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EARTH SONGS |
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| Socials within all
Iroquois communities are meant to be enjoyed by all in attendance, especially when
everyone dances. Social songs vary in length, verses and tempo depending on the song selection of the singers. All dances are done in a counter clockwise direction. A social is run by a "house keeper" or "pusher". The job of the "house keepers" is to find lead singers and to know which songs that each lead singer knows. Their job also includes finding lead dancers for the upcoming dance. He then goes to the announcer with the information. All dances are introduced in the Iroquois language of the speaker. In some instances, instructions are provided to ensure that dances are carried out properly. |
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 WATERDRUM |
The instruments used in the social dances in various combinations are the water drum, the horn rattle, hard sticks and the beating of the feet on the floor. |
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The social dances can be categorized into three types of step
styles: "stomp," "fish" and "side-step shuffle". Stomp
is a shuffling type of dance, the right foot leads and the left foot is brought up to meet
the right. The feet "hit" the floor with just enough impact to maintain
the beat of the song. Fish is a dance where each foot hits in two or more
consecutive beats. Side-step shuffle is done by the women, the right foot and the
left foot shuffle oppositely. |
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EARTH SONGS & DESCRIPTIONS |
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