Inuit legends dance their way onto stage

The sun, moon and stars popped out of a box in the creation legend of the Inuit, a tribe of people native to Alaska. Animals were formed from clay. Humans came from peapods.

These are just some of the aspects of the Inuit creation legend as "FUSION: Dance of the Sun," brought to the stage by the ISU theater and dance students.

The play, written by Tommy Jamerson, a senior theater major, featured dancing, light displays, and elaborate costumes, consisted of tribal garb and traditional masks.

Jamerson said he received several compliments, ranging from the show as a whole, to the costumes and the accuracy of the play in regards to the legends. "It was wonderful," he said. "Everyone left happy."

The story continued from the creation legend to when a chief stole the sun from the world and kept it for himself. The Raven, the Inuit deity that created the world, impregnated the chief's daughter Akna, played by Tiffany Bula, a junior theater major, and disguised himself as the baby boy.

When the boy/ Raven was older, he asked the chief for the sun. After attempting to bribe the Raven away from taking the sun, the chief finally handed it over, and the Raven released the sun back into the sky.

Tarah Perkins, a junior chemistry major, said she had originally attended the performance for her Theater 174 class, but she did enjoy the show.

"It was interesting," she said. "The dancers were nice."

Bruce Black, a sophomore construction management major, said that this play was the first he had attended here on campus.

"It's was enjoyable," he said. "(Students) should come to the next shows."

Natalie Washington, 19, from Evansville, said she learned more about the Inuit culture and that the play was a different experience for her.

Bula said she felt really good about the performance on Thursday night. She also encouraged others to come to the play.

"Parents should bring their kids to see it," she said. "Everyone should give it try; it's a good experience for them."

"Growing up, I watched Walt Disney transform my favorite fairy tales into musical comedies," Jamerson said in the performance's program. "I planned to do the same … (however, if) I wanted my show to be a success, then I needed to respect it for what it was, not try and change it to suit my needs … I am very proud of the performance."

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