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NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS- DANCE The nexus for most dances are religious practices, because the belief in natural and supernatural beings is the basis for their society and also the linking point which bonds each individual to the other. Dances are tied to seasonal or life-cycle events. The natives are intensely involved in striving for their everyday survival-the search for supplies that nature provides them with. Some kind of dances can also be made to aims of curing diseases, since they ascribe a magic meaning to them. So, it may function as a prayer. Some dances may mark the initiation of events considered special to their lives , for instance, the puberty for boys and girls. Through dancing, the indians also may preserve their old history passed on from generation to generation by storytelling, because they most tribes have not adopted a written system of communication like an alphabet. During some dances, they perform magic and it is taken very seriously. However, not everything has a grave tone. Indians are naturally humorous people who enjoy fun and recreation. Then, it is not unusual that performances are meant for playing games.
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