Dances were performed to help socialize young people, both within native populations and when members of different nations came together at ceremonies or on the warpath.. The dance floor represented one of the only places at these large gatherings where men and women were permitted to socialize and court
Ceremonial
In native traditions , religious life involved dancing and singing at sacred gatherings known as pow-wows, medicine lodge sessions, peyote meetings, the sun Dance and the green corn or Busk ceremony ( a thanksgiving event with music performed throughout)
Ritual
In addition to ceremonial occasions like births , weddings, victory celebrations and deaths Native peoples often relied on the power or dance as they pursued hunting activities or during warfare for example war chiefs used dance as strategy to inspire and prepare warriors by demonstrating battle stances .