January 12th, 2015 Last Updated on: January 12th, 2015
If you're in the Regina, SK area you can now learn some pow wow moves and get some great exercise!
Dancer Lacy Morin-Desjarlais (Muskowekwan First Nation) is teaching a pow wow class for beginners at the University of Regina Conservatory in Canada.
The Regina Leader-Post spoke with Morin-Desjarlais about the class.
“People joke all the time that it’s like native aerobics,” she said. “Especially when you start adding regalia on top of your body, your beadwork and everything can be really heavy.”
The class will be open to all ages, ethnicities and skill-levels, so don't worry if you've never tried to dance before.
“I’m going to be teaching them not just how to do powwow, but to get in touch with their bodies and get a bit more conditioning and fitness as well,” said Morin-Desjarlais, who has been dancing since she was 17. “The first thing we learn when we become a dancer is not so much the dance — like the style you are going to go into right away — it’s about listening to the music and becoming familiar with that and learning how to step in time with the beat. That’s really important to understand as a dancer.”
First class starts this Thursday, January 8, 2015 at 6 p.m. in Room 014 of the Gallery Room at the U of R Conservatory located at 2155 College Avenue in Regina, SK. If you have any questions call the conservatory at 306-585-5748. The cost for registration is $5.
Let us know if you go!
Photo by Don Healy, Regina Leader-Post
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I’m going to try to continue what Lacy Morin-Desjarlais (Muskowekwan First Nation) started, in my state and eventually all over the nation!
I would totally go if there were classes in LA, Orange, Riverside, or San Diego Counties! $5 registration?? Wow!
I live in San Diego Ca is there any classes like the one you have in my state? would love to learn how to dance so i can participate in pow wows in my tribe. Thank You for sharing your talent with others. Sara Leo {DIEGUENO}
Please, I am in New York City. I can travel. Please let me know the closest happening. Thank you. 🙂
Anything like this is WA?
Yeah! We’ve got many tribes in WA, and the Seattle area has a large amount of natives from all over the US. I would love to learn to dance. It’s been my biggest regret growing up away from the rez. 🙂
I also regret not growing up having a deeper knowledge of my tribal traditions, like dancing, weaving, bead work, language, etc…this would be great to learn for myself and my daughters! We have to keep our culture alive!
Who wants to start classes in St. Louis? I’d go.
Lacy Morin-Desjarlais passed away earlier this year.
What! Really! That’s horrible! According to the article, the first class was scheduled in January of 2015..when did she pass?
Omg I’m so sorry! What happened to her. God! I didn’t even know her and I feel horrible at the loss! I’m just so sorry we lost such a beautiful Native woman who put herself out there to make the world a better place.
How can we start a class in Southern CA?
here is a link to learn Native American dance styles and how to make regalia:
http://www.californiaindianeducation.org/soaring_eagles/
Wat other places … Do u guys have classes in Cali ???
Why don’t they have this IN Michigan??
I totally agree! And in other parts of the United States where MOST of the Natives live!