Yu'pik dancer Maryann Sundown passed away this week.
October 28, 2011 10:24 AM Subscribe
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.
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.
This is a GREAT post. Thank you for sharing. I didn't know about any of this.
Rest in peace, Ms. Sundown.
posted by thehmsbeagle at 11:15 AM on October 28, 2011
Rest in peace, Ms. Sundown.
posted by thehmsbeagle at 11:15 AM on October 28, 2011
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.)
posted by D.C. at 2:31 PM on October 28, 2011
(Foam, you misspelled "Yup'ik" – the apostrophe goes after the p, indicating gemination.)
posted by D.C. at 2:31 PM on October 28, 2011
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.
posted by Foam Pants at 11:36 PM on October 28, 2011
posted by Foam Pants at 11:36 PM on October 28, 2011
My eyes have been opened to something new and wonderful. Thank you.
(what a terrific life this woman lived--so much joy)
posted by kinnakeet at 1:14 PM on October 29, 2011
(what a terrific life this woman lived--so much joy)
posted by kinnakeet at 1:14 PM on October 29, 2011
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Thank you for a wonderful post.
posted by spitbull at 11:02 AM on October 28, 2011