NATIVE AMERICAN DANCE GROUP FORMS

In what marks a major step on the part of Native Americans into the mainstream of the arts, an American Indian Dance Theatre, thought to be the first of its kind, has been formed and will debut in Los Angeles in June.

Plans call for the new company of nearly 30 Native American dancers from around the country to assemble and begin rehearsals April 24 in Colorado Springs, Colo., and to perform publicly for the first time at Colorado College on May 8. The formal premiere engagement in Los Angeles is planned for June 4-7 at the Beverly Theatre.

“This company fills an obvious void in the American dance world,” said Barbara Schwei, a New York-based concert promoter, producer and founder of the new company. “Other countries have their own dance companies representing segments of their own distinct cultures, and Native Americans should have the opportunity to show off their heritage and culture to their fellow Americans and to the rest of the world.”

The company, which has been funded through private investment, plans to perform traditional Native American dances drawn from the 75-100 tribes nationwide. However, the focus will be on secular rather than religious dances, which traditionally have been considered sacred tribal property performed only within the various tribes.

“As Native American performing artists, we know what is appropriate and communicable to a broader public, and we would never violate tribal traditions,” said Hanay Geiogamah, director of the new company.

Geiogamah is a professor of Indian studies and theater arts at UCLA and artistic director of the Native American Theatre Ensemble of Los Angeles.

“In representing many tribes, we also feel a responsibility to all Indians to present the best possible images in dance to a broader, non-Indian public,” he added.

In discussing plans for the company’s initial program during a telephone interview from Los Angeles this week, Geiogamah stressed the authenticity of what he termed “the social dances” to be performed, but he said a conscious effort was being made to place the traditional dances in a contemporary form and, if “artistically feasible,” even “to evolve the dances into a more contemporary form. This is not going to be a powwow,” he said, citing the stereotyped images of Native American dances that he said the company hopes to replace in the minds of other Americans.

Among the traditional dances to be included in the initial program are the Eagle Dance, in which the bird is celebrated by the Native American warrior; dances of the Earth, suggesting harmony with nature; women’s Fancy Dance, in which tribal women traditionally are given an opportunity to express themselves; and at least one traditionally sacred, Apache ritual dance, the Fire Dance. Geiogamah said permission to use the ritualistic dance was requested and granted by an Apache tribal council.

The new company, which plans to break for the summer and then re-assemble for a European tour next fall, is being choreographed by Raoul Trujillo, a principal dancer with the Nikolais Dance Theatre here.

Geiogamah applauded Schwei’s “entrepreneurial” efforts to form the American Indian Dance Theatre.

“The Native American community is just finding its way into this country’s economic mainstream, in the arts as well as in business,” he said, “and we especially need entrepreneurs in the arts. This company holds positive ramifications for all Native American performing arts, because it provides our culture with the kind of visibility and recognition that is long overdue.”