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In pics: Victoria Memorial Hall greens come alive with native America’s Butterfly Reverie

Siouxsan Robinson & her daughter Chokash Nanaiya Owns-Different-Horses Robinson from Native Pride Dancers of the USA enthralled the audience with their dance

Urvashi Bhattacharya Kolkata Published 14.12.23, 06:13 PM
Siouxsan Robinson (right) and her daughter Chokash Nanaiya Owns-Different-Horses Robinson of Native Pride Dancers from the USA owned the lawns in front of Victoria Memorial Hall on the afternoon of December 13 with their rendition of Ladies Fancy Shawl Dance. Showcase of Native America’s Butterfly Reverie, a collaborative effort by the US consulate in Kolkata and Victoria Memorial Hall, gave Kolkatans glimpses of Native American dance and music and a Blackfoot-style performance
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Siouxsan Robinson (right) and her daughter Chokash Nanaiya Owns-Different-Horses Robinson of Native Pride Dancers from the USA owned the lawns in front of Victoria Memorial Hall on the afternoon of December 13 with their rendition of Ladies Fancy Shawl Dance. Showcase of Native America’s Butterfly Reverie, a collaborative effort by the US consulate in Kolkata and Victoria Memorial Hall, gave Kolkatans glimpses of Native American dance and music and a Blackfoot-style performance

All photographs by Soumyajit Dey
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The first performance was by Chokash Nanaiya Owns-Different-Horses Robinson where the choreography represented a vibrant butterfly
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The first performance was by Chokash Nanaiya Owns-Different-Horses Robinson where the choreography represented a vibrant butterfly

‘In our culture, the dance is supposed to represent a butterfly which is why I wear bright colours. The dance is supposed to be a reminder of how every day is a new day just like how a butterfly comes out of its cocoon,’ said Chokash Nanaiya Owns-Different-Horses Robinson
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‘In our culture, the dance is supposed to represent a butterfly which is why I wear bright colours. The dance is supposed to be a reminder of how every day is a new day just like how a butterfly comes out of its cocoon,’ said Chokash Nanaiya Owns-Different-Horses Robinson

Next up was Siouxsan Robinson who comes from the Lakota or Blackfoot people in the USA and Canada. Her style of dance is called the Blackfoot style, which is a narrative manner that women of her tribe use to describe their experiences at war
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Next up was Siouxsan Robinson who comes from the Lakota or Blackfoot people in the USA and Canada. Her style of dance is called the Blackfoot style, which is a narrative manner that women of her tribe use to describe their experiences at war

‘A long time ago, it was not common for women to go to war. When men would go, women would stay in the camp. But the Blackfoot women were allowed to go to war. The style of dance is a story about where they went and what they saw during wars,’ said Siouxsan Robinson
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‘A long time ago, it was not common for women to go to war. When men would go, women would stay in the camp. But the Blackfoot women were allowed to go to war. The style of dance is a story about where they went and what they saw during wars,’ said Siouxsan Robinson

All of the designs and colours the dancers wore were provided by their families. They don’t copy anyone else’s because every family and tribe has its own designs, colours and dances. Siouxsan Robinson was performing in an outfit that weighed 23kg
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All of the designs and colours the dancers wore were provided by their families. They don’t copy anyone else’s because every family and tribe has its own designs, colours and dances. Siouxsan Robinson was performing in an outfit that weighed 23kg

‘It’s an incredible honour for us to be able to bring native American dancers to India and share some of America’s diverse culture with such warm and receptive audiences. These two wonderful women represent some of the many native communities in the United States, and we are excited that they are here sharing their stories and experiences with Indians,” said Elizabeth Lee, director of the American Center, Kolkata
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‘It’s an incredible honour for us to be able to bring native American dancers to India and share some of America’s diverse culture with such warm and receptive audiences. These two wonderful women represent some of the many native communities in the United States, and we are excited that they are here sharing their stories and experiences with Indians,” said Elizabeth Lee, director of the American Center, Kolkata

To wrap up the cultural programme, the two dancers along with Elizabeth Lee requested the audience to join them for a friendship dance where they all made a big circle and proceeded to move around and dance in the formation
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To wrap up the cultural programme, the two dancers along with Elizabeth Lee requested the audience to join them for a friendship dance where they all made a big circle and proceeded to move around and dance in the formation

(L-R) Elizabeth Lee, Chokash Nanaiya Owns-Different-Horses Robinson, Samarendra Kumar, curator, Victoria Memorial, and Siouxsan Robinson share a final frame in front of the great monument
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(L-R) Elizabeth Lee, Chokash Nanaiya Owns-Different-Horses Robinson, Samarendra Kumar, curator, Victoria Memorial, and Siouxsan Robinson share a final frame in front of the great monument

RELATED TOPICS

Dance Shows Victoria Memorial Hall (VMH) US Consulate In Kolkata Elizabeth Lee Native Americans Dance Cultural Performances American Center Butterfly Kolkata
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