Four Directions Dancers | Video

Kristin Clouston | 9/5/2012

This Friday, some elementary schools will be busing students out to United Tribes to watch dancers at the International Powwow. Bismarck High isn`t sending any students, but they got something even better. Members of Four Directions cultural club performed colorful powwow dances for their classmates on the school`s front lawn.

"My Indian name stands for my middle name, which is Eagle Heart," said junior Willie Sam.

"I`m doing Fancy Shall. Basically it`s supposed to be like mimicking a butterfly," said senior Mercedes Gournau.

"It`s pretty much just a series of of movements that goes to a faster beat than the rest of them and all you do is just dance," Sam said. "There`s fast songs, there`s straight, there`s southern style, a mix of all, fast, slow just a regular straight."

"My mom does this same dance and I just thought I`d follow in her footsteps," Gournau said.

"What I enjoy most about dancing is pretty much just coming out here and doing what I love to do. Just having fun making some random beats and just enjoying it," Sam said.

"It`s exhilarating, you get a rush out of it," Gournau said.

Willie Sam`s mother did all of the beading on his costume. He said it only took her about two weeks. You can catch him as well as dancers all the way from tiny tots to seniors this weekend at United Tribes.

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