10 UNIVERSITY MUSEUM ANTHROPOLOGICAL PUBLICATION VOL. VI 



women's dance has the same measure and can be performed 

 separately or in conjunction with the men's dance, but has a 

 different and distinctly feminine movement. The feet are kept 

 on the ground, while the body sways back and forth in graceful 

 undulations to the music and the hands with outspread palms 

 part the air with the graceful stroke of a flying gull. Some of 

 their dances are performed seated. Then they strip to the waist 

 and form one long line of waving arms and swaying shoulders, 

 all moving in perfect unison. 

 /^ 



THE CHORUS 



The chorus which furnishes the music, is composed of from 

 six to ten men. They sit on the inglak, a raised shelf extending 

 around the dance hall about five feet from the floor, and sing 

 their dance songs keeping time on their drums. They usually 

 sit in the rear of the room, which is the post of honor. Among 

 the island tribes of Bering Strait this position is reversed and 

 they occupy the front of the room. Some old man, the keeper 

 of tribal tradition and song, acts as the leader, calling out 

 the words of the dance songs a line ahead. He begins the 

 proceedings by striking up a low chant, an invitation to the 

 people assembled to dance. The chorus accompany him lightly 

 on their drums. Then at the proper place, he strikes a crashing 

 double beat; the drums boom out in answer; the song arises 

 high and shrill; the dancers leap into their places, and the dance 

 begins. 



The first dances are usually simple exercises calculated to 

 warm the blood and stretch stiffened muscles. They begin with 

 leaping around the pugyarok, jumping into the air with both 



