Blackfoot Crossing to host World Championship Chicken Dance Contest

Jenna Campbell 

Times Contributor

 

Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park will be hosting its fifth annual World Championship Chicken Dance Contest, August 9. The competition will be bring in competitors from all over North America who will try to achieve the greatly sought after ‘World Champion’ title. The Prairie Chicken Dance is considered sacred and is deeply rooted within the Blackfoot community’s heritage.

The origins of the traditional dance are said to have stemmed from a young Blackfoot man who set out hunting to provide food for his family. The man came across two prairie chickens in a dance amongst the grass. He consequently killed one with a bow and arrow.

The following night, the prairie chicken came to the man in a dream, demanding to know why he had killed him. The man explained his need to feed his family. The prairie chicken threatened to take the man’s life unless he agreed to learn the Prairie Chicken Dance and teach it amongst his people.

Today, the Prairie Chicken Dance is considered a social dance which mimics the male prairie chicken’s desire to mate, through movements like the ruffling of feathers. Dancers showcase their best feathers, elaborate beadwork, and vivid colours and it is required that dancers have bells on their dress to assist the judges ability to pick up on rhythm. 

Other factors the dancers will be judged on are precision, showmanship, creativeness, and the time limit given for each round, relating drum style and coordination. 

Competitors will go through a series of three rounds where dancers are to try and score as many points as possible, with the  maximum of 250 points. Depending on the age category and how many points are acquired, only a certain number of dancers will be transmitted into the next round. 

There are four age divisions of competition: Junior, Teen, Adult, and Senior.

The day is to begin at 9 a.m. and many food vendors and demonstrations will be available. The public is encouraged to come out to be a part of an event which heavily exemplifies the Blackfoot culture and the pride of Siksika nation. 

With files from http://www.blackfootcrossing.ca/dance.html