CHEROKEE, N.C. - The Warriors of AniKituhwa, a Cherokee dance group, have been making history by recreating Cherokee dances described in 1762, including the War Dance and the Eagle Tail Dance. They are revitalizing Cherokee dance by bringing back other dances from the past, doing research and offering dance workshops for their community. In the past, they have danced at the National Museum of the American Indian, Colonial Williamsburg and at events in North Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia.
''I'm proud of our young men who have taken the initiative to dance traditional Cherokee dances. It's assurance that our people will keep dancing and keep alive our authentic dances,'' said Marie Junaluska, tribal council member from Painttown and one of the founders of the group.
Designated as official cultural ambassadors by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the original dancers include John Grant Jr., Daniel Sonny Ledford, John Bullet Standingdeer, Bo Taylor, Daniel Tramper, Robert Tramper and Will Tuska. Their singer is Walker Calhoun, respected Cherokee elder and recipient of many awards for his role in preserving Cherokee music and dance. The Museum of the Cherokee Indian is their official sponsor. Men who have joined the group in 2005 include Ty Oocumma, David Owle and Jeremy Sequoyah.
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