007-11-12 3:22

Hi Thanh,
Well timed and focused shot in the middle of action. Very colourful and full of details. Good cultural note.
Kari

PSYOPS (0) 2007-11-12 5:09

The dancer was at his best performance, and you were at your best timely capture.
Congratulations and thanks!
GJ

Hendrika (655) 2007-11-12 5:28

Hi Thanh,
Lovely how you captured this dance during the PowWow. All those colours and texture make this a very attractive picture.
TFS
Els

Flamboyant (0) 2007-11-12 12:32

This is one of the best action pictures of the site.
TFS...

serge44 (273) 2007-11-12 13:00

beau mouvement pour ce danseur indien le cagrage serré et le flou des vêtements sont très bons
merci thanh
amitiés serge

nicol_g (859) 2007-11-12 13:36

It's bursting with colours and movement, Thanh! - there is definitely a dance feel here, even a bit dizzying, I'd say.
Great focus - not an easy work I imagine, but an impressive result. Congratulations!

anes_lc (14968) 2007-11-13 1:20

even more impressive then your intro :D
great shot
the movement of the dance ,the colorful costume ,you lucky for such capture
well done
regards,anes

venslens (448) 2007-11-13 3:22

A moving,strong sub-altern picture...The movement,the expression everything is well captured.The so called civilized society should be ashamed of the crimes they have committed on to this rich,cultured natives.

anyway,i see no signs of a good future to the sub-alterns allover the world... ;-(

Merline (0) 2007-11-13 3:48

Hi Thanh,
something I hope to see one day...

Really a great catch, you have it all here! Movement, colours, one gets the feeling! A marvellous shot, I put it in my favourites straight away.I think as Venslens, it's a shame and the white man has not even started to try to really help...
Very nice note too!
Thanks
Michèle

adelune (0) 2007-11-13 7:58

So much color! So much movement! And so much "force"! TFS so a great shot Thanh, alain

Clairedelune (4923) 2007-11-22 18:18

Hi Mr. Nguyen,
When I saw this picture last week, I was not able to critique, being sick. And I marked this photo because I had to leave my words for it. A must! It is the best photo to this date that I've seen of a Pow Wow! Most of the time, I find these photos quite "clichés", but not yours. It could have been taken years and years ago. Not in terms of the technical aspect of the photo, but in terms of the subject. I don't have the feel that it is done for 'tourists', but like if they were among their people, like in the old time.
The moment, the timing, is simply perfect. I know, you wrote that it was pure luck. Yes, it might. But, for having quite often photography "action" (dance and music playing), you really have to be there with your subjects, to almost feel their moves, to see them coming. Anyway, luck or presence or both, it is a very good photo. The expression is priceless.
Colors please me too. Sure, a most vibrant photo.
Claire
P.S.: Your intro... I got a lump in my throat... Please, take care.

isa92 (128) 2007-12-01 11:20

Bonsoir Thanh,
Belle image qui capture en même temps, le mouvement du danseur, le costume qui vole et l'expression sur son visage.
Bravo
Isa92

Photo Information

Copyright: Ngy Thanh (ngythanh) (8458)
Genre: Gens
Medium: Couleur
Date Taken: 2007-11-11
Categories: Festivals
Camera: Canon EOS 20D, Canon EF 70-200 F4 L, SanDisk Ultra II 2Gg, Hoya 67mm ND4
Exposition: f/4, 1/250 secondes
Versions: version originale
Date Submitted: 2007-11-12 2:42
Favoris: 2 [voir]