In competition, the men and women dance in separate dances, as do boys and girls, and in the appropriate age group. It is not unusual but it is amusing to see toddlers and pre-school age children in full ensemble dancing like old pros.  Some are quite good; others seem to be new at it but they seem to know what behavior is expected on the dance floor.  It is so amazing to see how fast those dancing feet would and could fly in the different groups and yet, during the few hours I was able to watch the dancers, no one fell and no one bumped into anyone else.  The dances had movements, including steps, that were part of the dance at certain key points of the drum songs.  You could also look around and seen a young man or woman off to the side of an arena door practicing the steps before their scheduled dance came up.  The dances are broken down into types of dances which indicates in a general way what the dancers will be wearing.  Feet coverings must always be moccasins with leggings.....no sneakers, athletic shoes, or sandals.  The dress and regalia  or "the outfit" must be authentic for the tribes which means no commercial, western movie-type costumes.  Do NOT refer to the clothing as "costumes", please!  These dance ensembles frequently include items passed down from generation to generation or items custom- made for the dancer.  They can cost upwards of over $1,000, usually much more, depending on the detail such as beading, feathers, ribbons, buckskin, etc.  Frequently they are insured in case or damage or loss. The clothing is NOT mass-produced - they have been put together by the hands of loving family members and friends, and perhaps the dancer, who have invested hundreds, if not thousands, of hours in making a full dress ensemble.   NEVER, NEVER touch any part of the outfit unless you have very clear permission to do so.

One really can't truly appreciate the beauty of the dress, the feathers, the ribbons, and the rest of the regalia unless you see it up close.  The detail is stunning and the different colors assault the eyes.  But here's a "tip"....  This clothing represents pride in being a Native American and there are traditions and stories behind each item associated with it.  Do not disrespect  it or the wearer.  If you wish to take a photo close up, be sure to request permission first and respect their decisions even if you are disappointed.  I was turned down several times and although I was disappointed not to be able to catch their beauty on film, I accepted their answers and thanked them anyway.  I asked for their names too in order to identify the photos when I put them on this page and  and found that some will give their names and some won't although they will allow their photo to be taken.  I do appreciate the kindness of those who allowed close-up photos and wish I could have taken more from different angles.  But I didn't want to inconvenience anyone as time was very important to the dancers.  Unfortunately, I was not able to correct two of the photos and ended up not being able to use them.

I also spent at least a couple of hours browsing the vendors' booths which were situated in a large hall-type room.  As I slowly walked and frequently stopped to examine an item, I found myself forgetting that these items were for sale.  I can truly say this was as great as any museum of American Indian/Native American (whatever your preference) culture.  There was plenty of stunning jewelry with the designers on site, artwork-both paintings and sculptures- with many of the artisans also on site, unique items of clothing or accessories, and much more.  Unfortunately, after 2+ hours, I had only made my way through 1/3 of the room and my day was coming to an end.  My ride was expected soon ( I wanted to avoid parking problems, something standard in downtown OKC ) and as much as I wanted to stay until it closed, I had promised to be out front around 8pm.  I had considered returning the next day, Sunday, the last day, but it wasn't to be.  Next year I hope to get down there early on Saturday, and with a better camera, to spend more time without feeling rushed.

My little digital camera doesn't handle lighting too well especially when combined with the  distance of the objects(s) I am shooting., and I keep saying I'm going to get a better one "one of these days".  Many of the photos below turned out fairly dark and I had to play with different controls on my photo editing program to lighten them.  At the distance I was shooting ( from the audience seating to the middle of the arena), the photos weren't as sharp in clarity either but are still good enough to show, in my opinion.  All in all, it was a great afternoon and evening for me even though it went by way too fast.