The fastest and flashiest of men's dance styles; the Fancy Dance or Feather Dance did not originate from any old dance or style. Fancy dancing is the result of trying to entertain visitors at reservations in the early 1920's. The dance clothes took the popular traditional bustles and made them larger, brighter, and more exciting by adding colorful feathers, fluffs and colorful beadwork and/or ribbonwork wherever it would fit. The Fancy Dance is typically considered a young man's dance, although many older dancers who are still in shape participate. The Fancy Dance is not associated with any one tribe; it started in Oklahoma and is now seen all over the country, with some differences in dress and style in the North. Fancy Dancers dance much faster than all other styles. Sometimes the more freestyle dancers will take the dance to the next level by doing splits, cartwheels and backflips! Fancy dancers also dance a type of dance known as a ruffle; it is full of shaking, ruffling, and blinding footwork.

The Regalia

Fancy Dancers have many objects in their outfits that are unique to this style. Starting from the top, all Fancy Dancers have a roach, usually a little shorter than normal and with brighter deer hair. The main difference in the head gear of a Fancy Dancer is the rocker spreader, with two eagle feathers that are often decorated with plumes and reflective tape. Some dancers wear scalp feathers, but it is not as common. Most also wear beaded headbands, sometimes with a rosette on the front.

Fancy Dancers are covered in beaded and fringed aprons over the shoulders and waist. In addition to their aprons, Fancy Dancers wear matching side tabs to cover their thighs while dancing. Some also wear loom beaded harnesses that are draped over the neck and hang past the waist. Most also wear small arm bustles that are made from a disc with feathers glued around it. The signifying mark of a Fancy Dancer is his bright, twin bustles. Southern bustles are made from stripped feathers that are decorated with dyed hackle feathers and plumes. One bustle is tied around the neck, and the other is tied to the waist. A newer twist to this is making the bustles from eagle wings, which gives more of a "flying" look. This is more common in the North.

Finally, all dancers wear large sleigh or the smaller Hawk bells just below the knee. A large Angora goat hide is wrapped around the calves to produce the white fuzzy “legging” around their legs. Moccasins are usually worn, although some will use neon Aqua Socks instead. The bells of a Fancy Dancer can be heard for miles.