click logo for homepage
 
 

	Vol.7, No 53, December 1, 1999
	Spirited dance By Patrick Fujiike Daily Forty-Niner The sound of drums coming from the west terrace of the University Student Union Tuesday afternoon not only entertained a modest Cal State Long Beach crowd, but also taught a lesson about American-Indian history. The drums were part of a dance performance and lecture by the Eagle Spirit Dancers, an American-Indian dance group. About 50 CSULB students attended the performance. "We are proud of our Native American heritage - that is why we are here today," said Ben Hale, spokesman and drummer for the group. Before the dance performance began, Hale shared the history of the dance group's formation. "Our father had a Native-American dance group in the '50s" he said. "Our father taught us all our traditional Native-American dances." The Eagle Spirit Dancers are made up of brothers Ben, Kevin and Bruce Hale, and Cynthia Knife Chief. Before each performance, Ben Hale shared some background about the origins of each dance. He also talked about the struggles of American Indians from the North American continent to South America. The group began the performance with the "warrior society dance." The dancers, dressed in leather outfits decorated with blue, orange and red feathers, performed as one member of the group played a steady beat on a small hand-held drum. "The drum to the Native American Indians is literally like the heart beat of the earth," Ben Hale said. Other dances that were performed during the afternoon, included the spear shield dance, the swan dance, the eagle dance and the courting dance. The courting dance involved one dancer and several rings, which were used to form different patterns during the dancing. Audience members found the performance both entertaining and enlightening. "I thought it was very spiritual," said Oscar Tallied, a junior history major.		College enrollment nationwide to rise   Man busted for pot growing   Conversation lab helps international students Financial aid director advises early filing   Center offers resources for future teachers Drink the ocean   Fair good for professors' egos   Feel better TV Spirited dance   'Crooner' sappy   Reviewer looks at musicians, video game   Ex-Zeppelin member back   'Friends' won't be enjoyed by mainstream 49ers hope to show Aggies how to dance   Team finishes 7th at tourney   Coach honors top athletes   49ers awarded Fall 99 ISSUES DAILY 49ER HOMEPAGE
Forty-Niner Publications, Department of Journalism, California State University, Long Beach ©1999 All rights reserved.