Aboriginal Chicken Dance Inspires Writing

Chicken Dancers (Credit: Megan Kopp)

Writing comes more easily if you have something to say.” – Sholem Asch

These past few days have been busy with travel writing projects and short turn-around times for articles. There are times when a hectic pace and looming deadline can cause a brief moment of writer’s block, but not this weekend.  I was immersed in the culture of the Blackfoot people at the 3rd Annual Chicken Dance World Championships at Blackfoot Crossing on Saturday and uncovered more story leads than I could have imagined.

What is it that inspires writers?
I can’t speak for everyone, but for me, motivation to write often comes from people and their stories.  It the tale of the four-year-old chicken dancer who captured my gaze the moment he entered the dance ring.  Talking with his mom, I discovered that he was wearing the outfit his father had danced in as a child and that his two-year-old brother would have danced as well if he wasn’t feeling under the weather.  I was intrigued by the family and then needed to know more about the choice of beads, feathers and cloth used to create each outfit, by the language spoken in the dance steps, and by the songs sung by the drummers.

One person, one little chicken dancer, opened my eyes to a world of potential stories.