Comments on: Yu'pik dancer Maryann Sundown passed away this week.

Yu'pik dancer Maryann Sundown passed away this week.

Foam Pants — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 10:24:03 -0800

Maryann Sundown, a master of Yu'pik dance, passed away this week at her home in Scammon Bay, Alaska. (second article) Sundown was a crowd favorite at the Cama-i Dance Festival, often making jabs at popular culture to great comedic effect. Even though her dancing slowed over the years, she still lit up the stage, even at her last performance at 92.(Maryann Sundown with the Hooper Bay Dancers)

Yu'pik dance is an important piece of the Native community in Southwest Alaska. This artform is alive and vibrant, growing and adapting as dancers play with the music and the dance. Humor integrated into the dance is a common element. Even the great tradition of Yu'pik dance masks can take a modern twist.

By: spitbull

spitbull — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 11:02:51 -0800

. Thank you for a wonderful post.

By: thehmsbeagle

thehmsbeagle — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 11:15:10 -0800

This is a GREAT post. Thank you for sharing. I didn't know about any of this. Rest in peace, Ms. Sundown.

By: SLC Mom

SLC Mom — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 12:47:33 -0800

Wow she was beautiful. Thank you for sharing.

By: D.C.

D.C. — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 14:31:37 -0800

Besides keeping their cultural traditions alive, the Yup'iks have also retained their language much more than many Native American groups. I've called the office of a Yup'ik organization on a holiday when they were closed. Their answering machine message explaining the closure went on first for about a minute in Yup'ik, followed by a shorter summary in English. (Foam, you misspelled "Yup'ik" – the apostrophe goes after the p, indicating gemination.)

By: jlkr

jlkr — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 22:09:23 -0800

. D.C. Cor. That's why it looked wrong.

By: Foam Pants

Foam Pants — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 23:36:29 -0800

You're talking to the person who got knocked out of the 3rd grade spelling bee by spelling kitchen: C-H-I-C-K-E-N. My misspelling stuff seems to be inevitabel.

By: Twang

Twang — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 12:23:22 -0800

Beauty!

By: kinnakeet

kinnakeet — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 13:14:57 -0800

My eyes have been opened to something new and wonderful. Thank you. (what a terrific life this woman lived--so much joy)