Cama-i Dance Festival

Remembering Mary Ann Sundown

With great sadness and a surge of happy memories, we learned last night of the passing of our dear friend and mentor, Mary Ann Sundown. Mary Ann has been a fixture at the Cama-i Festival for so many years. As a living legend she wowed the crowds even as she grew slower with age. Moving [...]

2011- MaryAnn Sundown Collage

MaryAnn Sundown has been a Cama-i favorite for years. At 92, she still wows the crowd. Here’s a little of the sweet lady from Scammon Bay with Upallret and Scammon Bay as well as a cameo appearance with Hooper Bay. Enjoy! Marlene Moto-Karl, Moriah Sallaffie liked this post

Thanks Pat DeSmet

There are a couple of common denominators with each passing Cama-i Festival. One is Linda Curda who you see from time to time and keeps us all in line. But one guy, has been in the background making things happen and improving the event we have come to know and love– Pat DeSmet. Pat has [...]

2011 – Ayaprun Photos

There are ALOT of Ayaprun Photos!! So I have put as many as I can up online.  Click here to see the photos!  

2011 – Upallret Dancers

The Upallret Dance group formed in 1993. Yur’aq is a sober cultural activity- support and teaching young people to be sober and proud of their culture. This year Upallret combined with Scammon Bay Dancers to double the fun! And to top it off, they bring crowd favorite, Queen of Cama-i Mary Ann Sundown to the [...]

2011- Lepquinm Gumilgit Gagoadim Tsimshian Dancers

Lepquinm Gumilgit Gagoadim Tsimshian Dancers is a mult-generational dance group formed in Anchorage in 2005. Their youngest member is 22 months and the eldest won’t share how old he is. They have traveled far and wide to share their culture in Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, and in Alaska in Metlakatla, Juneau, Fairbanks, Palmer, and Bethel. [...]

2011- Kangirnarmiut Yurartait – Kongiganak Dancers

Our Dance group is very excited to be performing her at Cama-i. We’ve been practicing and performing for 2 years. In the past there have been dance groups from our village, but they were not able to continue. Our village dance group has been dormant for many years and now is returning to the village [...]

2011- Nunakauyarmiut Yurartiat – Toksook Bay Dancers

The Nunakauyarmiut Yurartiat – Toksook Bay Dancers were established in 1964 and have been keeping their traditions alive since then. They are led by Paul John and John Alirkar. Marlene Moto-Karl, Susie Decker liked this post

2011 – NANDA Acrobaticalist

NANDA has been together for 7 years. They come to Cama-i from Port Townsend, Washington and are very excited to perform for the Cama-i Audience. They extend their gratitude to everyone who made their participation possible. As they say back home– “BOOM!” Marie Chiklak liked this post

2011 – Caputnguaq Dance Group – Chefornak

The Caputnguaq Dance Group was one of the darlings of Cama-i 2011. The three young ones and the hilarious older folks made for a very entertaining performance. We can’t wait to see them again!! Thieir description– “These young people started dancing 4-5 years ago taught by Hilary Kairaiuak who was our last elder. She passed [...]

2011 – BRHS Dancers

In 2009 Cingarkaq Wallace and Myron Naneng brought a small group of Yup’ik Dancers to the Cama-i stage. Each year it has grown and this year this large group of BRHS students is very glad to share their work with the Cama-i crowd. Yup’ik culture is growing!! Thanks for your work young people! It is [...]

2011- BRHS Cheerleaders

Another Cama-i first! The BRHS Cheerleading squad has never performed at Cama-i. Over the years cheerleading has become much more involved than standing along side and cheering for the home team. The sport has evolved to a dance/gymnastics type event that requires many hours of practice to refine. The 2010-11 squad placed second at the [...]

2011 – BRHS STEP Team

The BRHS STEP team is part of the Bethel Regional High School JROTC Program. The team has two parts– the High School group and the Junior High group. Thanks for your work students!!

2011 – Delta Illusion Dance Company

The Delta Illusion Dance Co. has been dancing together for about four years now and have traveled all over the United States.  Our team consists of Justis Geerdts 11, Zoe Decosta 11, Tierney McCormick 11, Tamryn Hodge 12, and Brittney Boney 12.  In the past year we have traveled to New Orleans, Las Vegas, Anchorage [...]

2011 – Aataqun Dancers

Aataqun is a Cook Inlet Tribal Council  high school dance group from Anchorage. The group is joined by instructors Valerie Tony, Alfred Buster, and Gordon Iya. The group performs dances from many of the areas of the State including Inupiaq, Yup’ik, and Diomede Island, just to name a few. They are always a crowd pleaser [...]

2011 – Alarnermiut – Alakanuk Dancers

From Alarnermiut - Alakanak Dancers– “Our Yup’ik Traditional Dancers strive to continue our heritage passed on to us by our ancestors, lead by our Elders. We honor all our leaders and traditions and are honored to use and pass on to our children and grandchildren. This is our second Cama-i attendance and we are honored to [...]

2011- Mountain Village Dancers

Mountain Village Dancers have been dancing for many years. They are a crowd favorite and never fail to entertain the crowd. We welcome them again to Cama-i!! Group Description- “We are a mix of dancers, some of who have been involved for 30 years, some for 16 years, and as this group for the last [...]

2011- Ayaprun Kindergarten to Second Grade

Welcome to Yup’ik Immersion School Kindergarten to Second Grade. Class Teachers- Ayaprun Loddie Jones – K Angass’aq Sally Samson – K Naniruar Carol Oulton – 1st Arnagulluk Janet Westlake -1st

2011 Hmong Lions Dancers

The Hmong Lions are a dance group from Anchorage. The Hmong people are from the mountainous from the mountainous regions of China, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand. This group of young people showcases several of the dances from their region. We are thrilled to have them here at Cama-i. They are also part of the Lions Club, [...]

Sunday Schedule – Much More to Come!!

Sunday, March 27th 12:30 p.m.            Doors Open 12:55                    Relighting the Flame 1:00-1:10             Alakanuk Dancers 1:10-1:40             Toksook Bay Dancers 1:40-2:00             Alakanuk Dancers return to the stage 2:00-2:30             Hmong Lion Dancers 2:30-3:00             Mt. Village Dancers 3:00-3:30             Chefornak Dancers 3:30-3:45             BRHS Step 3:45-4:15             Lepquinm Gumligit Gagoadim – Tsimshian 4:25-4:40             BRHS Rifle Team 4:40                      Audience Stretch – [...]

2011- BRHS Rifle Team

The Bethel Regional High School ROTC program has been a success since the beginning. It has won National awards for its performance. This year the program adds a Rifle team to the offerings. The students did very well and were a definite crowd pleaser. Congratulations on a great program BRHS!

2011 – Mekoryuk Dancers

Mekoryuk has struggled with Yur’aq for the last several years. In a small community it sometimes is hard to agree on small things. We are excited to see them back with a vibrant group of youngsters that hopefully will continue this important tradition for years to come! Their words– “In 1999, through the research efforts [...]

2011 – Mikelnguut Elitnaurviat – 2nd Grade

For some of these kids, this will be their last dance. It is sad to see them go. Great Job Kids!!   Marlene Moto-Karl liked this post

2011- Mikelnguut Elitnaurviat – 1st Grade

And here come the ME School First Grade kids. Ruth and Emma did a fine job with these kids! Marlene Moto-Karl, Winnie Wong liked this post

2011 – Mikelnguut Elitnaurviat – Kindergarten

Ruth Evon has been the ME School Yupik teacher for what seems like forever. Ruth and sidekick Emma Wright bring you the Mikelnguut Elitnaurvait Dance groups for Cama-i. You will see rabbit skins on some of the photos. It is tradition for a rabbit skin to be placed under the feet of a Dancer on [...]

2011 Hooper Bay Dancers

Always a crowd pleaser, the Hooper Bay Dancers had a great time with the crowd. Hooper Bay is on the Bering Sea coast and you can tell from the songs they sing, that the sea is a big part of the daily life in that village. Welcome to Hooper Bay!

Saturday Schedule – Young to Old(er)

Saturday, March 26th 11:30 a.m.            Doors Open 11:55                       Relighting the Flame 12:00-12:50         Mikelnguut Elitnaurviat School- Kaukaq Ruth Evon and O-yaq Emma Wright 12:50-1:20           Mekoryuk Dancers 1:20-2:00             Ayaprun Elitnaurvik – Paista Maurice Nanalook Yuraq teacher Ayaprun Loddie Jones – K Angass’aq Sally Samson – K Naniruar Carol Oulton  – 1st Arnagulluk Janet Westlake -1stInuqa’ar Carrie Dahl & [...]

2011 Pamyua Photos

They came back home and didn’t disappoint. The group Pamyua has strong roots in the Bethel area. They regaled us with singing, dancing, and the crowd joined in the fun. It was good to see them up on stage doing a traditional dance. Unfortunately fame’s price is that you can’t always be where you want [...]