Indians and Wannabes: Native American Powwow Dancing in the Northeast and Beyond - Paperback

by Ann M. Axtmann (Author)

"An excellent introduction to the many complexities and facets of powwows. It entices the reader to recognize the importance of bodies in motion--in particular, dance--in forging social worlds and mediating power relations."--Zoila Mendoza, author of Creating Our Own: Folklore, Performance, and Identity in Cuzco, Peru

"An outstanding interpretation of Native American powwow dancing that reveals its significance in the context of colonial and postcolonial history and across cultures and borders. As dancer and dance scholar, Axtmann brings a keen eye and her own kinesthetic knowledge of dance to her groundbreaking interpretation of the movement styles of powwow dances. "--Elizabeth Fine, author of Soulstepping: African American Step Shows

"In her meticulously researched book, Ann Axtmann has added a new dimension to our understanding of Native performance. This rich ethnographic and cultural analysis will be of tremendous interest to scholars, students, and the general public. Axtmann makes a strong and moving case for the power of the dancing body."--Julie Malnig, editor of Ballroom, Boogie, Shimmy Sham, Shake: A Social and Popular Dance Reader

Thousands of intertribal powwows occur every year throughout the United States and Canada. Sometimes lasting up to a week, these sacred and traditional events are central to Native American spirituality. Attendees dance, drum, sing, eat, reestablish family ties, and make new friends.

Author Biography

Ann M. Axtmann has performed with the Joffrey Ballet, the American Ballet Theater, and many other dance companies. Her choreographic work has appeared throughout Mexico and in the United States. She is an independent scholar now living in Maine.