The Apache people lived off the large roaming herds of Buffalo.   The Apache people lived mainly in the south Western United States in the states that we now call New Mexico,  Arizona, and Texas.  The Apache,  Native Americans were hunters and gathers and most of their religious ceremonies, or what we see as dances, involved things important with their day to day living.  The topics and subjects that were important to the welfare of the tribe, and the continuity of their existence,  held great importance to them.  These ceremonial dances explained, showed, and developed an understanding of these great pieces of their life.

One of the more documented as well as important ceremonies of the Apache was the Na’ii’ees or the “Sun Rise Dance”.   This is a dance that told the tale of the Apache creation myth.   It explains  how a “Changing Woman” had sex with t he sun and gave birth to the “Slayer of Evil Monsters“.   Then she had sex with water and gave birth to changing water.   These two men went out to rid the earth of all evils.  This symbolism can be interpreted and obviously seen.  This was a puberty dance of young women coming of age and showing then how sacred they were, their gifts were, and what could come of their sexual unions.

There was also a dance called the “Brush Dance“. This dance represented the changing of the seasons.  It started with an elaborate painting and dance of the sun.   It was a celebration of the sun, and the a celebration of the sun’s waning power.  The dancers would brush the sun away, symbolizing the way that the seasons slowly brush away the power of the sun and signifying the time of harvest.  The time we call Autumn.

The “Tian Paye” or The gourd dance was a harvest dance.   But not a harvest dance as we would see it, rejoicing for the harvest.  But a dance that celebrated the harvest that the Buffalo would now eat and the great herds would again return.  This was a dance with a giant gourd, many pieces and directional clues; but also a representation and an asking the gods for the harvest to come.   This is not to say they had no crops, for this dance was also to have a good crop season as well.   However, the crops they had were not as important as the crops for their main source of eating.

The “Cigarillo Medicine Dance” and “Healing Dance“  was one of the more sacred rituals.   It told the story of the healing of the world by the great twins, as well as a celebration of all of the elements and nature.  It was a thanking of all of the gods and could only be performed with a person who was skilled in the healing arts.  To date, there are no people alive that can practice these magical and mystical arts.  This ritual went on for many hours, and could heal and mend all ills.