Dance of the Mudheads at Zuni

 

 

 

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Dance of the Mudheads at Zuni
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rrm39.gif (6391 bytes)
Fig. 39.

Dance of the Mudheads at Zuni

The Mudheads represent the primitive people before men became quite men. They are the clowns of the village. During the RAIN DANCE, they had capered about irresponsibly, but now proceeded to have a dance all their own.

There were ten of them, costumed as follows: Bodies painted with a light tan clay; each wore a square of black cloth about the neck, and another, a little larger, wrapped around the waistline and hanging to mid-thigh as a breech clout. Most of these were tied about the waist by a rope; one had a rope over the right shoulder, holding up his cloth, more or less inadequately.

The distinctive feature of the Mudhead is the mask. This covers the entire head, front and back, and is made of stockinette, the same tan clay color as their bodies. On the middle of the top is a stuffed bunch about the size of a small orange; one for each ear, one at the middle of the back, and one at the middle of the forehead. For the eyes,

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there are small holes, with the material of the mask rolled back in a thick circle; similarly a little larger one for the mouth, all three looking exactly like doughnuts, badly baked. A couple had thin horns, also of

the stockinette, about three inches long and finger-thick, one over each ear. (Fig. 39.) The leader had a small, soft feather on the left horn. Bach carried a rattle; and one Indian in everyday dress, beat the drum.

Standing in a line, one behind the other, the Mudheads shook their rattles in time to the drum, so: I'-2-3-4-5-rest; i'-2-3-4-S-rest; i'-2-3-4f-rest; I'-2-3 ; i'-2-3.

Now they started to progress forward to this beat, with the single trot-step, varied once in a while with double time for four beats. The rattles sometimes kept the double beat, sometimes beat a steady roll.

At intervals, the whole line faced left-or what would be the center if it were a circle; then back into a line behind each other again.

In about ten minutes, they had completed the circuit of the quadrangle, and the dance ended.

Rhythm of the Redman

 

 

   

 

 


Additional Information:

Peer- Level Topic Links:
Arrow Dance of the Navaho ] Basket Dance of Cochiti ] Basket Dance of Woodcraft ] Bow & Arrow Dance of Jemez ] Bow & Arrow Dance Woodcraft ] Comanche Dance of Woodcraft ] Comanche Dance of Zuni ] 2nd Comanche Dance of Zunis ] Corn Grinding Dance Woodcraft ] Corn Grinding Song of Zuni ] Coyote Dance of Woodcraft ] [ Dance of the Mudheads at Zuni ] Deer Dance of the Navahos ] Deer Dance of San Juan ] Dog Dance of San Juan ] Dog Dance of Woodcraft ] Doll Dance ] Eagle Dance of Tesuque ] Eagle Dance of Woodcraft ] Green Corn of Santo Domingo ] Harvest Dance of Zuni ] Hoop Dance of Taos ] Hoop Dance of Woodcraft ] Hopi Snake Dance ] Mountain Chant of the Navaho ] Pipe Dance of San Juan ] Rain Dance of Zuni ] Yei-Be-Chi ]

Parent- Level Topic Links:
Introduction ] Why Dance? ] Fundamental Steps ] List of Dances ] List of Illustrations ] Songs According to Tribes ]

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Last modified: October 15, 2016.