The songs and dances of the Lakota and the objects and dress utilized in their performance are considered by many to be the one of the most viable of traditional culture traits among the contemporary Lakota. While it must be realized that singing and dancing continue to play an important role in Lakota society, we must also remember that the seeming predominance is due in large part to the greater visibility of singing and dancing in more or less traditional tribal dancing clothes.
 

“Yet, in spite of this greater visibility, there are many—and this holds even more true for the young—who do not understand all that is going on at contemporary “wacipis” or celebrations. When it comes to questions of evolution or of the traditional ways of the song or dance, the number of Lakota who can perform or know of the earlier manner of doing things— “ehanni wico'ecun”—is smaller still. Thus it is vital for a text of this kind to make available introductory material on traditional and contemporary secular ways of singing and dancing, especially since the natural or traditional ways of acquiring such knowledge often do not reach the majority of the people.”