The dancers will move to the sounds of drums, gourds, rattles and bells wearing authentic regalia costumes made within their families. Their work is a colorful spectacle that includes seasonal, spiritual and social dances. Within the Native American culture, dance is central to teaching, celebrating life passages and communicating with nature and the spirits. This is the premiere group in the country, offering the most diverse sampling of song and dance from all the American tribes. You'll see dance that has been part of this country since ancient times and is a way to perpetuate the history of the tribes.
Every dance tells a story.
A member of the Kiowa Nation of Oklahoma, SpottedBird will be the featured speaker at an educational pre-performance talks in the Lied Center's Steinhart Room scheduled 55 minutes and 30 minutes before the 8 p.m. performance. The group has been honored with its own major national TV special on PBS and in 1990 received a Grammy nomination for a cast album. The fee is half price for youth 18 and under or UNL, Wesleyan and Doane students who present identification. The UNL Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Jay Kloecker with piano soloist Paul Barnes, will perform the wind compositions of Nebraska native Howard Hanson at 3 p.m. Oct. 6 in Kimball Recital Hall. The concert is free and open to the public.