One of the most popular social dances is the smoke dance, a traditional Haudenosaunee "Iroquois" dance. The smoke dance is a derivation of the war dance and was originally only danced by men. It was a fast dance that was designed to exhibit the men’s skill and stamina. In later years, the women devised their own unique style of the dance.
Several stories also have evolved around the naming of the smoke dance. In one story, the dancers’ fast spinning in small circles is believed to emulate the curling of smoke.
Another story revolves around Haudenosaunee longhouses. In these dwellings smoke would sometimes linger. To help the smoke dissipate dancers would try to “chase” the wafts of smoke through the hole in the ceiling by swiftly dancing in circles in an attempt to push the smoke up out of the house.
The war dance is a ceremonial dance that is solely for Americans Indians. The music performed for these ceremonies also is reserved for the Native population. Thus within the last few years, social dance music has replaced the ceremonial war dance music.
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