Basket Dance of Woodcraft
As music for this dance, I have used THE DUST OF THE RED WAGON though it is not of the Cochin tribe.
Enter six men, wearing breech clouts and headbands. Each carrie
in his right hand a gourd rattle, in his left a prayer plume (se
Fig. 66), held high in the air. With back-trot step, go one
around circle, softly shaking rattles, and chanting song 8 meas
Line up, facing front, and vigorously tap right foot forward i
time, and continue this while the maidens make their en
trance 6 meas.
Enter six Corn Maidens, dressed simply, and alike except for
tablitas (headdresses) which are of different colors-one white, one
yellow, one red, one blue, one black, and one spotted in various
colors, symbolizing the different colors of the corn grown in the Southwest. Each carries a flat round basket under the right arm. They use the women's step (No. 3 9) , progressing sidewise until they are lined up in front of the men, also facing front 8 meas.
Now the maidens change to the tap step that the men are using,
but do not raise the right foot as high on each tap as do the
men 6 meas.
The maidens now grasp the baskets in both hands, flat side forward.
In time to the music (up and down to each measure), they raise
and lower the baskets from full arms' length to the waist-
line 4 meas. Face right, and continue the same arm movement 4 meas. Face front, and continue the same arm movement 2 meas. Face left, and continue the same arm movement Face the men, and continue the same arm movement 2 meas.
The maidens kneel before the men (who are still tapping in place), 2 meas.
and put baskets on the ground m front of them
They squat back, hands clasped in front on laps 2 meas.
The men wave their prayer plumes over the baskets 2 meas.
The men shake their rattles over the baskets 2 meas.
z meas.
40
With back-trot step, each man encircles the maiden before hire
still shaking the rattle over her head 3 meas
When he is back in his place, he drops his right hand low, thoug
still shaking the rattle, and waves his prayer plume over th
maiden 3 meas
The maidens pick up the baskets in both hands, holding them flat
side up, as if offering them to the men 2 meas
The men shake the rattles high over the baskets 2 meas
The men again encircle the maidens, shaking their rattles ove
them 2 meas.
When they are back in their places, the maidens rise, hold the
baskets high in air 2 meas.
The maidens pivot to right, r %Z turns, so as to end facing
front 6 meas.
All tap-step again in place 4 meas.
The men now take steps forward, until they are in one line with
the maidens, each to the right of his own maiden 4 meas.
With the back-trot step, all make one circle, and exeunt 6 meas.
42
See Also:
Basket Dance of Cochiti
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