LARRY YAZZIE, FANCY DANCER
A headlining act later that night at the Teatro Francisco Nunez, Larry Yazzie, a Meskwaki dancer originally from Iowa, United States, was also asked to perform during this informal gathering.
Larry addressed the crowd in English, explaining the significance of his dancing, which a Brazilian participant attempted to translate. Larry’s spectacular dancing and costume caught the attention of the indigenous Brazilian members of the audience, in particular, who registered very different reactions. The eyes of some of the Maxacalí men followed his every move. The Kaiapó, on the other hand, watched with very serious expressions.
Larry later reported that other indigenous performers were “blown away” by his costume, and were fascinated by his feathers in particular. During non-performance time, young indigenous girls from Brazil, with whom he could not communicate due to the language barriers which separated them, shyly bestowed gifts of jewelry upon him and had their pictures taken with him.