Dances for victory were often held by each team before stickball matches, and always in preparation for war. Many of the Southeastern American Indian dances, such as the Quail Dance and the Guinea Dance, were named after animals in the belief that the movements affect the animals and their relations with humans. Rituals, such as the Cherokee Green Corn Ceremony held each year to signify rebirth, forgiveness, and new beginnings, includes interludes of dancing. American Indian dance is not a form of mindless amusement. It is a form of praise, worship, and a way to experience interconnectedness through motion.
Dancing is an art that was here before the conception of art ever existed.
It is a necessity for Indian people. A necessary spiritual action requiring dedication and a devout sense of reverence. When American Indians dance, whether it be at powwows or other gatherings, all senses become heightened as cultural chants, drummings and songs fill the air. These haunting, mystical sounds transport the imagination to other times and places. This enables the dancers to put to rest the distractions of worries and cares of everyday life so that they may become one with all.