1906 - Dancing is still illegal - but we find one of these functionaries forbidding such heathenism absolutely, yet another -- he of the adjoining reservation -- shutting his eyes in dance season.

1906, Aug 11  Evening Star 

While the ban on Indian dances was still iffy in 1906 (some agents seemed to of allowed it, perhaps as long as it was for entertainment of white folks..?) other white folks decided to skip the Native tie altogether and put a show on themselves. Here's an example from Denver, Colorado.

SHOW DENVER INDIAN DANCES

Local Elks Will Visit Colorado Town Garbed as Red Skins and Perform Native Steps 

                                                               1906, May 14  The Santa Fe New Mexican 
          Costumed as Indian braves, blankets, moccasins, feathers and beads included, the local lodge of Elks is planning to attend the Elks reunion to be held at Denver... fifty strong. Some time ago AJ Fisher, secretary...  [of Santa Fe Lodge] sent letters to the members inquiring how many of them would be willing to go in this manner and the idea found immediate favor. It is not known at present how many members can be procured, but it is thought that there will be not less than forty in the party, and it is hoped that this can be increased to fifty.
          After the matter has been definitely settled, several Indians from one of the neighboring pueblos will be secured to teach the party Indian dances, and this will comprise a part of the attraction... 

1906, May 14  The Santa Fe New Mexican 

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HEAP "INJUN" Dancing

Seasons for Placating Gods Now At Hands

1906, Aug 11 Evening Star 

     In midsummer Poor Lo must placate his gods by dancing, and every tribe about now is decking itself to chant and sway to and fro in defiance of the August heat. There is  little of the graceful art of Terpsichore in this dancing of the red Indian. He never trips the light fantastic after the fashion of his white brothers; yet there is a wealth of barbaric passion and splendor in these ceremonies soon to be foregone and forgotten.

     And it is every bit of it illegal -- this savage poetry of be-moccasined feet. An order published during the Arthur administration forbidding all Indian dances whatsoever still stands on the boards, although, happily, it is rather a dead letter. That depends, however, upon the liver of the Indian agent, and today we find one of these functionaries forbidding such heathenism absolutely, yet another -- he of the adjoining reservation -- shutting his eyes in dance season. Indeed, one railway in recent years has advertised one of these dances and has referred the public to the Indian agent for full particulars.

Snake Dance Next Week

     The snake dance of the Moquis is scheduled for the coming week and, as usual, many tourists will go out to witness it. It is the most weird of all the dances of the red American and the real weirdness of it all is never viewed by the spectator. I was talking yesterday with the only "pale face" who has been allowed to witness these secret rites - Dr J W Fewkes of our bureau of ethnology. To do so he had to undergo the ordeals of initiation into the Moqui priesthood......

The Sun Dance

     The sun dance of the plains Indians will occur in many places this summer. It is the most popular of all dances of the Indians, and has been witnessed by many white men; but the secrets behind the scenes were never known until lately, when Ethnologist George A Dorsey received from a council of the Cheyenne chiefs special permission to witness all of the secret rites of the ceremony....

The Ghost Dance

     The "ghost dance" of the plains tribes was participated in by Mr James Mooney of the bureau of ethnology when he visited the Arapahoe and Cheyennes several years ago. Hypnotism contributes the most important feature of the ceremony, according to the ethnologist.

     It doubtless will surprise many that the Indians can successfully practice hypnotism. As a matter of fact such power and slight-of-hand formed party of the former Indian medicine man's equipment from the St Lawrence to the gulf. The Indian priests do not understand the phenomena, but ascribe them to a supernatural cause. ... 

1906, Aug 11 Evening Star