FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Where do I get tickets?

Purchase tickets directly through Ticketmaster or through the ASU Gammage Box Office to avoid fees.

Get Tickets Online

 

Where do I park?

See more on our Directions page.

 

Where do I enter the arena?

General Admission ticket holders enter at the North entrance. The ASU Bag Policy will be in effect for General Admission ticket holders.

Registered Dancers & Singers with Participant Wristbands enter through the East Tunnel entrance.

 

What types of payment are accepted at the event?

The Box Office accepts cash and credit/debit cards.

The Desert Financial Arena concession stands accept credit/debit cards only.

The Arts & Crafts Market Vendors accept cash and credit/debit cards.

 

Arts and Craft Vendor Application

New changes to our vendor application: The 2024 Pow Wow at ASU is accepting online vendor applications only. We are not accepting any mail in applications, please do not mail in your application, it may not be returned to you.

The Arts and Crafts Market is an integral aspect of the pow wow, and the ASU Pow Wow appreciates the opportunity to support and host Indigenous entrepreneurs and businesses.

All vendors interested in joining the market should fill out the Arts and Crafts Vendor Application:

Vendor Application

 

Dancer Registration

On-site Dancer & Singer Registration will be at Desert Financial Arena: East Tunnel Entrance at the following times:

Friday, April 18: 5–8 p.m.

Saturday, April 19: 12–2 p.m.

 

 

Terms

Here are some commonly used Pow Wow terms (Our thanks to the late Roy Track and Tahnee Baker, who compiled these terms).

Arena: The area inside of the Pow Wow circle where the dancers move in a circular pattern. There are certain times when dancers or spectators may enter the arena. During competition dances, only the dancers are allowed to enter the arena. Judges will be standing and walking just outside the dancers to observe movement for competition.

Arena Director: The men assigned to coordinate the events on the dance arena, dancers, categories, giveaways, etc.

Blanket Dance: Refers to a purpose rather than a specific dance. A blanket is carried around the perimeter of the dance area to accept monetary contributions. Spectators may contribute voluntarily by throwing coins or bills into the blanket. The purpose is announced prior to the singing of the song, a good purpose indeed.

Contest Song: A song for a specific dance category and is sung for judging purposes.

Drum: A descriptive term used to identify a particular group of singers

Fancy Dance: A modernistic expression of dancing whereby much body and head movement with perfect timing of footwork to the pace of the drum tempo.

Giveaway: A "Giveaway" is a long standing tradition of appreciation. An event occasioned by an honored person(s) who give thanks and recognition to other individuals such as family, relatives, friends, visitors and bestows upon them gifts of appreciation.

Gourd Dance: A social dance primarily for men but with women participants. The dance is one perpetuated by the Cheyenne, Kiowa and Comanche and taken up by many other tribes. Dancers where red and blue robes draped about the shoulders. Other attire are the beaded and fringed sashes, mescal bead bandoliers worn over one shoulder and the dancer carries a gourd rattle and feather fan. The songs and dance is one where the movement is either stationary or with little foot movement. The dance circle is generally clockwise, are social in nature and solely for the enjoyment of the dancers and singers. From time to time monetary or material gifts are given at the feet of the dancer.

Honor Song: A specific song which is sung to fulfill by request to honor an individual's accomplishment or such other auspicious occasion. The song itself, sung by a particular group of singers, may be one of tribal, family and individualistic significance.

Inter-Tribal: A general term referring to an open Pow Wow dance or song that can be joined by anyone, all tribes and spectators.

Judge: A person appointed to evaluate and rate dancers in a particular category of competitive dancing (i.e., men, women, fancy, traditional, age groups, etc.).

Lead Singer: The principal singer in a drum group who starts the songs by that drum. This is common to the drum groups of the Northern Plains style of singing.

Master of Ceremonies: The announcer who keeps the dancers and audience informed on the Pow Wow events and schedules and occasional jokes.

Northern Drum: Refers to the Northern Plains Tribes style of singing.

Northern Fancy: This refers to a War Dance style of dancing and dress of the traditional Warrior Societies of the Northern Plains tribes. Dancers do not wear the colorful bustles of the fancy dancer. Depending upon the Tribe, they wear only the bustle at the lower back; cloth or buckskin leggings are often worn with a breech cloth. Dance steps are pronounced but not to the extent of the fancy dancer. Roach headdresses are worn with generally two Eagle feathers.

Princess: Title of honor bestowed upon a young woman who has been selected to represent her family, her tribe or a Native American organization. Some qualities exemplified by a Princess are their knowledge of tribal history, promotion and maintenance of traditional values, cultural awareness and self-awareness as a Native American.

Round Dance: A social dance in which all dancers or spectators can particulate. The dance movement is clockwise in a circular fashion, sometimes holding hands. The dancers step continually to the left in time with the beat of the drum.

Shawl: A fringed garment worm around the women's shoulders or sometimes carried on the arm.

Southern Drum: This refers to the Oklahoma style of singing. Songs are characteristically sung at a lower pitch and the languages of Southern Plains tribes.

Southern Fancy: This is a war dance that refers to the Oklahoma style of men's fancy war dance where by body movement and rapid dancing are paramount. This too is a modernistic style where songs are sung by the Southern Drum in a moderate fast to very fast tempo.

Straight (War) Dance: The traditional style of dancing and dress of the Plains Tribes of Oklahoma. Absent are the colorful feathers of the fancy dancers; the Straight dancer in keeping with the traditional warrior society, mode of dress is distinguished by a roach headdress with generally one Eagle feather, cloth or buckskin leggings with breechcloth, and an otter skin tailer down the back. The overall dance is one of smoothness and dignity.

Two-Step: A social dance with male and female dancers dancing as partners, this is the only dance where men and women dance with one another. The name comes from the dance steps-two steps forward and one back; similar to the Rabbit Dance or the Owl Dance.

Veteran's Song: A song specially composed to honor a war veteran of one of the Wars (WWI, WWII, Korean War or Vietnam War). Many tribes accord special recognition to their veterans and pay special tribute to the men and women who have served and are
serving in the Armed Forces.

Women's Buckskin: Refers to the contest category designated for ladies in traditional buckskin dress. The traditional tribal designs on the dresses are handmade with beads or porcupine. The design are specific to their tribe as well as the adornments.

Women's Cloth: Refers to the contest category designated for ladies in traditional dress but not buckskin or fancy dancers.

Women's Shawl: Refers to the contest category designated for younger women. Colorful shawls are an integral part of the dancers' attire. Women shawl dancers are the counterparts of the men fancy dancers; dancing is at a faster tempo than the women's cloth or buckskin.