Customer Reviews (1)

Well worth the read........
This book is well worth the time it takes
to read and you will learn much from it.
I recommend it to all seeking knowledge. ... Read more

Product Description
This volume touches all aspects of Indian dance spanningfrom the traditional to futuristic. It blends analysis andinterpretation and offers a bracing perspective on how classical dancehas taken shape through the ages, enriched our culture and maintainedour store of wisdom, sanity and humanity, even as it prepares for tehenormous challenges it faces in the new millennium.

It celebrates the brilliant flowering of Indian dance throughout theworld. Hundreds of young Dutch, Surinamese and other nationalitieslearn Odissi in Antwerp. Its School of Tabla Teaching is among thebest anywhere. There are Japanese teachers of Kathak in Perth. InMontreal, Toronto and many other cities of Canada, a high level ofresearch and scholarly work on Indian dance studies has been going onfor several years now. In the United States, even small towns boast ofBharat Natyam or a Kuchipudi teacher and multicultural classes ofenthusiastic learners.

This is a seminal volume with contributions from some of the mosteminent names in their respective fields of dance, complemented by aportfolio of photographs of gurus and dancers—both past andpresent. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (3)

Indian Classical Dance - Tradition in Transition
WOW - what a fabulous book - a large book full of colourful images covering 7 of the Classical Indian dance styles including Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Odissi, Kathakali, Mohini Attam, Manipuri and Kuchipudi.The book is an excellent historical reference taking the reader back to the days when the devadasi was an honoured position in society, pays homage to the early gurus and dancers, how the dances were affected during political and governmental changes and brings the reader to the present era, mentioning some of the great dance school initators and how the dances have evolved with time to once again honour the many dancers who've persevered in keeping the Indian classical dance tradition alive.

Gorgeous photos, detailed information.
This book is fabulous.It covers Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Odissi, Kathakali, Mohini Attam, Manipuri, and Kuchipudi.There are lots of beautiful photos, close-up and full-length, of various dancers.I spent much time just admiring the beautiful costumes, folds, jewelry, and expressions.If you are interested, as I was, about who is pictured in the book, here's some artists of note: Balasaraswati, Malavika Sarukkai, Yamini Krishnamurti, VP Dhananjayan/Shanta, Mrinalini/Mallika Sarabhai, Leela Samson, Alarmel Valli, Birju Maharaj, Saswati Sen, Sharon Lowen, Kelucharan Mohapatra, Deepti Omcheri Bhalla, Bimbawati, and Shobha Naidu.

I was surprised by the detail given for each form regarding its history.There are lots of names and places explained, basic overviews given of the names of sections of a performance, discussions of the current state of each dance form, and more.I was extremely impressed with the way each dance form is covered in such detail yet so succinctly.

It's interesting that not all the top names in each of the dance forms are mentioned, a fact which the book admits in the preface with "many famous dancers do not find mention in this book, which mainly looks at trends rather than individuals."

Very picturesque
This is more than just a coffee table book, its a great compilation of the past, present and future of Indian classical dance. The author has done a fabulous job presenting a brief outlook for all the major classical styles. It might look overwhelming to a novice but its truly a pleasant read. ... Read more

Product Description
Some of the most savage war in world history was waged on theAmerican Plains from 1865 to 1879. As settlers moved west following the CivilWar, they found powerful Indian tribes barring the way. When the U.S. Armyintervened, a bloody and prolonged conflict ensued.Drawing heavily from diaries, letters, and memoirs from American Plainssettlers, historian Thomas Goodrich weaves a spellbinding tale of life and deathon the prairie, told in the timeless words of the participants themselves."Scalp Dance" is a powerful, unforgettable epic that shatters modern myths.Within its pages, the reader will find a truthful account of Indian warfare asit occurred. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (24)

Enthralling historical accounts presented clearly! Enlightening
I bought a copy of this book in paperback when it was first released (in paperback) years ago and was completely absorbed by the book! My paperback copy is covered in highlighter marks & notes in the margin.I therefore later bought a nice hardback copy of the book for a "keeper" just because I LOVE THE BOOK so much!
The author relies heavily on "first person accounts" ...written when the bullets and arrows were still in flight. The book does display both sides of the story (whites and Indians) though of course it relies more heavily on the accounts of whites (captives, soldiers, settlers, etc) as the whites were literate, and most Indians of the time were not.
Sure some of the accounts of the era depict the Native Americans in a terribly negative light...but what can one expect during the time frame this took place.Generally the book is balanced and fair.The strongest points of this tome in my view however, are the way the author weaves both historical accounts with his own description of the "big picture" of what was taking place, from the Red Cloud war to the Fetterman massacre, the "Battle of the Washita", 2nd battle of Adobe Walls, etc.
One learns a lot from the book, even an long time and dedicated student of Native American vs. Anglo history.
I give this book 5 stars only because there are not ten stars to give.If you have the least interest in the struggle for the west, as it relates to the wars with the Indians, please read this book.Another I highly recommend is "The Captured" by Scott Zesch.

Barely a single sentence in the author's own words
I am stunned by the many positive reviews of this book. Eighty percent of the book is comprised of long block quotes lifted from other sources. No more than two or three sentences link each block quote, most of which are between half a page and a whole page long. This is not writing; it is cutting and pasting.Worst yet, the author often lifts his quotes not from primary sources, but rather from secondary works - taking the exact same block quote from these works and placing them in his book. How does he obtain most of the "original" source block quotes for his chapter on Reynolds' Powder River campaign? He lifts them from J. W. Vaughn's book on the subject.

Come on people. The quotes themselves may be lively and fascinating, but this represents no original work on the author's part. Mr. Goodrich should be ashamed of himself.

A GRAPHIC History of Indian Warfare on the High Plains
Scalp Dance: Indian Warfare on the High Plains, 1865-1879

In his book "Scalp Dance: Indian Warfare on the High Plains", author Thomas Goodrich gives several accounts of conflict with the native tribes in the Great Plains region of the American West post-Civil War era all the way until 1879. This book is not for those with weak stomachs or who just ate, for no detail is spared when describing the brutal warfare and atrocities committed on both the living and dead. This book opened my eyes to both sides of the conflicts. Goodrich does not bash the Native warriors for their barbarity nor does he make them out to be the peace lovers often portrayed in todays cinema(the reverse to movies back in the 1950's). The truth is both sides engaged in savage butchery but this book gives the accounts of the soldiers and settlers who experienced it first hand. If you're looking for a book that gives only atrocites committed by whites and gives an account of the "Noble Redman" then read this book anyway and learn both sides of the story.

Unvarnished
This is the story of the Indian Wars and battles fought on the Plains between 1865 through 1878. Focusing on the actions in Kansas and Montana, Thomas Goodrich weaves an interesting tale told from the diaries, newspaper accounts and letters of white participants. While much of the subject matter has been covered by others, these often first hand accounts are unsanitized, not politically correct versions of the events as seen and understood from the settlers' and Army's point of view. As a result, it is quite passionate, eliciting emotions that were felt on one side of these tragic events.

As a plus, Goodrich covers lesser known or reported clashes during these wars that settled the American West. A good, quick read well written.

Great First Hand Accounts of Conflict on the Plains
The author does an excellent job providing a history of violent contacts between the Plains Indians and whites and between Indians themselves through the use of first hand accounts. What is unique about this format is that the accounts seem to flow freely through the book adding to the story and not detracting from it. The accounts are primarily from whites who were direct witnesses to Indian raids in Colorado, Red Clouds War the Kansas War, The Great Sioux and Cheyene War and the Northern Cheyene's desperate flight back to their homeland. The descriptions discuss not only combat with Indians but the violence extended to victims including gruesome desercations of the victims body, thought to have necessary significance for Indians for an advanatge in the afterlife. The discovery of mutilated bodies understandably created a vengeful lust among friends and family of the deceased. Surprisingly, these accounts include mistreatment of captured women. This seems in sharp contrast to the way northeastern tribes treated prisoners during the mid 18th century where prisoners were used as slaves, barter or assimiliation purposes (see "White Devil" by Stephen Brumwell). The impression the book leaves you is that there was very little of this option with the Plains Indians, which directly speaks to the old proverb "Save the last bullet for yourself". Although the book is primarily from the white perspectives, it does cover the controversial massacre of Sand Creek by Major Chivingtonas it appears that violence begets violence whether justified or not(The massacre perspective is challenged in "The Battle of Sand Creek: The Military Perspective" by Michael Michno). One thing of note is that General Sheridan was disinclined to trade for white women prisoners if they were held in captivity too long assuming they were no longer fit for society (see "General Sheridan and His Generals" by Paul Hutton). The violent combat is not restricted just between whites and Indians but also between different tribes as one witness observed Crows torturing one of their enemies to death. The book has some balance as Captain Mills from Crooks' army expresses regret for a young Indian child's grief for her deceased mother who was caught in a cross fire at Slim Buttes. It is also noted that whites periodically took scalps (Buffalo Bill) and desecrated Indian graves. Many of the individuals quoted seemed to be very forthright as one scout who survived the siege at Beecher's Island stated that he did not know how many Indians he killed since their attacks were so fast and furious he couldn't follow his shots. The book also highlights the Fetterman Massacre (whites lost), Battle of Washita (some say massacre), Little Big Horn, Rosebud, Slim Buttes and assortment of other campaigns.All in all, the witneses attest to the hard, dangerous and violent life on the edge of the frontier.

... Read more

Product Description
Great changes have swept the world of the Tewas since 1985, when the first edition of this book appeared, including changes in relationships among Indian communities, the anthropologists who wish to study them, and the non-Indian people who attend these ceremonies. Returning to her classic work, anthropologist Jill D. Sweet reflects upon these changes with exceptional insight. The Tewas have become increasingly sophisticated in managing tourism, including their new casinos, to ensure that it contributes to the persistence and revitalization of ancient ritual practices. Anthropologists and spectators, meanwhile, have had to grow more attentive to the dignity and privacy of the Tewas.

This new edition features the voices of Tewa dancers and composers and images by contemporary Tewa artists that explain the significance of dance to Tewa identity and community. The author frames their words with her own poignant reflections on more than twenty years of study and friendship with these creative and enduring people. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Interesting photos, but more tourist manual
I was looking for more insight into the dances of the Tewa people. You do get some insight here but it still feels like you are an outsider.There is alot of general information here like the outer reason for a dance, where it is, generally when, but that's about it.Yes there are a few nice photos.But I was looking for more insight into the mythology behind the origin of the dances and the specific elements on the costumes.That is not here.In the end it reads like a travel guide for the dances and not anything mystical (which is what I wanted).

Nice Overview
A good systematic description of Tewa dances and performances.This work is a neat overview of the various dances as carried out in the Tewa villages of northern New Mexico.Sweet's analysis is informed by her working relations among Pueblo people.The recent edition includes contemporary testimonies ofPueblo people who continue to navigate and balance their culture within (and outside) the tourism and art industry. ... Read more

Product Description
War Dance at Fort Marion tells the powerful story of Kiowa, Cheyenne, Comanche, and Arapaho chiefs and warriors detained as prisoners of war by the U.S. Army. Held from 1875 until 1878 at Fort Marion in Saint Augustine, Florida, they participated in an educational experiment, initiated by Captain Richard Henry Pratt, as an alternative to standard imprisonment. This book, the first complete account of a unique cohort of Native peoples, brings their collective story to life and pays tribute to their individual talents and achievements.

Throughout their incarceration, the Plains Indian leaders followed Pratt's rules and met his educational demands even as they remained true to their own identities. Their actions spoke volumes about the sophistication of their cultural traditions, as they continued to practice Native dances and ceremonies and also illustrated their history and experiences in the now-famous ledger drawing books.

Brad D. Lookingbill's War Dance at Fort Marion draws on numerous primary documents, especially Native American accounts, to reconstruct the war prisoners' story. The author shows that what began as Pratt's effort to end the Indians' resistance to their imposed exile transformed into a new vision to mold them into model citizens in mainstream American society, though this came at the cost of intense personal suffering and loss for the Indians. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The true story of Kiowa, Cheyenne, Comanche, and Arapaho chiefs and warriors
War Dance At Fort Marion: Plains Indian War Prisoners is the true story of Kiowa, Cheyenne, Comanche, and Arapaho chiefs and warriors who were held as prisoners of war by the U.S. Army from 1875 to 1878 at Fort Marion in Saint Augustine, Florida. The prisoners participated in an educational experiment, as introduced by Captain Richard Henry Pratt, as an alternative to standard imprisonment. While they were incarcerated, the Indian leaders followed Pratt's rules and met his educational demands, while keeping hold of their own identities. Author and history professor Brad. D. Lookingbill draws from primary sources, particularly Native American accounts, to piece together the story of the war prisoners, as well as portray Pratt's evolving vision to mold Indians into model citizens of American mainstream society - an undertaking that came at a cost of personal suffering and cultural loss for the Indian generations so molded. Of particular note are the coping strategies that Plains Indian leaders used to survive their internment with dignity and return to lead their people with pride. Highly recommended.
... Read more

Product Description
Accessing collections that have never been documented before, this book showcases some of the most outstanding examples of Indian jewelry from all over the world. ... Read more

Product Description
Uses the concept of "world-making" to provide an introduction to American Indian philosophy. ... Read more

Product Description
Stackpole is proud to introduce the Frontier Classics, a new seriesthat aims to resurrect long out-of-print gems of frontier history. Antiquarianand rare book dealers have previously been the only source for these books,providing first editions for premium prices. Now, these books are available inaffordable, quality paperback editions, with new historical introductionswritten by a leading expert in the field.Jacob Lee Humfreville was a Civil War veteran who earned a Regular Armycommission as a lieutenant in the 9th U.S. Cavalry, the "Buffalo Soldiers," in1866. In this beautifully illustrated work, Humfreville offers his observationson all aspects of Plains Indian life. His views were sometimes simplistic, butunfailingly sympathetic. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

One of the Best Descriptions Of American Indians and the Opening of the West
Capt. Humfreville did not write a 'noble savage' memoir. He was a soldier who fought in the Civil War and two tours of duty in the West. One tour up North among the Sioux and Blackfeet, and a second South against the Commanche and Apache. He was one of several soldiers of the time who related what they had seen out West. I use to think that R.I.Dodge was the best observer but Capt. Humfreville really has the knack for good writing and essential observation.

He didn't see Indians as noble savages but rather as a hugely diverse group.While there were certain similarities across all tribes, each tribe and even sub-tribe had it's own peculiar way of living & outlook on life-he didn't hold back describing these peculiarities.What you read is a white man observing a Stone Age people and telling you how they are different than you,an Industrial Age person.

I've never read such close detail about actual Indian camp life. If you've ever wondered what it would be like to spend time with a Plains Indian family, Capt Humfeville will fill you in on all the details. (Warning-don't show up in rainy season,don't eat from the communal cooking pot if you can help it, and bring your own bedding.)

Some tribes have his admiration,Cheyenne,Sioux,Nez Perces. But other tribes, Kiowa,Apache, his contempt because of their extreme brutality.The Arapaho claim his bewilderment because of their extreme dirtiness and laziness. He assets that marauding parties would not bother to attack Arapaho because they didn't own anything worth taking.At the same time,their bosom allies were the sparkling neat,ever manly Cheyenne.This is an angle I'd never heard before,but the book if full of these insights.

Capt Humfreville goes on to describe the beginnings of the White's move West. He fills you in on the workings of the Pony Express, the Telegraph business, overland shipping by stagecoach.

If you are interested in what the hunting was like,he covers most of the game animals. The chapter on buffalo is exceptional, he actually goes real deep into how to successfully hunt buffalo and survive to tell the tale.

Being that Capt Humfreville was closer in time and in the business, his angle on the Little Bighorn is fascinating. It's a report that has Red Horse and Gall as the central figures, Crazy Horse,the ever able leader, and oddly, Sitting Bull as nothing more than an impostor.

Capt Humfreville writes in a very modern,21st century style, very readable. His fascinating observations and stories make for a very pleasant and informative read. ... Read more

Product Description
For Native Americans, religious freedom has been an elusive goal. From nineteenth-century bans on indigenous ceremonial practices to twenty-first-century legal battles over sacred lands, peyote use, and hunting practices, the U.S. government has often acted as if Indian traditions were somehow not truly religious and therefore not eligible for the constitutional protections of the First Amendment. In this book, Tisa Wenger shows that cultural notions about what constitutes "religion" are crucial to public debates over religious freedom.

In the 1920s, Pueblo Indian leaders in New Mexico and a sympathetic coalition of non-Indian reformers successfully challenged government and missionary attempts to suppress Indian dances by convincing a skeptical public that these ceremonies counted as religion. This struggle for religious freedom forced the Pueblos to employ Euro-American notions of religion, a conceptual shift with complex consequences within Pueblo life. Long after the dance controversy, Wenger demonstrates, dominant concepts of religion and religious freedom have continued to marginalize indigenous traditions within the United States. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Awsome!
This is a beautifully written treatise that answers the question of Pueblo Indian religious practice and the inability of the U. S. government and Constitution to adequately address the needs of these indigenous peoples. Wenger follows the history from the 1880s through 1929 and briefly touches on several court cases involving Native
American legal conflicts.I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in this social-cultural-legal history of the New Mexico Pueblo controversy regarding costumbres and dances. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

A Special Book About the Cheyenne
Father Peter J. Powell's work with the Cheyenne is in a class by itself. His telling of stories in the mythic past of the Cheyenne have a depth of understanding worthy of Campbell, Zimmer and Eliade. So many books on the Native Americans are not satisfying because the authors do not know enough to ask the right questions and they merely repeat what other authors have written. Father Powell lived among the Cheyenne, became a very trusted informant and tells the stories with an uncommon grasp of the subject. His list of primary sources is impressive, more so as we learn who many of these people are and who their fathers, mothers and grandparents were. The way he moves from present to near past to distant past to mythic past and back to present reinforces Cheyenne belief that the distance between them is much shorter than our culture thinks. A wonderful source book, it fills in so many gaps between Grinnell, Hyde, Bent and Lavender--and takes us deeper than any of them.

An Exceptional Work
One way of regarding what Father Powell accomplished in his epic treatise on Northern Cheyenne history is look at Vine Deloria's appraisal in "God Is Red."Deloria states: "Powell's work, particularly his style of exposition, was based primarily on conversations with reservation people and reflected their language.An Anglican priest who operated St. Augustine's Indian Center in Chicago, Powell viewed all religious expressions as sacred and consequently treated the Cheyenne tradition with respect.His book did not take the superficial approach of listing the quaint beliefs of the Cheyennes as if the reader and the author were beyond such superstitions.'Sweet Medicine' impressed Indians with the validity of their own traditions."Deloria's comments on Powell's work deserve serious consideration.After all, Deloria set the tone in Chpt. 4 of "Custer Died For Your Sins" for criticizing the historical relationship between anthropology (be it of the professional or self-taught variety) and American Indian communities.The fact that Deloria points to "Sweet Medicine" as an exceptional work is an indication that the study of American Indian culture and history is possible--even by non-Indians--when the resulting discourse is driven by indigenous sources of knowledge, as opposed to forcing research to fit the expectations of a largely non-Indian Academy.

Authoritative work
Some people don't like the idea of a priest writing a book about Cheyenne myth and ritual. Too bad for them. Who better to understand it than one who is completely accepted by the Cheyenne people and, indeed, one of the holders of the sacred regalia of the Arrows and Medicine Hat? Peter Powell has done the world an undying favor by meticulously recording, with the utmost exactitude, in both words and pictures the sacred rites (and their meaning!) of the Cheyenne people? Ignore the reviews of those who just don't -or can't- get the point of this magistral work and instead buy it and enter into a magical world.

A "don't buy this book" kinda Book
when I saw it's non-authenticity, I returned it for full credit.Fr. Powell has been duped!

Sweet Medicine is beautiful, sensitive, and scholarly
Father Peter J. Powell (who, contrary to the misinformation passed in another reader's review, is an Episcopalian priest) is the premium scholar of Cheyenne culture and religion.A Sun Dance priest himself, adopted bythe Cheyenne, Father Powell renders the beautiful story of Sweet Medicinein evocative prose.After reading his work, I was privileged to meetFather Powell on a sad, but touching occasion, when he presided over thefuneral of the great Cheyenne educator Bill Tall Bull in Lame Deer, Montanaseveral years ago.Father Powell is held in great reverence by theNorthern Cheyenne people, and on that day was sought out after the serviceby countless members of the tribe with greetings, hugs, and thanks.Icanrecommend SWEET MEDICINE without reservation to anyone with interest inPlains Indian culture. ... Read more

Product Description
A new classic on adapting authentic Indian seasonings and techniques to today’s American kitchen

Indian cuisine has finally come into its own in the United States, as evidenced by the opening of numerous stylish, upscale Indian restaurants. The "dance of spices" refers to the complex, subtle layering of flavors that is at the base of all Indian cooking. This definitive cookbook showcases the wonderful diversity of new Indian cuisine with 238 recipes: fragrant basmatis and rice pilafs; rich, soothing dishes like Chicken Korma; exotic dishes like Fennel-Scented Kashmir Lamb; tongue-teasing chutneys and relishes; side dishes like Velvety Mango Paneer; and sweet confections, all of which can be made with ease at home. Special chapters are devoted to subjects not fully explored in other books, such as tandoor barbecue, chaats–the savory street snacks of India–and popular flatbreads.

Laxmi Hiremath (San Ramon, CA), born in the South of India, has taught Indian cooking in the United States for more than a decade and is one of the San Francisco Chronicle’s most popular food writers. Her articles and recipes have appeared in such publications as Gourmet, Bon Appétit, and Fine Cooking. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

kindle version not very useful
the kindle version of this book is not very useful. most of the recipes are pictures so you cannot book copy or bookmark the actual pages of ingredients. also i was surprised that there are a very limited amount of vegetable dishes.

The Primer of Indian Cooking
As a non-Indian, I had no idea where to begin with cooking Indian food. It all seemed so complicated and alien. Enter this book: extensive descriptions of what should be in your pantry and what to use it for, spice blends, oils, rice, chapati, and so much more it makes my head spin! Granted, the author is a little hardcore when it comes to prep, shortcuts are easily found (she wants you to grind all your own spices and blend them right before cooking, blanche tomatoes, make your own cashew paste, and other VERY time consuming and unnecessary things that I doubt anyone does unless they just have to). I recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn about Indian cooking, not just recipes, but the principles of putting together a fragrant and flavorful dish with spice.

A staple for food lovers!
I was always on the look-out for recipes that covered Indian cooking methods from the basic foundation of making your own spices to elegant pairings of traditional Indian and Western ingredients. When my husband came home with 'The Dance of Spices', given to him as a gift at a seminar, I was surprised by the level of detail, care, and passion. Things that my mother cannot explain to me because of the miles between us, Laxmi has done comprehensively in her new cookbook. I have learned simple techniques like how to make my own ghee at home, understand the marriage of spices, and most importantly,how to make finger-licking Indian food in a San Francisco home. I hope you all enjoy this book as much as I have.

a must have
All the recipes that I have tried from this book have turned out to be excellent.The book is very fun to read, with some interesting childhood stories from the author.The dishes are very easy to make and all of them are extremely delicious.This book is meant for anyone who enjoys cooking a wonderful meal for their family.

very helpful for Indian cooking
I am relatively new to Indian cooking but this book provided easy-to-make recipes that were quite appetizing; each recipe has the author's own personal story, making it an interesting read as well. ... Read more

Product Description
The Ghost Dance Movements of 1868-72 and 1888-91 have fascinated historians, sociologists, and anthropologists since the time they first occurred. Embraced by American Indians of the Plains, Great Basin, and the Northwest Plateau, the Ghost Dance promised that all dead families and friends would return, the white men would disappear, and buffalo and other game would again roam the earth. Its effect united many hitherto scattered tribes. Materials concerning the Ghost Dance movements are available from many sources, among them the Indians, the military, settlers, newspaper reporters, and historians. Osterreich has collected and annotated a selection of this material. Included are most of the major works on the Ghost Dance and its attendant features. ... Read more

Product Description
This well-researched book provides details of the varied steps that certain groups of Native Americans have used to express their dance ideas--from skips, jumps, and hop steps, to an Indian form of the pas de bourrée. Similarities to Oriental dances, classical ballet, Spanish and Russian variants, and steps in other dance forms are also considered. Examples are given of Indian dance music, words, and descriptive sounds that accompany this music, and the choreography of certain typical Indian dances of the Southwest. Authentic illustrations by a Native American artist depict dancers, while outline figures characterize steps and postures. An inportant addition to the libraries of anthropologists and students of Native American culture, this classic will be invaluable to ethnomusicologists and choreographers. Unabridged republication of American Indian Dance Steps, originally published by A. D. Barnes and Company, Incorporated, New York, 1931. Color illustrations on covers. 20 black-and-white illustrations.
... Read more

Product Description
Ideal for today's young investigative reader, each A True Book includes lively sidebars, a glossary and index, plus a comprehensive "To Find Out More" section listing books, organizations, and Internet sites. A staple of library collections since the 1950s, the new A True Book series is the definitive nonfiction series for elementary school readers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Interesting.I'm over 18 and I learned from this book.
This Festival book is a very good book for children of all ages.Itteaches themabout different tribes and culture. ... Read more

Product Description
In this fascinating ethnohistorical case study of North American Indians, the Ghost Dance religion is the backbone for Kehoe’s exploration of significant aspects of American Indian life and her quest to learn why some theories become popular. In Part 1, she combines knowledge gained from her firsthand experiences living among and speaking with Indian elders with a careful analysis of historical accounts, providing a succinct yet insightful look at people, events, and institutions from the 1800s to the present. She clarifies unique and complex relationships among Indian peoples and dispels many of the false pretenses promoted by United States agencies over two centuries. In Part 2, Kehoe surveys some of the theories used to analyze the events described in Part 1, allowing readers to see how theories develop, to think critically about various perspectives, and to draw their own conclusions. Kehoe’s gripping presentation and analysis pave the way for just and constructive Indian–White relations. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

I am ambivalent about this book.
Ms. Kehoe did a good job at tracing the practise of the ghost dance from the time that Wovoka (A Paiute medicine man) was given this ceremony to the masacre by the military at Wounded knee creek South Dakota in 1890 to the second incident at Wounded knee creek in 1973.

For people interested in seeing the ghost dance watch the dance in the movie "Billyjack" after Billyjack goes through the ceremony with the rattlesnake. I have heard that Wovoka's sonor son-in-law supervised that scene of the movie.

Basicly the people would dance until they would faint from exhaustion, and while unconscious they would see into the spirit world something similar to an OBE.

On page 62: Ms. Kehoe states that Nick Black Elk (Sioux holy man) was a practising Catholic. It is true that Black Elk went to mass after he married the second time. However; the prayer that Black Elk offered on Harney peak, and is recorded in the book "Black Elk Speaks" John G. Neihardt, it is abundantly clear that his spiritual beliefs in Wakan Tanka (Sioux name for the Great Spirit) never wavered. He may have went along with Catholocism for peace in the family, or to stop the proselytizing church members. I used the same tactic early in life.

Ms. Kehoe; made one statement on page 65 that made me angry! She implies that Nick Black Elk had partial blindess by using gunpowder in his yuwipi healing ceremony to fool the indians into thinking the spirit helpers had arrived by throwing a pinch of gunpowder in the fire.

With my understanding of Sioux spirituality, and the properties of gunpowder. I state categoricaly that this is impossible! 20 years ago; I used gunpowder to reload the cartridges for my high powered rifle.

In the Yuwipi ceremony the indians remove all furniture from the room, and place quilts over the doors and windows to block all light from entering the room, and the wicasa pejuta or wicasa wakan (medicine man or holy man) has his hands tied behind his back with rawhide, and then they usualy wrap him up in a star quilt like a mummy and the quilt is tied around his body. The wicasa pejuta or wicasa wakan is placed on the floor, and the lamp is put out leaving the people in total darkness (there is no fire, and the yuwipi man is tied up in a quilt; making it impossible to use gunpowder in this manner).

Ms. Kehoe may have meant the Inipi (sweat lodge) ceremony so I will describe that to you. A sweat lodge structure is built of saplings or willow limbs, and a large fire is built to heat rocks until they are red hot. Whilethe rocks are heating they dig a hole in the center of the structure to hold the rocks, and the removed dirt is used to build a mound to the east of the structure, then the indians cover the ground with sage, and quilts are put over the structure. Water is poured over the rocks making steam inside the structure. (It would be impossible for Nick Black Elk or any wicasa wakan to use gunpowder on the rocks. Everyone is drenched with steam, and is sweating profusely. Gunpowder will not burn or explode if it gets wet. This is the reason for the saying (keep your powder dry.).)

I am NOT asking you to take my word for any of this. You can read about the Inipi and Yuwipi ceremonies in "Lakota Belief And Ritual" James R. Walker, "The Sacred Pipe" Joseph Epes Brown, "Mother Earth Spirituality" Ed McGaa, and other sources.

I only wish Ms. Kehoe had bothered to properly research material instead of making outrageous statements such as this.

Please send E-Mail if you have questions or comments about this review. Two Bears.

Wah doh Ogedoda (We give thanks Great Spirit)

Revitalization indeed
Kehoe's excellent work on the Ghost Dance religion allows the reader to be witness to a textbook example of religious revitalization movements.From the Paiute prophet Wovoka Jack Wilson's revelation during an eclipse to "Live a good, honest life" to the massacre at Wounded Knee, Kehoe describes in detail the history and beliefs of the Ghost Dance and the benefits it provided to the American Indian communities who took it up, as well as the rejection of the Ghost Dance religion by groups like the Navajo.Kehoe further describes the continuance of a variant of the Ghost Dance religion at a reservation in Seskatchewan and talks about the revitalization movement driven by Handsome Lake amongst the Iroquois and how the re-imagining of their beliefs allowed them to become more successful in a radically altered world.

This rather short read by a pre-eminent author on the anthropology of American Indian societies is sure to both educate and provide deep enjoyment to the curious reader.

The essential book for understanding contemporary issues!
Anyone interested in North American Indians (Native Americans; First Nations) has to read Alice Beck Kehoe's book.She weaves together the past and present, religion and politics, and creates a book that offers moreinsight into contemporary issues than any other one ever written.And as aplus--for those interested in mysteries--she explains how the Ghost DanceReligion, thought to have died out in 1890, survived decades into thetwentieth century. ... Read more

Product Description
From the late nineteenth century through the 1920s, the U.S. government sought to control practices of music on reservations and in Indian boarding schools. At the same time, Native singers, dancers, and musicians created new opportunities through musical performance to resist and manipulate those same policy initiatives. Why did the practice of music generate fear for government officials and opportunity for Native peoples?

In this innovative study, John W. Troutman explores the politics of music at the turn of the twentieth century in three spheres: reservations, off-reservation boarding schools, and public venues such as concert halls and Chautaqua circuits. On their reservations, the Lakotas manipulated concepts of U.S. citizenship and patriotism to reinvigorate and innovate social dances, even while the federal government stepped up efforts to suppress them. At Carlisle Indian School, teachers and bandmasters used music in hopes of imposing their "civilization" agenda, but students made their own meaning of their music. Finally, many former students, armed with saxophones, violins, or operatic vocal training, formed their own "all-Indian" and tribal bands and quartets and traversed the country, engaging the market economy, and federal Indian policy initiatives, on their own terms.

While recent scholarship has offered new insights into the experiences of "show Indians" and evolving powwow traditions, Indian Blues is the first book to explore the polyphony of Native musical practices and their relationship to federal Indian policy in this important period of American Indian history. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

How the U.S. government tried to control music on reservations through the 1920s
INDIAN BLUES: AMERICAN INDIANS AND THE POLITICS OF MUSIC, 1879-1934 tells of how the U.S. government tried to control music on reservations through the 1920s, sparking a resistance on the parts of Native singers and dancers who decided to manipulate these policies. Both music history libraries and those at the college level specializing in Native history will find this an impressive exploration of the politics of music and Native American issues. ... Read more

Product Description
The yoga and classical dance traditions of India have been inextricably entwined for millennia.  The exacting hand gestures, postures and movements of Indian classical dance can only be achieved through yogic concentration.  Conversely, the esthetics, symmetry, and dynamism of dance enhance the practice of yoga.  These two traditions, so complementary and essential to one another, are united and explicated for the first time in A Yoga of Indian Classical Dance.

Twenty-five years ago Roxanne Kamayani Gupta embarked on a journey of dance and yoga, yearning to unlock their mysteries and discover their common origins.  As a twenty-year-old student from America she was miraculously and mysteriously absorbed into Indian culture, became a Hindu, and began an odyssey so unusual and unique that the reader will be enchanted by its telling. Choosing the path of the dancer, Roxanne Gupta accomplished what no Western woman had done before: being accepted and trained by Indian masters and then performing in the Indian classical traditions--from the palaces of maharajas to the arts festivals of Europe and America--while at the same time achieving a doctorate in the anthropology of religion and being initiated into a number of yogic traditions.  Having mastered the classical form of Kuchipudi dance and studied with teachers of the hatha and kriya yoga traditions, she brings together these two great streams of consciousness and practice.

In this tantric approach to yoga and dance, expressed through the body and through a yoga of emotions, we see the traditions embodied in  a manner that embraces the totality of the human experience.  The result is the dance of the yogini, the sacred feminine initiatress who dances with one foot in nature and the other in the realm of the gods.  With extensive photographs of innovative yoga routines, Roxanne Kamayani Gupta distills her experience into techniques for yogic study certain to assist students of all levels to achieve a dynamic, beautiful, and graceful practice.

Customer Reviews (9)

The first book of its kind
It is indeed the first and - so far - the only book that attempts to introduce - to the western readership - the spiritual aspects of the classical Indian dance form of Kuchipudi.

So, is it about Natya Yoga? The author is clearly not a Bharata Muni, Abhinavagupta, or even a devadasi or a Siddhendra Yogi, but is obviously a very intellectual (and often a bit too philosophical) lady and made the book easily understandable for the non-Indian readership.

I have never watched Roxanne Kamayani Gupta dance, but, to judge from her book, she is (and has never been) not a contemporary Kuchipudi star like Varsha Ramesh who, true, cannot boast of a PhD and is too young to understand the western mentality.

To have some idea of what is inside the book:

I. Intro (Understanding Yoga and Indian Classical Dance)
1. Discipline and Desire (My Initiation into Indian Spirituality) - page 8
2. Dance of the Gurus (Meetings with Remarkable Men and Women) - page 32
3. Stillness at the Center (The Yoga of Indian Dance) - page 51
4. The Dance of Yoga (The sixty-Four Yogini Asanas) - page 59
5. Yoga of the Emotions (Spiritual Dimensions of Indian Dance) - page 150
6. The Dance of the Yogini (Tantric Dimensions of Indian Classical Dance) - page 162
7. Yoga of the Elements (Nature, Culture and Spirituality) - page 173

Half of the book is dedicated to the asanas but gives hardly anything beyond the instructions for the physical body. So, where is the Kriya Yoga element here then? The author fails to establish the connection between the asanas and the classical Indian dance.

Of course, nobody in India performs the yoga asanas in those kind of tights - sitting in a garden on a deer skin. And nobody in India understands what is "Yogini Asanas". Yoga Asanas is what is known. There is a bit too much of the romantic American feminism here. Roxanne does not know why the founder of Kuchipudi, Siddhendra Yogi, taught it only to men... So, why?

And - my god! - "Tantric Dimensions" are of course in line with the popular western (sex-obsessed) interpretation of the Left Path of Tantra. Roxanne believes that "since the advent of the birth control pill women's sexuality no longer inevitably results in pregnancy...". Roxanne could never explain why the original devadasis were celibate and why nobody was allowed to watch them dance in the temples' shrine's. Explaining it would hurt the pride of the sexually active (majority) part of the potential readership in the USA, of course. It would be shocking for them to read something like the Irumbai legend portraying the devadasi Valli. After reading Roxanne, an average American woman may be lead to wonder if the ancient devadasis, indeed, used to pull condoms over the lingams in the temples!

As for "Yoga of Emotions" section, there are full-page photos of Roxanne attempting to demonstrate the navarasas.While some of the expressions are ok, others (such as Raudra, Sringara, Vira, Adbhuta) are not clearly expressed. Roxanne should better learn what real expressions should be by, for example, watching the DVDs of SriDevi Nrithyalaya's virtuosos.

Ok, all in, if you were not brought up in India, the book is a must-read for all those interested in the yoga side of Kuchipudi. Even if 2% of the book gives you some kind of answer to the question, "Where on earth is Yoga in Kuchipudi???", these 2% are worth gleaning from reading the entire book.

I am quite satisfied with this book's price.

P.S. Since the time this review was written, there appeared a few interesting DVDs on Natya Yoga that make a far more successful attempt to reveal the esoteric Natya Yoga side of the classical Indian dance.

Beautiful book packed with more beauty
Ms Gupta is such a talented lady. A westerner who has really taken the art of kuchipudi to such a spiritual level, its so heartwarming really. Her pics are all so clear and she teached some excellent yoga postures. She explains them all so clearly and correctly. This lady is so dedicated to the art form it gives us an insight into what dedication really is. She has lots of history as well and everything is so informative i cant get my hands off this book. Its a work of wonder!! My aunt and i virtually compete to read this beautiful book. For those indians like me who love and embrace everything abt being indian this is a great one too. and for those art enthusiasts theres alot to learn from this beautiful lady@!!!

Wonderful Book
Roxanne creates this book by combining her experiences living in India, learning classical dance and yoga. Her style of writing is exquisite and authentic. I grew up in Hyderabad speaking Telugu language. Reading about her experiences from Hyderabad, I felt like I'm back home. I met Dr. Nataraja Rama Krishna, great dance teacher few times. Teachers like him and others expect nothing but the best from their students.

Roxanne incorporates some of the dance movements and hand gestures in the yoga exercises she recommends. It clearly shows, how classical dance and yoga are inter related. Any dance teacher would benefit greatly from reading this book.

Three in one
This book is beautifully packaged, and Ms. Gupta links Yoga asanas and classical Indian dance, something so obvious, and yet the dance masters fail to do this to any extent in the present-day Indian classical dance training. The Yoga portion of the book consists of basic gentle yoga asanas, with photos of the author doing the asanas, good especially for beginners, but a video to accompany the book would have made it more complete and easier to follow (though, as photos go, it's as good as it can get without a video).It's a memoir and a journey of the author's first trip to India and how she, as an American, got interested in the East.It is full of hundreds of photos, large and small, of the author who shares her earthly and sometimes not-so-earthly experiences in words and pictures, making it a book on yoga, a biography and an introduction to Indian classical dance.

A Hidden World Revealed
Inspiring and scholarly, The Yogini's Mirror reflects undiscovered worlds inside the reader, moving the reader into a realm where anything is possible. Sincerity and Grace are humbly conveyed through personal experience and practical methods. This book is a way to easy yoga, accessible and full of joyous enlightenment. ... Read more

Product Description
The Matachines dance is a ritual drama performed on certain saint's days in Pueblo Indian and Mexicano/Hispano communities along the upper Ri­o Grande valley in New Mexico and elsewhere in the American Southwest. It derives from a genre of medieval European folk dramas symbolizing conflict between Christians and Moors. Spaniards brought it to the Americas as a vehicle for Christianizing the Indians. In this book, Rodri­guez explores the colorful, complex, and often enigmatic Matachines dance as it is performed today.

In the Upper Rio Grande Valley of New Mexico, the Matachines is the only ritual dance performed in both Indian Pueblos and Hispano communities. There, the dance involves two lines of masked dancers, a young girl in white and her crowned, masked, male partner, a bull, and two clowns. Accompanied usually by violin and guitar, these characters enact a choreographic drama that symbolizes encounter, struggle, and transformation-resolution.

In this classic, prize-winning ethnographic study, anthropologist and native New Mexican Sylvia Rodri­guez compares Indian Pueblo and Hispano Matachines dance performance traditions to discover what they share, how they differ, what they reveal about specific communities, and what they mean to those who continue to perform them with devotion and skill. ... Read more