What is a trance dance?
A trance dance occurs not only for the healing of the
sick but also serves as a social and sacred function.
A fire is lit where a group, mostly women sit in a circle
around it. The dancers, mostly men, will start dancing
in a circle around these women. They will have rattles
on their legs made from dried seed pods. The group sitting
around the fire will sing, clap and tend to the fire
while the dancers are trying to enter a trance.
The first few hours of a trance dance are relaxed and
sociable. Then, when the first person shows signs of
entering a trance, the clapping and singing gets more
intense. This could be when they start to sweat profusely,
begin to breath heavily and have glossy stares.
The dancers will soon begin to enter a trance. From
here they will be able to start healing the people.
A normal dance will last about 6 hours but occasionally
can go for the whole day.
