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Larry Yazzie
Larry Yazzie (Meskwaki/Dine) is a International Lecturer, Educator,
Performer, and a World Champion Fancy Dancer. Raised on the Meskwaki Indian
Settlement in Central Iowa, he began dancing at the age of 7. Throughout his
childhood Larry was instructed on the traditions of the Meskwaki People,
including the flamboyant and energetic fancy dance and the northern Plains style
of singing.
“Through my dancing and singing, I experience a zone of free spirit, where
everyday problems and worries are left behind. As a performer, it makes me feel
good to share this positive energy with other people”
Larry began dancing competitively at powwows in his early teens. A renowned
fancy dancer who consistently takes top honors at American Indian powwows
throughout the United States and Canada, he won the World Championship for the
Northern Style Fancy Dance in 1995. In addition to competing at powwows, Larry
has been called upon to serve in a variety of positions, including Arena
Director, Singing Judge, Dancing Judge, and Head Man Dancer.
“I have to give thanks to my grandmother, my grandfather, who bestowed the pride
of the fancy dance, of my culture, of my language . . . I have to give thanks to
my culture, to my way of live, for allowing me to travel, to experience the
world”
As a dancer and singer, Larry has performed throughout North America as well as
South America and Europe. His current solo show, “Native Pride Dancer,” balances
entertainment with education and features the high-energy Fancy Dance. Larry
performs this show for a variety of audiences from K-12 to colleges and
universities, to corporate gatherings and community festivals. Notable
performances include at the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympic Games, the 1999 Goodwill
Games in St. Petersburg, Russia, and most recently in 2005 at the Belo Horizante
International Cultural Festival in Belo Horizante, Brazil. Larry and his seven
year-old son Jessup were also seen performing in the 2005 Macy’s Thanksgiving
Day Parade.
Since the 1980s Larry has performed with several notable performance companies,
including the Woodland Singers and Dancers, the Discover Native American Dance
Troupe, Lakota Dance Troupe, Foxwoods Dance Troupe, and the Kevin Locke Trio.
Recently, while still continuing his successful solo show and duo show with his
Jessup, he formed his own company, the Native Pride Dancers. Also, Larry is a
member of the American Indian Committee on the Ordway Theater's Cultural
Advisory Council.
“As I glide across the floor, I will be representing the manitu’s, the spirits
of the animals present in my outfit, and most importantly human beings, those
who have come before and those who can no longer dance. I dance for them, and
with them.”
In addition to dancing and singing Larry has also appeared in the motion
pictures his first film was “Grey Owl,” which starred Pierce Brosnan. He also
appeared in the independent film “Come and Get Your Love.”
Downloads:
Click on a link to open it, or right-click on an item and select "Save Target As..." to save it to your computer.
Photos:
Video Clips (Real Format):
Dancing In Spirit (3.7 MB,
or streamed
here)
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