Section Contact: Jayden Weavil, AIA Chairman
A List Lodge: Klachican 331
Dance and Singing Competitions OA E8
Definition of Group Dancing
-1. Group dance teams shall be made up of four (4) or more (at least three of whom must be dancers). All team members must be from the same lodge. A team may perform a maximum of two (2) specific group dances. However two dances for presentation are not necessary, it is an option. The judges look for quality rather than quantity. Also, consider that if a single dance is done it should be long enough for the judges to properly evaluate the presentation.
-2. The dance(s) must be group dance(s) of specific tribes; therefore, northern plains or pueblo are not appropriate because they are culture areas, not tribes. Inter-tribal is even less specific. The dance(s) and costuming should represent a pow wow style.
-3. No section teams or teams made up of members from more than one lodge may enter the competition. All members MUST be from the same lodge.
-4. All team participants must be under twenty-one (21) years of age at the time of the conclave, be registered members of the Order of the Arrow, and registered conclave participants.
-5. Team dancing is a coordinated group effort. It is not a series of solos grouped under one title.
-6. Size of team-no preference is given to large or small teams and there is no reason to separate them. The judges look for quality of presentation and the selection of dance(s) suitable to the lodge dance team and the resources available to them.
-7. Synchronized line dancing, as done at modern Powwows is one example of proper team dancing.
-8. Tribal councils have asked that Scouts refrain from performing the following dances THESE DANCES ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR CONCLAVE COMPETITION: The Ghost Dance, The Pipe ceremony, The Pipe Dance, The Sun Dance, The Hopi Snake Dance, Peyote Ritual, Gourd Dance, and Grand Entry.
-9. Dances that are kept so secret that information on them is incomplete should be avoided. You must have accurate information.
-10. No protected species parts allowed on any attire. Please be aware of State and Federal laws regarding endangered species parts.
-11. Within the guidelines found in the U.S. Code as to the American Flag, flags are not to be used as wearing apparel. With this in mind, no type of U.S. Flag(s) will be permitted as a part of dance attire and should be removed prior to the conclave. Flag motifs in quillwork and beadwork are acceptable.
-12. National Order of the Arrow Face Paint Policy: Order of the Arrow National Conferences and Activities conducted beyond the individual lodge will not permit face paint, body paint or wigs to be used in social or competition dancing or in ceremonies or ceremonies competition.
-13. The Boy Scouts of America policy regarding weapons will be followed.
Powwow Exhibition Team Dance Competition
The purpose of having this competition is to showcase exhibition dances that may be seen at powwows today. This would include such dance demonstrations that could be performed for Cub Scout meetings, service organizations, or other public performances. Teams can choose to showcase a variety of things, including, but not limited to, contemporary powwow dance style demonstrations or a choreographed team dance of multiple dancers of the same or different styles
Examples include:
• A showcase of each dance style with the correct drum or recorded music.
• Synchronized team dance – an example would be four (4) grass dancers doing the same moves to a northern drum, may be live or recorded.
• Line dancing with southern straight dancers
• Specialty dances including Sneak-up or Duck-n-dive
• Hoop dance, snake dance, trick songs, crow hop, dropped article, round dance
• Dances must be NON-RELIGIOUS and in good taste.
• Society, clan, or family dances are not acceptable.
Judging Criteria
American Indian Attire
Teams will be judged on the authenticity and completeness of the attire. If a particular dance does not call for special attire, teams will be judged on the quality and appropriateness of each participant’s attire. In the event of a team performing more than one dance, points will not be subtracted for using the same attire for both dances, if from the same culture area.
Performance of Dance
Teams will be judged on the quality of the interpretation and presentation of their dance(s). Good use of allotted dance time will be considered. Teams will lose one (1) point for every minute that they exceed their scheduled dance time.
Ability to Perform as a Team
Teams will be judged on their ability to perform their dance(s) so as to exhibit a true oneness and feeling for the dance(s). Teamwork and perceptive interpretation of the dance(s) by the team as a whole will be considered.
Music
Teams will be judged on their use of drumming, singing and any other necessary musical accompaniment that should be used for their particular dance(s). As always, quality as well as authenticity of the dance(s) will be considered. The use of recorded music will be allowed, but it will cost the group a significant deduction of points in this judging category.
General Effect and Impression
o The overall general effect and impression of the dance(s) will also be considered.
o Constructive Comments (not scored)
o All awards will be determined by the evaluation a team receives from the above criteria. ALL JUDGING CRITERIA IS SUBJECT TO THE INTERPRETATION OF THE JUDGING COMMITTEE. ALL JUDGES DECISIONS ARE FINAL.
**The following is an outline of the criteria that the judges will use to score each team that enters the Powwow Exhibition Team Dance Competition. **
Performance
Performances will differ from team to team as to content. Some will involve audience participation. Because of this broad spectrum, it is difficult to give exact guidelines as to what the judges expect. The most important thing is we expect that the dance show is an accurate representation of contemporary powwow dance styles that are used to educate others in an entertaining way. Judges will evaluate the accuracy of the narration and dances as well as the skill of the team in performing their various roles in the show. Entertainment is an important factor here as well and will be judged accordingly.
2. Master of Ceremonies
Each group will need a MC to speak for the entire group about what performance is about to take place. The role of the MC is to inform and educate the audience and the MC is expected to show their knowledge about the dances that will be performed. Teams are encouraged to seek an Arrowman that is a great public speaker, engaging, enthusiastic, and understandable. Today’s Powwow MC’s do an excellent job of keeping the powwow flowing and are very knowledgeable.
3. American Indian Dance Clothes
Teams will be judged on the authenticity and completeness of their dance clothes. For contemporary powwow dances, team members can find guidelines for appropriate dance clothes from the individual dance competition resources.
4. Authenticity
Teams will be judged on the quality of the interpretation and presentation of their dance(s). Contemporary dances must be a good reflection of the current trends in the powwow world.
5. Ability to perform as a team
Teams will be judged on their ability to perform their dance(s) so as to exhibit a true oneness and feeling for the dance(s). Teamwork and perceptive interpretation of the dance(s) by the team as a whole will be considered.
6. Music
Teams will be judged on their use of drumming, singing and any other necessary musical accompaniment that should be used for their particular dance(s). As always, quality as well as authenticity of the musical aspect will be considered. The use of recorded music can be used and is encouraged. Bonus points will be given to teams that use their own drum team (max of 10 points.) If you choose to use your own live drum and have singers you will need good quality singing. A team will need to choose wisely when considering having good quality recorded music or an average drum group. Today’s Powwows have a strong connection to major drum groups attracting some of the best talented dancers. Music can be placed on a CD or MP3 format to be used on the sound system provided by MSU and NOAC.
Individual Dance Competition
Rules & Guidelines
Individual Hand Drum Competition
This is a new competition for our Conclave. Individuals and Hand Drum team members MUST be from the same lodge. All drum members must be under 21 years of age at the time of the competition, members of the Order of the Arrow, and registered participants at the event. A lodge may enter individual(s) or teams of no more than three (3). Individuals and groups must furnish their own hand drums and drum sticks. A contestant cannot enter as both an individual and as a part of a team.
ACCEPTABLE SONGS
Contestants may be a single singer or a group of no more than three singers, each with their own hand drum.
Contestants may be male or female or can be a mix of both genders.
All contestants need to be prepared to sing at least two round dance songs. The first song will be the competition song. The second will be called for if a run-off is necessary.
Songs should be sung 4 times through.
The time limit is less than five minutes. Timing begins when the judges invite the individual or team to come to the mc to sing.
Contestants will introduce themselves, and their lodge name. They can share the name of the song and where they learned it, but no dissertation will be permitted. The introduction should be less than a minute.
Going over the allotted five minutes will result in a 5-point deduction from each judge. All teams must be ready to perform prior to their assigned times.
Point deductions will be assessed for not following guidelines.
RULES CONCERNING ATTIRE
Male/Female Singers may wear dance outfits. Dance clothes are very acceptable but not necessary. Shawls are not necessary while in a hand drum contest.
Males/Female contestants, not in dance outfits, should wear long pants (long pants or capris for females) and a pullover or collared shirt while singing. No bare feet, open-toe shoes, or midriff tops. Improper attire will result in a 5-point deduction from each judge.
Hand Drum REGISTRATION PROCEDURES
All contestants must registration prior to the dance on Saturday of Conclave where they will receive a dance number.
The top Hand Drum will be given the opportunity to perform at the Conference powwow on Saturday evening.
JUDGING CRITERIA
Contestants will be judged and awarded a score by each judge on the judging panel in each of the areas discussed below. Some areas have mandatory point deductions associated with failure to comply with stated guidelines. Each judge in the affected area will take the mandatory point deductions. Contestant standing/placement is determined by totaling all points received from the judges. Actual scores/points given by judges will not be provided to the contestants, however, critique sheets from all judges will be provided to the contestants at the conclusion of the competition. The judges will determine the judging criteria and all decisions are final.
Synchronization of Drum and Voice
All competition songs should be sung in the appropriate manner. Contestants singing as a group should sound like a group instead of individuals. The ending of the song should be definite with no over-beats.
Sound Quality
The sound of the drum should not overpower, be louder than the singer. Groups should not be lower in pitch/volume from the lead. Songs should be sung at the appropriate tempo.
Language and Pronunciation
Songs should be sung with the correct vocables and/or words.
General Effect and Impression
The overall general effect and impression of the songs will also be considered. Some of the factors that will be considered are: the contestants’ confidence, presentation, care of the drum and stick, timeliness, not going over the stated time limit, etc.
Constructive Comments
References
All information with OA E8 AIA is based upon and not to exceed the criteria, rules, and guidelines set forth by the National Order of the Arrow’s NOAC AIA criteria. Online searches for most current rules and regulations of AIA participation will be considered for OA E8 AIA competitions.