American Indian Dance Theatre

American Indian Dance Theatre is a professional performing arts company presenting the dances and songs of Native Americans in the United States and the First Nations of Canada.

History

The group was founded in 1987[1] with Hanay Geiogamah as director and Barbara Schwei as producer. Raoul Trujillo served as choreographer and co-director. The group includes members from many different tribal backgrounds. It made its New York City debut in 1989 in Manhattan's Joyce Theater. In 1990 and 1993, the group was featured in PBS' Great Performances segments.

In 2006 American Indian Dance Theater joined a multicultural consortium called the "Cultural Roundtable" at the Los Angeles Theatre Center, created to bring multicultural theatre to audiences in venues in downtown Los Angeles. Other performance groups belonging to the Cultural Roundtable include the Latino Theater Company, Playwrights' Arena, Robey Theatre Company, Culture Clash and Cedar Grove OnStage.

Films
  • American Indian Dance Theater. Vol. 1, Finding the Circle (1996). Originally produced in 1989 as a segment of the PBS television series Great Performances/Dance in America. A production of WNET/Thirteen in association with Tatge/Lasseur Productions, Inc. Directed by Merrill Brockway. Phoenix, Arizona: Canyon Records & Indian Arts. Presents a variety of Indian dances, performed on stage and at various international powwows. Includes Plains Indians' hoop, eagle, and Apache crown dances, the Zuni rainbow dance, powwow dances (grass, men's traditional and fancy, women's fancy shawl),and Plains snake and buffalo dances.
  • American Indian Dance Theater (1996). Dances for the New Generations. Produced in 1993 for PBS Great Performances/Dance in America. Produced by Barbara Schwei and Hanay Geiogamah, in association with Phil Lucas Productions. Directed by Phil Lucas and Hanay Geiogamah. Performances of Native American Indian dances performed with traditional drums and music. The dancers wear native costumes and makeup, and perform in various venues, including a powwow. Includes dances from the Northwest (Makah and Kwakiutl), Northeast (Seneca and Penobscot), and Plains Indians.

References
  1. Waldman, Carl; Braun, Molly, eds. (2009). Atlas of the North American Indian. Infobase. p. 279. ISBN 9781438126715.


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