Current Release: April 28th, 2009 | Vol. XXX Iss. 10

Photo by Colleen Peterson

The spirit is within us all

By Andrew Craft

Don’t tell Larry Yazzie that you can’t make a career out of Native American dance. Since the age of 5, Yazzie has been dancing for the past 33 years.

“When I dance, I dance like there’s no tomorrow with my heart,” he said. “I always tell myself to take it easy on the warm-up dances, but I can’t. It’s too hard to hold back.”

Yazzie was one of five Indian dancers at the Native American Cultural Affair that took place in the C-MAC Nov. 4. Yazzie, of the Meskwaki Nation, was covered from head to toe in various animal skins such as porcupine, deer and angora that he wove together himself. As he danced, a few of the feathers fell off, which enhanced the mood as he jumped, swirled and squatted.

“The animals I wear all come together in spirit during the dance,” he explained. “All living things in nature have a particular connection with the spirit and when we dance, they all come together.”

Native American Dance is not the only style Yazzie practices. He had no formal training.

“I’m pretty much self-taught,” he said. “I also do a little tap, hip-hop and ballet. Any dance gives me energy and lets me be creative, even though with some of the routines it is traditional. I have always had much respect for every other style of dance.”

Yazzie wasn’t the only attraction that night. There were also vendors selling hand-painted drums, dream catchers, knives made out of animal bone, sage, pots, baskets, wallets and even a spear.

“I like this because I appreciate different cultures,” said junior Marcus Calabrese. “It’s beautiful and creative and that’s what I like about it. It pisses me off that Native Americans have gotten the shaft and are still getting it.”

The affair was complete with a drum circle with members from the Fallen Water Singers and the Rising Water Dancers, who also had CDs on sale.

“I wish I could join them,” said freshman Keith Brogdon. “I wanted to just to walk up, take one of those mallets, and just bash on the drum.”

Yazzie, the Fallen Water Singers and the Rising Water Dancers will also be performing in the Thanksgiving Macy’s Day Parade on NBC.

For the final dance number, Yazzie got every audience member on the floor. He took them through each step one by one, demonstrated to the enthusiastic circle around him, then guided everyone through the routine.

“Let the drumbeat hit your heart,” he announced. “We hope you go home feeling special and hope you keep practicing your traditions.”