How long do round dances last? Typically, they can last for up to eight hours, but the FPH 2023 Round Dance will run from 5-11 p.m.
Attendance for the full length of the event is not required — participants can come and go throughout the night..
Traditionally two circles are formed, with the men in the outside circle and the women in the inside circle.
Arms are locked and the dancers move first in a clockwise direction and then in an opposite direction when a new song starts.
The dance can also be danced in a universal circle, with all participating..
A round dance consists of a group of men with hand drums standing in the centre singing songs, and people dancing around the drummers in a circle.
Some dancers join hands, while others prefer to go solo..
A round dance is a special traditional event in First Nations culture that brings people together "to heal, to honour and to celebrate life," says Adrian LaChance, a traditional dancer and storyteller..
Originally started with the plains area tribes, the round dance has spread throughout Indigenous communities and was started as a means to bring communities together, to share songs and stories and to have fun..
