A fancy dancer must possess athleticism and stamina to perform this freestyle dance, which may include spins, twirls, or even flips, all while staying in time with the drumbeats and chants. Fancy Dance regalia are elaborate and unique-every element is a deeply personal expression of one’s lineage, heritage, and/or personal journey. Typically, a fancy dancer wears colour-coordinated feather bustles: one behind the shoulders and another behind the hips, along with arm cuffs. A breastplate made from hair-pipe (bone) beads may be worn over the beaded bodice. The dancer’s moccasins may also be topped with bells that ring out with every spirited step, while the swaying feathers of the hair roach accentuate the physicality of it all. The purposeful movements of a powwow dancer stir the soul as they move to the rhythmic beat of the drum. Within the circle, complex footwork and acrobatic feats entertain. Tell a story-for every symbolic gesture isa shared heartbeat reaching out, connecting with every observer, in a powerful expression of identity, spirituality, and heritage. Celebrate today’s powwow as a cherished cultural custom with this stunning 2 oz. ALL THE COLOUR AND PAGEANTRY! Your coin colourfully conveys a whirlwind of movement while paying tribute to powwow dances as a beautiful and cherished custom. Whether performing Northern Traditional or any other styles, Indigenous dancers enrich not only their own communities but also our entire nation, through a cultural practice that has become elemental to the story of Canada. MIX OF COLOUR AND ENGRAVING! The fancy dancer dominates your coin’s design that is brimming with energy, thanks to the artful blend of colour and engraving. An application of paint over the engraving re-createsthe dazzling colours, feathers and intricate beadwork that characterize a fancy dancer’s elaborate costume. Your coin includes a serialized certificate! TWO OUNCES PURE SILVER! Your coin is crafted from two ounces of 99.99% pure silver. Designed by Kahniakehaka artist Garrison Garrow, your coin captures the fast-paced energy of a modern powwow dance style: the Fancy Dance. A fancy dancer dominates your coin’s design, where finely detailed engraving adds a sense of fast-paced movement while an application of colour highlights the intricate nature of the regalia. The obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt. The Fancy Dance originated in the United States-specifically, Oklahoma-during the early 20th century, when it was performed for entertainment purposes. It gradually caught on in other regions, and has since become one of the most popular dance categories at today’s competitive powwows, where dancers are judged for their dancing abilities. A fancy dancer’s hair roach may include eagle feathers, just like the bustles; but if one such feather should fall, the dancing is stopped and a special ceremony is held to retrieve this sacred object. Colours also carry special meaning: black is associated with death, the underworld or the night; bluecan represent a female, the sky, sadness, thunder or lightning. Green is the colour of the earth and plant life, of summers and rain. Red is the colour of blood and war, sunsets or thunder. White is associated with winter and snow, while yellow means sunshine and day. 99.99% pure silver. Garrison Garrow (reverse), Susanna Blunt (obverse).
