Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 p.m.

Lost Colony Pre-Show showcases Native American dance

By Kip Tabb | Outer Banks Voice on July 2, 2022

Ja’cobi Revels performing the Grass Dance, preparing the grounds for the tribal festivities.

Chloe Green, the women’s Fancy Shawl Dance.

Nakya Leviner (in red), Ethan Oxendine (pale green), and Cam Bryant (white headdress) performing an old-style war dance.

Man’s Smoke Dance.

Stevie Lowry performing the Woman’s Smoke Dance.

 

As the Native American Cultural Presentation Pre-Show began at The Lost Colony on Friday evening July 1, the drums and chant of the drummers provided valuable insights about Native American culture.

Narrator Cam Bryant, who performs the role of King Wingina in the play, explained the importance of the grass dance.

“The men’s grass dance, coming to us from the tall grasslands of the great plains,” he said. “He adorns himself with the long fringes and yarns imitating those tall grasses. It was the first dance done before any other. The reason it was the first dance done before any, it was these men’s responsibility to prepare and maintain the grounds for all tribal festivities.”

What followed was 15 minutes of the audience journeying into the dance and culture of various Native American tribes.

“What we wanted to do was have a strong teachable moment for the audience,” The Lost Colony Cultural Advisor Kaya Littleturtle said. “They [the audience] really got to see the variety of dances that our people are connected to. And not just to see the dances, but to get to learn about the dances as well.”

The native pre-show was designed and organized by Nakya Leviner, who plays Manteo in the play and is the Native American choreographer, as well as Kaya Littleturtle.

The Native American Cultural Presentation Pre-Show will be featured on Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00 p.m. until The Lost Colony season ends on August 20.

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