Andrew Hale/ The Bona Venture
BY: ANDREW HALE, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
The Indigenous Spirit Dancers took center stage and showcased aspects of Native American culture through dance in a packed Reilly Center Tuesday night.
The Indigenous Spirit Dancers, a dance group based in Cattaraugus County and the Seneca Nation, are made up of members from various nations throughout the Haudenosaunee Confederacy which consists of the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga and Seneca nations.
Founded over a decade ago by Marty Jimerson Jr., the group has grown exponentially since its creation according to Jimerson Jr.
“When I started out, there was only just maybe five of us there, and then over the years we’ve found more and more dancers,” Jimerson Jr. said.
Jimerson Jr. first became interested in dance during his youth.
“I started [singing and dancing] years ago,” said Jimerson Jr. “I was fascinated with the singing after I saw my dad and grandfather singing at the fairs. I always wanted to keep that going.”
The Indigenous Spirit Dancers take a lot of pride in their performances, and to the group, it’s more than just dancing, said Jimerson Jr.
“It’s a very competitive style of dancing,” Jimerson Jr. said. “When we dance, it’s how we express ourselves.”
Jimerson Jr. said the Indigenous Spirit Dancers aim to educate the surrounding communities when performing at schools and sporting events.
“[Performing] in a public setting like this is more educational,” said Jimerson Jr. “[Performing] shows that we’re still here. There’s a good feeling that comes from inside.”
Incorporated within the dances, crowd participation plays a big role in the Indigenous Spirit Dancer’s performances, according to Jimerson Jr. During Tuesday’s performance in the Reilly Center, several crowd members came to the floor to dance.
“It’s a good feeling to have everybody come down and try [the dancing] out,” said Jimerson Jr. ‘Is [the dancing] hard to do?’ Some said yes. Some said no, but it’s something to try.”
Jimerson Jr. said he hopes that the Indigenous Spirit Dancers will continue to be able to showcase their style of dance in the future.
“I hope that we are able to keep this going for years to come,” said Jimerson Jr. “We’ve performed for all the Buffalo pro teams so far and we look forward to many more routes and ventures to go down and to keep singing and dancing for everybody.”
The Indigenous Spirit Dancers are scheduled to perform at a Buffalo Bandits home game in December for Native American Heritage Night.
halea22@bonaventure.edu
