By Keighla Schmidt, Staff Writer

Drums? Check. Regalia? Check. Energy? Check. Amazing venue? Check!

This check list is one the Yazzie family will likely go through before they take center stage at Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in the nation’s capital.

Father and son, Larry and Jessup Yazzie, and mother Kaye Annis will leave their home in Savage this weekend to perform in Washington, D.C. at the Kennedy Center.

“We never thought, ever,” Kaye said. “I mean, oh my gosh, the Kennedy Center. It’s a big deal for us.”

While the family has done many performances locally for schools, traveled around the world to perform and even done U.S. tours, this will be the first time they take the stage in D.C.

The family, including in-laws, as well as some friends will perform in the Family Theater at the Center for school groups and open audiences Nov. 22-23. Many show times have already been sold out. Jessup Yazzie: Jessup
Yazzie performs the
traditional American
Indian fancy dance
together. Jessup and his
father Larry will be
performing at the
Kennedy Center for
Performing Arts Nov. 22-
23.

The family has just returned from performances in Japan when Larry left for the East coast to perform in a university tour. Kaye, Jessup and a few others will join him this weekend to prepare for the performances. 

Larry and Jessup often dance the traditional fancy dance together.

“It’s a big inspiration to me, it’s like he’s teaching me the steps to life,” Jessup said of dancing with his father.

Larry has a similar feeling.

“I feel very proud and honored to pass this tradition on to another generation,” he said. “It’s a way to hang onto our traditions with people. This is a way he can be proud and carry on with our way of life.”

There’s never a shortage of dance activity in the Yazzie home. Drum music will be playing, Jessup will start dancing in the living room and their daughter, Samarra, is starting to learn to dance.

“It’s a way of life for us,” Kaye said. “It’s something that’s already within.”

Watching her husband and son dance together never gets old. “It’s amazing,” she said. “Each time is like the first time.”

Part of the reason is the dance is never the same.

Larry explained the fancy dance is an improvisation each time. The dancer chooses his moves based on the music and what they’re feeling.

“It’s a freestyle,” Kaye clarified. “Very seldom is it choreographed. It’s from their spirit and their heart that they dance.”

Jessup, a fourth-grader at Hidden Valley Elementary School, has “been dancing since he could walk,” and has a few favorite moves. He likes to end the performances landing in the splits.

“It gets a good crowd reaction,” he said. “My favorite part is dancing as fast as I can and trying to keep up with the song.”

Jessup also likes to try new moves or techniques he has not yet mastered, he said.

Larry said dancing with his son can sometimes be a rivalry between the two.

“It’s like a friendly competition when we dance,” Larry said. “We try to make each other do more difficult things.”

Kaye dances the women’s northern traditional dance, something that makes her son proud.

“It feels pretty nice that she’s dancing with our family,” Jessup said. “I feel very happy for her that she’s a good dancer and mom at the same time.”

Part of what makes the dance a challenge is not only literally thinking of the next move on their feet, but also the heavy regalia they wear.

Kaye, who sews pieces of the regalia, said sometimes it can be hard to keep up with what needs to be made as children grow.

Each piece of clothing signifies an animal from the native culture, Larry and Jessup explained.

Porcupine hair symbolizes what soldiers wore in battles, like shooting spikes; horse hair symbolizes running free in fields; and eagle feathers are worn to respect the animals that can fly so high they bring prayers to the spirits.

“Whenever we dance, we feel good,” Larry said. “It gets our endorphins high. Dancing is about getting creative and being expressive.”

Keighla Schmidt can be reached at kschmidt@swpub.com