North Dakota's dance history dates back to the tribal dances of Native Americans like the Sioux and Dakotas. These Native American dances were performed during rituals to evoke enlightenment and to celebrate the cyclical nature of life. As pioneers moved in, square and round dances became popular forms of dance in Delaware culture. Visitors can view and participate in any of these dances, as well as attend a professional dance performance, or dance the night away at a club.
Square Dance
Square dancing in the United States began in New England, and came to North Dakota as pioneers began moving west. Settlers did not have the normal recreational pursuits we are familiar with today. And after a long hard week of building and running their homes and farms, they needed a way to unwind and have fun. Many settlers found this outlet in square dancing events at community centers or in barns.
Square dancing is simple enough to do. Four couples (or eight people) stand in a square, and dance by linking arms and performing a sequence of steps in a roundabout motion that includes switching between partners. Dancers are prompted to perform the various moves by a caller who announces the steps to the beat of the music. Traditionally, the music that accompanies the dance is folk music played by fiddles, banjos, guitars, and accordions.
In 1995, the square dance was adopted as the official state dance of North Dakota, and there are plenty of opportunities to get in on the dance. In Jamestown, there's a square dance group called the Square Steppers that meets the first Friday and third Sunday of every month. The second and fourth Saturday of each month brings Saturday Fun Night to Fargo, and a group called the Prairie Partners meet at the Devil's Lake Armory on the second and fourth Saturday of each month. Visitors are always welcome at each event.
For more square dancing events, check the local listings of the area you visit in North Dakota.
Round Dance
Another popular form of dance in North Dakota is the round dance. Round dancing is similar to ballroom dancing, except that instead of free-style movement, each step is carefully choreographed. Like the square dance has a caller, the round dance has a cuer. The cuer calls out the steps to dancers as they go along through the song.
You won't find a shortage of opportunities on your North Dakota vacation. Round dance clubs like the Circle 8 Plus Club in Fargo, Border Belles and Beaux in Langdon, and the Souris Valley Dancers in Minot meet for dances on rotating days. Check your local listings to find out when there will be a round dance meeting in your area.
Tribal Dance
Long before settlers moved into North Dakota, the area was inhabited by various Native American tribes, like the Dakota, other Sioux groups, the Chippewa, and the Arapaho. The history of each tribe includes longstanding traditions of ritual dancing. One such dance performed by a number of North Dakota's native people was the Sun Dance.
The Sun Dance was normally held once a year during the summer, often during the summer solstice. For four to eight days, the religious ceremony was held to celebrate rebirth – the spiritual rebirth of participants, as well as the physical rebirth of Mother Nature and all who live on her lands. The purpose of the Sun Dance was to show continuity in all life.
If you're interested in seeing this dance, as well as other Native American traditional dances, you can visit one of North Dakota's five Indian Reservations. There are also a number of events celebrating tribal culture like the Mid-Winter Pow-Wow in New Town and the Standing Rock Pow-Wow in Fort Yates.
Where To Watch
Spectators can find plenty of occasions to experience professional dance in North Dakota, be it ballet, classical, or modern dance, through the performances of local dance companies. Two such dance companies are the North Dakota Ballet Company in Grand Forks and North Plains Dance in Bismarck. The North Dakota Ballet Company is the official ballet company of North Dakota. The Company mixes jazz, modern, and theatrical dance in with ballet performances for a unique dance production. Northern Plains Dance offers even more performance opportunities because they have both a ballet company (Northern Plains Ballet) and modern dance groups (Northern Plains Dance Academy), who hold several recitals each year.
Other places to watch dance performances include the recitals at local dance studios and classes, as well as local community college or university student performances.
Where To Dance
Make sure you bring your dancing shoes on your trip to North Dakota. Whether you're a seasoned dancer looking to explore the state's night life or a beginner interested in learning some new moves on your vacation, North Dakota has you covered. Even the smallest of North Dakota's towns have dance clubs, studios, and ballrooms.
Downtown areas in North Dakota's major cities offer clubs, bars, and ballrooms that all typically have dance floors with DJs or live bands. Some restaurants even offer space to get up between courses and dance to music played by house bands. Likewise, dance studios are everywhere. Visitors can participate in group or private classes and various disciplines.
For one of the least-populated states in the nation, North Dakota holds its own when it comes to opportunities to view and participate in dance activities. Whether attending a classical ballet performance, a lively powwow, or an evening of square dance, when you visit North Dakota, you'll leave with happy feet.
