Ghost Dance, ritual dance from the United States: what it is and how it is danced

The Ghost Dance is a circle dance created by the Northern Paiute prophet Wovoka in 1889. It spread across the Western United States as a religious movement promising peace and the return of ancestral lands. Dancers form a ring, shuffle slowly, and sing to enter a trance state.

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Created by Northern Paiute prophet Wovoka in 1889.
Dancers move in a clockwise circle while holding hands.
Shamans wave eagle wing fans during the ceremony.
Lakota variation emphasized resistance to assimilation.
The Caddo people continue to practice the dance today.

What is Ghost Dance?

This ceremony is a circle dance practiced by many Native American nations. It began in Nevada in 1889 under the teachings of Wovoka, also known as Jack Wilson. Participants gather in a large ring to sing and move together. The goal is to reunite with deceased relatives and bring back a world without sickness or conflict. Dancers shuffle slowly while holding hands, hoping to reach a trance state where they meet lost realities.

Where does Ghost Dance come from?

The dance emerged among the Northern Paiute people in Mason Valley, Nevada. Wovoka claimed to receive the ritual during a solar eclipse in January 1889. He preached a message of clean living and cross-cultural cooperation. The practice quickly moved through California and Oklahoma. Various tribes added their own beliefs to the original teachings. The Lakota interpretation emphasized millenarian goals and resistance to assimilation policies.

How is Ghost Dance danced?

Dancers link hands to form a wide circle around a leader. They perform a side-shuffle step that follows a long-short rhythm. Their knees bend to emphasize the pattern while they face upward. The movement proceeds in a clockwise direction. Extended dancing can cause exhaustion, leading some participants to faint in the center. Other dancers close the gaps left behind. Shamans may wave feathers near those who wake from their trance.

Ghost Dance, drawn

The dancers A sketch of the kind of dance, not of one performance.

Circle A ring facing in, moving round the centre.

Group An ensemble in staggered rows, facing the front.

The music of Ghost Dance

The ceremony relies on vocal chants and rhythmic percussion. A group of singers accompanies the dancers, often playing hand drums in unison. The songs describe the arrival of new nations and the return of buffalo. Lyrics repeat phrases about the father bringing messages through eagles and crows. The tempo remains steady and deliberate, contrasting with later staged performances that showed faster steps.

Costume and what is carried

General participants wear everyday clothing suitable for extended physical activity. Shamans use fans made from eagle wings to touch the faces of dancers. Some warriors adopted special garments called ghost shirts. These items were believed to possess spiritual power capable of stopping bullets. The attire reflects the serious nature of the ritual rather than decorative performance wear.

When and where Ghost Dance is danced

Communities observe the dance as a sacred religious event. Participants often fast for one or two days before starting. Men and women purify themselves in separate sweat lodges on the day of the ceremony. The ritual lasts for several days, requiring endurance and focus. It serves as a prayer for peace and the restoration of traditional ways. The Caddo nation continues to practice this tradition today.

Styles of Ghost Dance

The original Paiute version focused on personal renewal and universal love. The Lakota adaptation introduced stronger political resistance against government policies. Early motion pictures captured inaccurate depictions of the dance, showing downward heads and rapid footwork. These films were produced for commercial audiences and distorted the solemn nature of the ritual. Modern recordings preserve the authentic chants and drumming patterns.

What Ghost Dance means

The movement challenged the expansion of European settlement in the West. Wovoka taught that proper practice would sweep away evil and restore abundance. Authorities feared the dance encouraged rebellion, linking it to tensions at Wounded Knee. Despite suppression, the tradition survived within specific communities. It represents a profound expression of Indigenous spirituality and hope for cultural survival.

Questions people ask about Ghost Dance

What is the Ghost Dance?

It is a circle dance created by the Northern Paiute in 1889. It spreads across Native American communities as a religious ceremony to reunite with spirits and bring peace.

Who started the Ghost Dance?

Wovoka, also known as Jack Wilson, founded the movement. He claimed to receive the vision during a solar eclipse in Nevada.

How do dancers move?

Participants join hands in a large ring. They shuffle sideways in a clockwise direction with bent knees. The pace is slow and steady.

Why is it important?

The dance promises the return of ancestral lands and the end of suffering. It offers a path to spiritual renewal and cultural unity for Native peoples.

Good reading and sources

Where this page comes from

The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Ghost Dance", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Ghungroo rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

It may contain mistakes, and it describes the dance in outline: it is not a lesson. Traditions differ from one teacher, village or family to the next. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.

Ghost Dance