Max Rothkopf, Andrew Ammann, Callum Flaherty, Christian Cullen
Apache Mountain Spirit Dance
The Legend
Cultural Background
- There were representatives of mountain people that appeared among the Apache Indian people.
- These people appeared in masks, and they are called the Crown Dancers.
- The Apache told many stories that mountain spirits would come and protect and cure them from illness.
Clown Dancer and Crown Dancers
- During this ritual, it's a four day ritual of a girl's transition into womanhood.
- The dance that the Crown Dancers perform is called the Gaan.
- Crown dancers wear a mask during this ritual and they are known as masked dancers and Clown is referred to as "Gray One" or "Long Nose"
White Painted Woman
- White Painted women is the model of heroic and the most virtuous women.
- The girl is supposed to represent her in this ritual.
Shell
Vessel for the girl in the puberty rite
Representative of White Face Painted Woman
Design of the Space
The Four Pillars
Four pillars represent the four mountains
Topic
Origin and Beliefs
- Protection was a necessity
- What was the motive?
- Connection with the spirits
Orientation of the Dance
Four Mountain Spirit Dancers (Crown Dancers)
Participants in the Dance
- Can represent more than mountain spirits
- Dancers are differentiated by crown size
- Wear black with black body paint
- have reeds used as communication
The Clown (Messenger)
- Wears white and has white body paint
- Scares off evil spirits that act on the ill
- Heal the sick by causing laughter
- Starts ceremony by blowing bull roarer
- Shares messages between dancers and audience
- Scares children into behaving