The famous Sun Dance was the most important dance of the Indians who lived on the prairies and plains. Those who danced had to look at the sun without looking away while dancing (hence the name of the Sun Dance). The dance was held in the summer, but had to be prepared for a winter and a spring (the longest preparation time in the world), in fact it was entirely a ritual. During the long winter they were making preparations for the dance, fasting and bathing in specific tents (to avoid plagues on people). The day of the dance came when summer descended. For the dance, a circular area was first surrounded by wooden poles, and in the center a "sun pillar" was erected, covered with small strips of cloth, pieces of leather and feathers (as a symbol of sacrifice to the sun). An altar (made of the skull of a bison) was set up under the pole, and a sacrificial victim (who had taken an oath) was hung high on the pole with a belt through his flesh. Dancers keep dancing in the field to the rhythm of dance music and tambourines.
This dance is usually held for three days.
North American Indians, there are also many dances associated with farming, hunting, combat and recreation. Some tribes in the publication of regulations (hunting regulations or regional regulations), to dance "dog dance"; many tribes to dance "bison dance" (for hunting bison smooth); Absaroka and Siksiks planting tobacco to dance. The Iroquois danced while playing their instruments when they were excited about braiding corn. The people also sang and danced when they spent the seeding, strawberry, green corn, harvest and maple festivals. Women in the warriors returned from the war, along with the sound of drums, flutes, songs and a variety of rattles, to dance the hair band head dance (group dance or solo dance);
Plains Indians, in the social recreational activities, the popularity of jumping "Owl Dance" (a pair of same-sex partners, arm in arm to line up a large circle; sometimes the women alone). Form a large circle, both men and women jumped to the left, to be moved to the turn and then turn to the right, at this time, each pair of partners can also give free play to some dance patterns. This dance has a small span of steps and is slow to medium speed).
The Indians of the Pacific Coast like to dance the Cannibal Dance, the Mourning Dance, the Echo Dance, the Chief's Dance, the Mask Handover Dance, and the Thunderbird Dance (which is mainly related to religion and the maintenance of privileges). The Thunderbird Costume Dance of the Kwakutl people (Vancouver Island) is typical of dances that reflect the connotations of maintaining traditional privileges. Participants in the dance wear masks (passed down from generation to generation) with various motifs that symbolize the traditional privileges of the family. Some of the dances are stories that show the adventures of ancestors, and others that show ancestors interacting with myths, or with people in their dreams.