The Lakota Sioux Indian dance group began in 1978.
Special to the Star-Bulletin

When the Lakota Sioux dance, it's in homage to these corners of their universe. A theatrically mounted edition of native traditions will take over two stages on Oahu today and tomorrow.

The Lakota Sioux Indian Dance Theatre, originally the Lakota Solaris Project, began in 1978 when New York choreographer Henry Smith approached dance masters Ben Black Bear and Lloyd One Star on the Rosebud Sioux Reservation in South Dakota.

"We met with the elders and asked their permission to create a Lakota dance company," said Smith, in between sound checks at Leeward Community College theater, one of the venues for the group's island performances. "The answer was almost always yes, as long as the work was done in a sincere manner."

The current work, "Cokata Upo!" (Come to the Center), includes traditional dances such as the grass, jingle dress, fancy, horse, buffalo, eagle, round and intertribal. The choreography has been modified slightly to suit the proscenium-framed limitations of western theater, and has been jazzed up a notch with smoke effects, video backgrounds and English narration by Albert White Hat.

"We're as professional as any dancers in the New York or Paris Ballet," said Smith. "A few weeks ago we played in front of 60,000 people on the Mall for the Smithsonian - now that was exciting."

There's no pecking order in Indian dancing, no primas, no divas.

"Some dancers can be called 'championship dancers' because they've taken prizes at powwows," he said . The current troupe includes Gabe DesRosiers, Brain Akipo, Mike and Denise One Star, Grace Her Many Horses, Lillian and Ron Good Eagle, Leon Thompson and Lance White Magpie.

Although Lakota fancy dances are fairly recent and can be compared to hula 'auana, the Lakota troupe hasn't had much of a chance to absorb any Hawaiian dance yet.

"The first time we'll actually see any traditional hula will be at a event on Maui this Sunday, and we're really looking forward to it," Smith said.

What: Lakota Sioux Indian Dance Theatre
When and where:
Thursday Oct. 10, Brigham Young University-Hawaii. 7:30 p.m. Cost $15; $9 seniors. Call 293-3545;
Friday Oct. 11, Leeward Community College Theatre. 8:00 p.m. Costs: $15; $12.50 for students, seniors and military. Call 455-0385;
Saturday Oct 12, the Maui Arts and Cultural Center. Cost $18.50; $16.50 members; $12.50 students and military. Call 808-242-7469