This dance could be danced anywhere as it did not have a sacred space to occur on. Men, women and children could participate in the dance.
The participants would paint their bodies red and black, and wore traditional ceremonial clothing.
They danced in the morning because it was forbidden to eat before dancing. They would eat food, and a few hours later, go back to dancing, usually long into the night.
The participants danced in a circle, looking down while either someone dances in the middle or a painted pole was placed in the middle.
The dancers stood in concentric circles, which revolved alternately in opposite directions.There are said sometimes to have been ten such circles.
On one occasion the dance was held indoors, and there were two circles.
Below is an example of a Ghost Dance from the movie Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee. This dance was historically performed in South Dakota and is where almost 200 native men, women, and children were murdered by American soldiers.
The participants would paint their bodies red and black, and wore traditional ceremonial clothing.
They danced in the morning because it was forbidden to eat before dancing. They would eat food, and a few hours later, go back to dancing, usually long into the night.
The participants danced in a circle, looking down while either someone dances in the middle or a painted pole was placed in the middle.
The dancers stood in concentric circles, which revolved alternately in opposite directions.There are said sometimes to have been ten such circles.
On one occasion the dance was held indoors, and there were two circles.
Below is an example of a Ghost Dance from the movie Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee. This dance was historically performed in South Dakota and is where almost 200 native men, women, and children were murdered by American soldiers.
“Ghost Dance Wounded Knee” YouTube, uploaded by Jamarrius Hassell, 20 July 2009.