{"id":92438,"date":"2025-01-09T12:42:15","date_gmt":"2025-01-09T17:42:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/?p=92438"},"modified":"2025-01-09T13:09:46","modified_gmt":"2025-01-09T18:09:46","slug":"cronkite-news-indigenous-enterprise-brings-culture-to-new-york-city","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2025\/01\/09\/cronkite-news-indigenous-enterprise-brings-culture-to-new-york-city\/","title":{"rendered":"Cronkite News: Indigenous Enterprise brings culture to New York City"},"content":{"rendered":"\"Indigenous<\/a>
On the Tuesday before Thanksgiving in November 2024, Indigenous Enterprise practices the full routine for the Macy\u2019s Thanksgiving Day Parade on the very stage they would soon perform. Photo by Grace Monos\/Cronkite News<\/figcaption>\r\n
Indigenous Enterprise dancers bring colorful Native representation to the Macy\u2019s Thanksgiving Day Parade<\/div>\r\n
Thursday, January 9, 2025<\/div>\r\n
By Grace Monos<\/div>\r\n
Cronkite News<\/DIV>\r\n
cronkitenews.azpbs.org<\/A><\/DIV>\r\n

<\/p>\r\n

NEW YORK — While many Americans see Thanksgiving as a joyous day to gather with family and feast on turkey, it\u2019s more somber for descendants of people pushed off ancestral lands generations ago.<\/p>\r\n

This Thanksgiving brought a moment of rare visibility, thanks to the Macy\u2019s Thanksgiving Day Parade, which featured a performance by Indigenous Enterprise, an award-winning dance company based in Phoenix.<\/p>\r\n \r\n

Founded in 2015, the group has made a name for itself by blending contemporary dance with traditional powwow culture.<\/p>\r\n\"Indigenous<\/a>

Kenneth Shirley, dancer and CEO of Indigenous Enterprise, leads the group in one of their many run-throughs. Photo by Grace Monos \/ Cronkite News<\/figcaption>\r\n

<\/P>\r\n

On the rain-soaked streets of Manhattan, with thousands cheering them on and a global TV audience estimated at 31.3 million, they danced to the beat of drums and the jingling of bells on their regalia.<\/p>\r\n

\u201cIndigenous representation in the media is crucial for understanding, respect, empowering and reconciliation for our Native people,\u201d said dancer Jamaal-Isaac Jones.<\/p>\r\n

Powwow dancing is a competitive art form, featuring varying techniques, drum speeds and intricate regalia.<\/p>\r\n

\r\n
\r\n \"Indigenous<\/a>
Tatianna Wright takes in the New York atmosphere as Indigenous Enterprise prepares for rehearsal. Photo by Grace Monos \/ Cronkite News<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
\r\n \"Indigenous<\/a>
Jamaal-Isaac Jones examines his reflection in the Macy\u2019s storefront window as he prepares to rehearse in front of the crowds. Photo by Grace Monos \/ Cronkite News<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\r\n

<\/p>\r\n \"Indigenous<\/a>

Kenneth Shirley secures his bustles and carefully attaches the backboard and belt to his regalia. Photo by Grace Monos \/ Cronkite News<\/figcaption>\r\n

<\/p>\r\n

Eleven dancers from Indigenous Enterprise arrived three days ahead of the parade and practiced in a parking lot in Newark, New Jersey; rehearsed outside Macy\u2019s flagship store in Herald Square; and explored the city.<\/p>\r\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think there\u2019s enough words to express how truly unreal the whole experience felt,\u201d said dancer Tatianna Wright. \u201cFrom rehearsing for hours, to waking up at 3 a.m. to get ready the day of the parade \u2013 it was extraordinary.\u201d<\/p>\r\n

<\/p>\r\n

Two days before the parade, they practiced their routine repeatedly, back to back, until they felt confident with their performance. With music blasting from a speaker, they recorded each run-through to ensure every detail was just right.<\/p>\r\n\r\n \"Indigenous<\/a>

Kenneth Shirley leads the group through a rehearsal and hectic schedule leading up the parade. Photo by Grace Monos \/ Cronkite News<\/figcaption>\r\n \"Indigenous<\/a>
Lara Lasley, a fancy dancer, twirls gracefully, with her shawl glistening in the bright studio lights. Photo by Grace Monos \/ Cronkite News<\/figcaption>\r\n

<\/p>\r\n \"Indigenous<\/a>

Jared Brown, front and center, showcases his skills as a traditional dancer and professionalism from his experiences over the years with Indigenous Enterprise.Photo by Grace Monos \/ Cronkite News<\/figcaption>\r\n \r\n

<\/P>\r\n

That night, the group visited the performance location near Macy\u2019s store in Midtown Manhattan.<\/p>\r\n

It was near freezing as they prepared and put on their head dresses, moccasins and bustles. But at least it wasn\u2019t pouring rain, as it would be Thanksgiving morning.<\/p>\r\n

People watched, cheered and took photos as they danced.<\/p>\r\n

Parade day was relentlessly wet and cold.<\/p>\r\n

The team woke up at 3 a.m., some already in the city at a hotel and some traveling from their Airbnb in Newark.<\/p>\r\n

They met up at The New Yorker Hotel near the end of the parade route, where other performers were getting ready \u2013 clowns, dancers, marching bands from high schools, colleges and the New York Police Department.<\/p>\r\n

\r\n
\"Indigenous<\/a>
Misun Tanka Mills and Tatiana Wright trail behind the group on the way to the parade to protect their regalia from the relentless rain. Photo by Grace Monos \/ Cronkite News<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
\r\n \"Indigenous<\/a>
Jared Brown applies his face paint ahead of the parade. Photo by Grace Monos \/ Cronkite News<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\r\n

<\/P>\r\n

At 6 a.m., some dancers opted for a quick power nap. Others were too filled with excitement.<\/p>\r\n

\u201cAlmost everyone was running on two hours of sleep or less, but the adrenaline carried us through,\u201d said dancer Shelby Snyder.<\/p>\r\n

They braided their hair, finished their makeup and then shuttled to the start of the parade on the Upper West Side. Snoopy, Santa Claus and dozens of other floats and balloons were already there.<\/p>\r\n \"Indigenous<\/a>

Indigenous Enterprise dancers relax and get ready for the Macy\u2019s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Photo by Grace Monos \/ Cronkite News<\/figcaption>\r\n

<\/P>\r\n

Onlookers huddled under umbrellas. The crowds were thinner than usual in the dreary weather. Some of the dancers opted for sneakers. Others wore their traditional moccasins. Either way, their feet were soaked well before they reached the end of the 2.5-mile route, trailed by a huge Stuart the Minion balloon.<\/p>\r\n

During a pause, dancers thrilled the crowds on the sidelines with an impromptu performance.<\/p>\r\n

Due to the rain, the group was unable to wear their full regalia throughout the parade. As a result, they had to carry luggage and bags containing their regalia for their performance at the end of the parade.<\/p>\r\n

\u201cIf we could have worn our full regalia in the parade, the crowds would have gone wild,\u201d Jones said as the dancers dried off and tried to shake the morning chill. \u201cBeing limited with the ponchos, it was hard to convey who we are.\u201d<\/p>\r\n \r\n \"Indigenous<\/a>

Jared Brown takes a moment to dance on his own in the brief break. Photo by Grace Monos \/ Cronkite News<\/figcaption>\r\n

<\/p>\r\n \"Indigenous<\/a>

Lara Lasley and Shelby Snyder, fancy dancers, take the opportunity to show the crowds their moves. Photo by Grace Monos \/ Cronkite News<\/figcaption>\r\n \r\n

<\/p>\r\n

There was a rush right before the performance to get everyone ready. Some of the dancers almost didn\u2019t make it on time.<\/p>\r\n

When it came to their live performance, a 60-second televised spot in front of the Macy\u2019s store, the rain brought challenges. The slippery stage limited some of their usual high-energy moves, and Dom Pablo and Shirley had to skip their planned flips at the start.<\/p>\r\n

Even with a few unnoticeable slips, the dancers received roaring applause.<\/p>\r\nFor more stories from Cronkite News, visit cronkitenews.azpbs.org<\/A>.<\/STRONG>\r\n

<\/P>\r\n

Note: This story originally appeared on Cronkite News<\/a>. It is published via a Creative Commons license<\/A>. Cronkite News is produced by the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication<\/A> at Arizona State University<\/A>.<\/EM>
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