Nations Native American Dance Theater performs

As the drum beat steadily, Vaughnda Hilton, a Native American performer, began to chant methodically "Once we were many-we were happy and free and a part of the land," as part of the Nations Native American Dance Theater performance Friday night.

"What we are trying to do here at Native Nations American Dance Theater is we are trying to create songs that are simple and short enough so that our children can learn the language," Hilton said. "Therefore, the songs are based on tradition, but are contemporary at the same time."

The NNADT was invited to perform at ISU by Sherry McFadden, assistant professor of theater, and Teresa McCullough, an instructor in the physical education department.

"The Fusion Dance Theater is putting on a show called Dance of the Sun, based on Indian mythology," McFadden said. "I invited this group to come and dance and introduce them to the cast to motivate them and also introduce them to the community."

The program was a fusion of traditional and contemporary pieces that integrated both Native American and modern cultures into one.

"The performance was stunning," said Ashlee Vitz, a senior theater major. "The dance troupe showed both traditional and modern pieces, which I think is important when coming to a mid-western school."

Hilton said she had been dancing and singing since she was five years old, almost forty years ago.

"It is important that the next generation, which is the seventh generation, pass on the stories, dances and language so it is not lost. Over the past 500 or 400 years so many things have been lost and so many people can connect to what we've been through as a people."

Hilton belongs to the Blackfeet, the Seminole and the Creek tribes.. The other performers included Delwin Fiddler Jr., chairman of NNDT and member of the Lakota and Sioux tribes and Hilton's son, Andrew Lyn, an art designer. Lyn belongs to the Blackfeet, Seminole, Creek and Carib Indian tribes.

"We go to powwows and compete against others in competitive dances and keep tradition and our cultures alive," Hilton said. "Our goals include to educate and make people aware that we are still alive and out there."

The performance included storytelling, singing and dancing. Authentic outfits and instruments were used. "I enjoyed the program because I love being exposed to cultures aside from my own," Vitz said. "I think it's important for everyone to see things that are out of the norm for them."

The performance not only entertained but also served as a learning experience for some students to see how other cultures differ from their own.

"I think it is very interesting that in the Native American culture, dance is a very important part of their history, whereas in American culture, we don't tend to give dance nearly as much credit as we should," Vitz said.

Dances included a worship dance, which portrayed the stages of life and womanhood, a two-step courtship dance, a rabbit dance and Lyn's specialty, the prairie chicken dance.

The program closed with the round dance, a dance representing friendship and love as well as the circle of life. The audience was invited to come down and participate in the performance, clasping each other's hands and following the lead of the professionals.

"My favorite part was the group participation dance at the end," Vitz said. "It was wonderful to see so many people just give another culture a try, even if it was just for a few minutes."

Hilton said that the primary reason for traveling and performing for members of the troupe is to keep their cultural traditions intact for future generations.

"The spirit of our culture will stay alive if we keep the seventh generation in our hearts and in our minds," Hilton said.