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Comanche Dance of Zuni
We saw three dances named as above. Two of them were so nc~-.ar alike that I combine my notes on them. The third was so totally different that I shall describe it separately as Second Comanche Dance of Zuni.
It is said that the Zunis, during the early Indian wars, danced t to torment and irritate the Comanches.
There was an orchestra of four men, wearing Sioux war bonnie each with a big drum.
Enter thirteen women, dressed as in CORN DANCE, but without z evergreens, and each bearing a large decorated pot on her head. T'he formed a half-circle at back, and did not dance.
To fast single beat, enter six dancers. Bodies nude, except for brig colored breech clouts in apron effect almost to ankles front and back and wads of cotton-wool pasted all over the body. A feather in eit;he
hand. (See Fig. ig.)
Each did any step at any time, regardless of the others, but in st ric rhythm, and keeping the general line of the dance in a zigzag.
The principal steps were:
(a) Very low bent, heel and toe step. At end of each phrase o the song, straighten up, then repeat
Low bent, and shading eyes with one hand, pivot, one f oo still, other pushing with short, sharp steps
Two feet close together and worked simultaneously, hop t right, right, right; or left, left, left; or forward, forward forward; knees much bent
(d) Suddenly end any of the above steps in a charge position, and hold it for several counts
Much tossing of the head from side to side throughout
Exit, followed by the pot-bearers
For those who wish a definitely planned dance corresponding to this, we might suggest using the song Of CAROUSAL for the following routine: Comanche Dance of Woodcraft.
See Also:
Comanche Dance of Woodcraft
Second Comanche Dance of the Zunis
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