Let's Dance, Anna Tsouhlarakis

Exhibition Label: Jul-2009, Nancy Mahaney From the artist: “Over the course of 30 days I danced 30 dances with people from diverse backgrounds. The dances included the Hora, Indian Two-Step, Harlem Shake, and an Irish jig from County Limerick….Within in my artwork I have tried to divulge the step in which Native art has not gone, which is towards the reclamation of Native identity. By reclamation, I mean depicting images of Indians in non-stereotypical ways as well as redefining what Native means.” Tsouhlarakis’ work emphasizes the ubiquitous nature of self expression through dance. The Indian Two-Step or Powwow Two-Step is a social dance performed between dance competitions at Inter-Tribal Powwows. These dances provide opportunities for all the people attending the Powwow to participate, and contrast sharply with the formality and ceremonial dress of the competition dances. We invite you to learn these dances along with Anna in celebration of our shared cultural diversity.