"The dance commonly begins about the middle of the afternoon or later, after sundown. When it begins in the afternoon, there is always an intermission of an hour or two for supper. The preliminary painting and dressing is usually the work of about two hours"

This quote by James Mooney is describing a conventional dance. It appears that the dance generally starts in the afternoon or later on, after sundown. Before the dance starts, there is a duration of 2 hours for painting and dressing. This is likely a period of preparation for the dancers, such as using makeup and putting on outfits. After the dance begins, there is normally an intermission of an hour or 2 for supper. This recommends that the dance is a long and involved occasion, with a period of rest in the middle. It is most likely that the dance is a conventional event that is very important to the culture, as it is given a significant amount of time and preparation.