A Final Research Paper on the Cultural and Social Essence of the Lakota Sioux Ghost Dance and Mongolian Tsam Dance

A Final Research Paper on the Cultural and Social Essence of the
Lakota Sioux Ghost Dance and Mongolian Tsam Dance
Name
Subject: History
3 May 2019
“In a society that worships love, freedom, and beauty, dance is sacred. It is a prayer for the future, a remembrance of the past and a joyful exclamation of thanks for the present.”~Amelia Atwater-Rhodes~
Introduction
Every country and culture have their own historical memoirs that are showcased through various theatrical or creative arts, strategical entertainment and performances. Some historical records are seen through dancing and dramatic entourage. Dancing is an expression of one’s thoughts, beliefs, principles, personality, character and ideologies. It is a form of free expression that has survived from one era to another, from classical, jazz, to pop songs, dancing has been a brilliant way of showing a group of audience the meaning of life. This paper focuses on a rather detailed and content-filled research of how dancing has progressed and affected the society’s cultural upbringing. Mostly, this research aims to place emphasis on the in-depth meaning of the Lakota Sioux Ghost Dancing and how it has permeated the thoughts of both leaders, authorities and common people within a nation. Furthermore, a point of comparison will be accurately discussed as the Lakota Ghost Dancing is compared and examined from another type of dance such as the Tsam Dance which is also similar in so many ways to Lakota Sioux, the Tsam Mongolian dance being commonly practiced and celebrated in the country of Mongolia. “Dance is practiced in several ways and for a number of purposes that include the social, political, psychological and political factors.” As we go through the origins of ghost dancing and tsam dance, this article will also point out the social, political and historical underpinnings that will help the readers bring into light the very core purpose for these dances and how it affects the society. In light of the historical background information of Lakota Ghost dancing and Tsam dancing, the type of audience and participants will also be unveiled in order for us to delve deeper into the hidden truths about why these types of dances have been created and why they are existing at this point of time. It is important to be educated as to the kind of people who practices both of this dances because it will lead us into the discovery of the ideological reflection of the culture that the countries where such dances have originated. Getting to know the practitioners and the answers as to why they are involved in this kind of dancing will allow us to be informed of the vision and mission that the creators of these dances would want to speak out and share. There are many purposes for dancing. It may be for a social cause, educational reasons, or political factors.  Despite the variety of reasons behind why people dance, dancing has such a powerful impact in the lives of people most particularly the Lakota Sioux and Tsam Dance. Some people dance for therapeutic reasons and help others in terms of their personal dilemma and problems. Dancing is not only for the sake of art but as well as in changing and persuading hearts and minds to pursue a specific vision or goal.
The Creation and Origination of Lakota Sioux Ghost and Tsam Dancing
Accordingly, the origin of the Lakota Ghost dancing is not a delightful tale nor fantasy but one that speaks of brutality and the realities of life. The story of the ghost dance started at Pine Ridge Indian Reservation located at Southwestern South Dakota where the “Indians believed that they have provoked the gods for being involved in the Western ways and have stopped practicing their religious and traditional customs.” The American government feared that the beliefs and wrong connotations of Lakota ghost dancing is greatly affecting the minds of the Indians since they believed that being a part of the Western World has placed them at such low predicament and brought them to the reservations. They thought that having abandoned worshiping their gods caused this punishment of banishment to the reservations. So the Chief Indian also called the “Sioux adviced their people that if they regularly practice the Ghost Dance and not get involved with the Whites then their gods will once again open up a new world where unbelievers and non-Indians cannot enter and will be killed.” Having a brief knowledge of the background of the Lakota Sioux Ghost Dancing will enable the readers to fully understand its purpose for being created and the very reason why it started. Despite the fact that the Indians’ purpose for Ghost dancing is to ward off evil spirits and to please their gods, the act itself is amazing to watch. The graceful movements of the Indians dancing and the sway of their hands show how passionate they really are with their traditions. Sadly, this belief led to the death of many Indians at Pine Ridge including the mistaken arrest and murder of “Sitting Bull, the well-known Sioux Chief, whereby the American Reservation Police thought that he has the head Ghost dancer and killed him during the arrest.”
On the otherhand, the“Tsam Dance originally started in Mongolia in the 8th Century and is widely known to be a Bhuddist Tradition.” The essence of this kind of dance symbolizes the meaning of evil and goodness. Their costumes involved the representation of animals, devils, apostles and of true individuals. Through the Tsam dancing, the Mongolians were able to express their beliefs against evil and how they fight it with goodness. Furthermore, the Tsam dance also has involvement of creative arts, from the costumes, preparations and the performances, this kind of dance inhibits the Buddhist philosophy of the way of life or the ideals that life could be enjoyed if people will only learn how to meditate and assess one’s lifestyle and respect others. Moreover, this type of Mongolian ceremony is said to be held at the very start of the calendar year to ward off evil and it includes a variety of masked dances having a story narrative. In the current situation and status of Mongolia, the Tsam dance has become a ritual, celebration and traditional practice to also persuade other Mongolians to believe in Buddhism as a religion that will help keep the peace and unity within their country. Accordingly, the props used for the Tsam Dance such as the masks and costumes have been produced and manufactured at a large scale for the performers and dancers. It is likewise believed that the creative expression in dancing this form of dance cannot be equated in other countries. Its uniqueness and outstanding choreography has left other dancers from other nationalities amazed and mesmerized.
The Social, Political, and Historical Underpinnings of the Lakota Sioux Ghost Dance and the Mongolian Tsam Dance
The Lakota Sioux Ghost Dance has the involvement of politics, social beliefs or principles of the Indian people versus the Western World. Lives were lost as a result of the stand that the Indians valiantly and courageously expressed and fought for in behalf of their own community and as opposed to the Westerners. It was on a fateful day of “December 29th when the Indians were having their usual ritual ghost dance when the 7th Cavalry of the American Army cornered and surrounded the Indians under the leadership of a Lakota Sioux Chief at the Wounded Knee Creek. The soldiers threatened the Indians to drop their weaponries and surrender to the battalion. However, on the event of exchange of words between the Americans and Indians, one soldier and one Indian suddenly started to physically fight and a shot was heard which led to the mass killings of 150 Indians including women and children. Likewise, 25 soldiers also lost their lives.” It was indeed a bloody massacre because the Americans were trying to force obedience and total surrender from the Indians whilst the latter wanted to preserve their customary and traditional practices. This incident could have been prevented if only the Americans saw the Ghost Dance as a form of ritual, which was harmless, and only practiced for the sake of creative arts and dancing. This however, was not the case in this situation. Both sides did not resort to negotiation and both wanted to dominate the other. Despite the brutal outcome of such circumstance, the Indians and some Americans continued to practice the Lakota Sioux Ghost Dance although the original and major ghost dance movement ended along with the burial of its creators. It continually reminds the people all over the world of how men could have the power to bring either peace or war. Most historians called the Wounded Knee Massacre as a ‘battle’ when in fact it was a murderous annihilation of innocent lives that could have been prevented if careful military strategies were planned. This tragic story led to the organization of groups of American Indian Protesters and Activists that pursued peace and unity by directly taking a stand against police brutality of the Indians within certain American States and localities. A dance that only served as a ritual and faith strengthening movement of the Indians to remind themselves to never let go of their cultural and historical backgrounds has exceeded its goals and vision. The Lakota Sioux Ghost Dance served as a revelation to thousands and millions of people all over the world. The process of protecting one’s heritage, values and beliefs is a character and trait that could never be removed from various cultures and soc...