Canku Ota
	(Many Paths)
	An Online Newsletter Celebrating Native America
	February 9, 2002 - Issue 54
	Lakota Dancers to Perform at Olympics
	by Lynn Taylor Rick, Rapid City Journal Staff Writer-February 6, 2002
	credits: Northern Fancy Dancer by John Nieto

RAPID CITY — Lakota culture will be well represented during the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. At least eight Black Hills area dancers/musicians are scheduled to perform during the Olympic games. John Frazier of Spearfish will dance a traditional American Indian grass dance during the Olympic Games/Reebok Human Rights Awards on Feb. 7, at the Capitol Theatre in Salt Lake City. The official opening ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympics take place Friday. Frazier, 25, was born in Rapid City and lived for a time on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation. He didn't learn to dance until the age of 19, but quickly found a passion for the dance. "I got a feel for it by going to powwows and watching other dancers," Frazier said. He danced his first powwow in 1995. Three years later, he drew the notice of Grammy-award-winning producer/musician Douglas Spotted Eagle. Spotted Eagle invited Frazier to join his touring show "Voices of Native America," a production that mixes traditional dancing and music with more-modern sights and sounds. Frazier has toured throughout the United States and abroad with the company since 1998. Spotted Eagle invited Frazier to re-create part of his "Voices" performance during the Human Rights Awards. Daniel LaPlante leads a team of dancers from the area that will perform on the Mormon Gold Command Center Stage in downtown Salt Lake City. LaPlante, of Eagle Butte, is a traditional dancer and leader in the Wiconi International Ministry, an evangelism-outreach organization that uses traditional dance and music. Dancers on his team include Codi High Elk, fancy shawl dancer, and Jason Cook, grass dancer, both of Eagle Butte; Bob Dudley, traditional dancer, Kristi Gallagher, jingle dress dancer, Vince Gallagher, singer, and Michael Jacobs, who will provide contemporary Christian music, all from Rapid City. The team was invited by the Olympic planning committee and will perform seven times from Feb. 14-17.

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