Yup'ik Dance Festival

There are many advantages to living and teaching in Toksook Bay. It is a beautiful area, but it is also one of the largest villages in the Yukon - Kuskokwim Delta, so if there are any large cultural events, they are likely to happen in Toksook. In the fall there is the Blackberry Festival and in the spring there is the Yup'ik Dance Festival. Now it doesn't compare to the Portland Beer Festival or other large events down in the lower 48, but remember where I am. I live in the most rural part of the United States, so when 300 - 350 people from other villages come to celebrate Yup'ik Dancing, it is a huge ordeal. The total population of Toksook is only 600 people, so imagine Portland increasing its population by 50 % for a big event.
There were about 6 - 8 villages that came to celebrate, visit friends, and dance for three days. Walking up to the highschool the first sign that tells you something is going on is about 30 - 40 snow machines (mobiles) parked outside the school in a pretty free frawl manner. All the people that come to Toksook usually have friends or family they stay with. The village also pulls together an incredible amount of merchandise and supplies that are given to the visiting dancers on the last day of the festival.



There is everything from gas cans, coolers, material for Qaspaqs (traditional woman's dress), animal pelts, food, and general supplies. Someone made a nice wooden sled to give away. Sleds are used kind of like a trailer that you pull behind your snow machine. There was even a nice wood stove that could be used inside a house or steam house.









The dancing is the main event though. People are dancing from about 1 - 2 pm until about 12 midnight every night. Yup'ik dancing is set up in a very specific and cultural format. Typically, the men are in the front, kneeling and the women stand in the back. The drummers are in the very back of the dance group. They are also singing the words to the song as well as keeping the beat with their drums. Generally a song will start out soft and quiet. Dancers will go through the motions rather lethargically. The drummers will either call out "Pumya", which means again, or they will just keep drumming and start the song over. Songs will usually be repeated about 3 - 6 times and each time, the drumming and singing gets louder. The dancers respond by becoming more active. Men bob up and down on their knees and women start really bending their knees with the rhythm. I saw one man getting into the beat so much that he was actually jumping into the air from his knees to the beat.


This man was the most animated dancer I have ever seen. He had the whole crowd laughing hysterically with his exagerated motions. He was incredibly athletic and amazing to watch.


Well, keep saving your money and maybe you can witness this incredible event yourself next year. Until then, stay tuned to dirksan for more updates from the frozen winter lands of Alaska.
Enjoy!