How do competition powwows differ from traditional powwows?
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Native American dance
Aztec round dance for Quetzalcóatl and Xolotl (a dog-headed god who is Quetzalcóatl's companion), detail from a facsimile Codex Borbonicus (folio 26), c. 1520; original in the Chamber of Deputies, Paris, France.
Modern powwows are generally categorized into two divisions: competition (or contest) events and traditional events. While both share the same order of events and styles of Native American dance and singing, they differ primarily in their structure and incentives.1
- Competition Powwows: These events are characterized by an intensification of competition and are often part of a "powwow circuit." They offer substantial prize money in various standardized dance and music categories. Because points are awarded for participation, dancers are motivated to arrive on time, as points are deducted for missing the Grand Entry.1
- Traditional Powwows: These gatherings do not feature competitive dancing or singing. Instead of large prizes, they offer small amounts of "day money" to participants, which may be distributed to all or a specific portion of registered dancers.1
Both types of events serve as inclusive, intertribal celebrations where participants gather to honor ancestral traditions and share aspects of their culture with others.1