Comanche Academy Charter School Winter Dance Takes Place in Apache

On Saturday, December 10, The Comanche Academy held its Winter Dance at the Apache Community Building.

Vice President of Comanche Academy Culture Club and 2nd Grade teacher Shannon Foye said the event took a lot of work from the students.

“We practiced every single day, so from the very first day of school to now, which has been about 17 weeks,” she said. “So, 17 weeks, these learners have been dancing, round dance, they've been gourd dancing, they've been trying different dance styles. They've also learned how to hold a shawl, how to tie their sashes on and wear their bandoliers. So, they have done a lot of learning about etiquette and how to be respectful to the elders, the singers. And also, the singers, they meet every Wednesday to practice these skills, and we also offer language classes during our language and cultural classes on those nights. So, they're learning how to make their own regalia; they're learning how to make their own moccasins and bandoliers.”

Foye said she loves seeing the children coming out to dance.

“If you’ve noticed today, they're all out there, and they're participating, they're excited,” she said. “It's just really amazing to see how the culture is being carried on.”

Foye said if parents, or anyone in the community, would like to become more involved, they can attend cultural classes at 6 p.m. on Wednesdays at the Comanche Academy located at 1701 NW Taft Avenue in Lawton, Oklahoma.

“We eat first, and then we have the classes. So, there's drumming, and there's singing, and the youth are being encouraged to sing. And then we also have all the sewing classes,” she said. “Each week, we focus on a different skill. So, what they can do is just come on over and join us and eat with us because we always start with fellowship first, and then it breaks off into different classes.”

Foye said they’re always looking for volunteers to join the classes.

“If you are a Comanche first language speaker or you are able to read and sing songs, we would love for them to come into the classroom and share their knowledge,” she said. “Because children learn from elders best and elders are our knowledge keepers. So, it would be really amazing if some could come in and share that wealth.”