Buffalo Dance (film) facts for kids

Buffalo Dance is a very old, short film made in 1894. It's a black-and-white silent film, meaning it had no sound and was filmed without color. This film is special because it's one of the first movies ever to show Native American people. It was made by Edison Studios, a famous early film company.

What is Buffalo Dance?

This short film lasts only 16 seconds! It shows three men dancing in a circle. Two other men play drums to provide the rhythm. The film was shot on a single reel of standard 35 mm movie film.

Making the Film

Buffalo Dance was produced by William K. L. Dickson. He was a very important person in early filmmaking. William Heise was the cinematographer, meaning he operated the camera. The film was made at Edison's Black Maria studio. This was a special building designed to capture sunlight for filming. It was one of the first film studios ever built.

The Performers

The people in Buffalo Dance were real Sioux people. They wore traditional costumes and war paint for the film. These performers were also part of Buffalo Bill's Wild West show. This was a popular traveling show that featured cowboys, Native Americans, and trick riding.

The three dancers in the film were named Hair Coat, Last Horse, and Parts His Hair. The two drummers were Pine and Strong Talker.

Why This Film Matters

Buffalo Dance is important for a few reasons. It is one of the earliest films to feature Native Americans. It was filmed at the same time as another movie called Sioux Ghost Dance. Both films give us a rare look at Native American culture from more than 100 years ago. They also show us how movies were made in the very beginning of film history.