Dancers are generally judged on their overall participation, keeping time with the drum, stopping on time, and their regalia. At traditional non-competitive pow wows dancers are generally offered gas money and gifts for their participation. At most competitive pow wows dancers receive cash prizes or payments which represent a kind of reciprocity as the pow wow would not be possible without their participation. Fancy dances and regalia No other style of American Indian dance has such widespread popularity among native peoples across the country than the Fancy Dance and the regalia has become the pervasive outfit of the Pan-Indian dancer. The most striking feature of the Fancy Dance regalia are the large bustles.
All fancy dancers use twirlers.
The whole assemblage usually features one or two favorite colors of the wearer. To many people their outfits are a part of them. Some people dreamed of their outfits and they hold special meaning. A lot of people I know, their outfits have been handed down to them from their grandfather or grandmother. These aren't just something we throw together.