The Native American Dance & Music Festival is Ganondagan's annual summer event that features a wide range of Native American traditional dancers, musicians, storytellers, and artists sharing their cultural heritage, crafts and arts with festival goers.

This event also features the ever popular children and adult workshops such as cornhusk doll making, native foods such as fry-bread, interpreted programs in the Visitor's Center and Bark Longhouse, guided trail walks, and the family drum jam.

Ganondagan's Native American Dance & Music Festival is the only event of its kind in Western New York and over 4,000 people attend each year from 37 countries and 20 states.

Admission

2012 Festival Features

Each year we will bring world-class entertainers and artisans to our festival. This year's festival features:

Featured Preformers (To Be Announced)
• Family Drum Jam
• Iroquois Social Dancing with Ganondagan's Spirit Dancers and Buffalo Creek Dancers
• Storytelling with Barbara Bethmann Mahooty & Perry Ground
• Master Artisan Demonstrations
• Workshops - Native Flute Playing, Cornhusk Doll (adult & child levels)
• Shopping - Native Art Market, Giftshop, and more
• Wegmans Family Discovery Area
• Ganondagan State Historic Site Programs
• Native Food Vendors and Cooking Demonstrations
• Raffle - Popular funraiser each year featuring art & collectible items
• Educational Displays & Presentations

Additional Information

• Services for deaf and hearing impaired festival attendees
• Driving Directions
• Parking

Iroquois Social Dancing

Iroquois Social dances are performed in a circle, in a counter clockwise direction, and often require partners. Each dance has its own story and can be learned by joining in, following the line, humming along, letting the feet follow other feet, and going with the flow. Some of the dances give honor and respect to the animals, fish, and birds-like the Fish Dance, the Raccoon Dance, and the Duck Dance. The Women's Shuffle Dances gives honor to the women. Some dances have been adopted from other tribes and incorporated into Iroquois social dances such as the Alligator Dance, the Round Dance, and the Delaware Stick Dance. Singers for social dance songs are usually men.

Ganondagan's Spirit Dancers

This urban Native American youth/adult dance group was formed in 1995 as a way to teach youth about their culture and traditions. The Spirit Dancers have become ambassadors for Ganondagan. They have performed traditional Iroquois social dances for schools and festivals throughout the area, and have traveled to New Mexico and California sharing their culture through performance. In 1998, the Young Spirit Dancers (now called 'Spirit Dancers') had the privilege of performing for former First Lady, Hillary Rodham Clinton and in 2002 for the National Museum of the American Indian's Children's Festival in New York City.

Buffalo Creek Dancers

The Buffalo Creek Dance Group began in 1988 as a way to provide an opportunity for Native American youth to learn, participate, and become proficient in their traditional Iroquois Social Dances. In addition, members of this group have learned the dances of the Nations to the West (Pow Wow Style). Many of the youth/adults in this group have won dance competitions for their particular categories at Pow Wow's across the country. Respected by Natives and non-Natives, the Buffalo Creek Dancers perform at many schools, colleges, festivals, and Pow Wows throughout the United States and Canada.

Family Drum Jam

Ganondagan is always proud to present the exceedingly popular Family Drum Jam featuring some of Rochester's premiere percussionists and one energized emcee, Steve Appleton from Generation Cool, who bring LOADS of percussive instruments from varied cultures plus djembe's and other 3-foot high drums - for EVERYONE to play! Not only will the audience hear the magnetic and pulse-pounding tunes from Ghana, all over the Caribbean Islands, African and even Latino riffs - but families and individuals get to join in - on authentic drums from these cultures!

Storytelling

Through the careful weaving of stories, storytellers bring the past, present and future together. Children listen, learn, and remember. Native American history and culture comes alive in this entertaining, educational, and inspirational program. Please stop by and listen to legends of the Iroquois with Perry Ground and Barbara Bethmann Mahooty.

Perry Ground (Onondaga, Turtle Clan)

Perry is a Turtle Clan member of the Onondaga Nation. He is a dynamic storyteller who brings his stories and understanding of Haudenosaunee traditions to life through vivid descriptions, his rhythmic voice, and energetic stage presence. He will also explain the tradition and history of storytelling itself. He has been telling stories for over 18 years as a means of educating people about his culture, beliefs, and history. Perry learned most of the stories he shares from elders. Professionally he has worked in several museums, taught at Syracuse and Cornell Universities, and currently is director of the Rochester City School District's Native American Resource Center.

Barbara Bethmann Mahooty (Akwesasne Mohawk, Snipe Clan)

Barbara Bethmann Mahooty is an Akwesasne Mohawk, Snipe Clan, and traditional storyteller. Barbara learned her craft from traditional storytellers and has presented cultural programs at schools, festivals, Pow Wows, and organizations throughout NYS for several decades. Active in the Rochester Native community she is an original coordinator of the annual Canandaigua Treaty Commemoration (active treaty between the U.S. and Iroquois Confederacy) and past Director of the Rush Henrietta School District's Native American program. She has been telling stories for over 25 years. She lives in Henrietta, NY.

Demonstrations & Workshops

Traditional Arts Demonstrations

Traditional Master Native artisans will demonstrate their crafts and traditions. See the schedule for information on the demonstration times.

Traditional Arts Workshops

This year we are featuring 2 traditional arts workshops: Cornhusk Doll making for adults and Cornhusk Doll making for children.

See the program and signs at the festival for cost, times, and registration information.

Native Flute Playing Workshop

And new this year we are having a Native Flute Playing Workshop both days with William Harjo. Bring your own flute or buy one from the Native American flute vendors.

William Harjo is a member of the Creek Nation at Okmulgee Oklahoma. William grew up McIntosh county OK with cultural ceremonies and speaking only his Creek language till he started 1st grade. He is an award winning flute maker. William has had the honor of displaying and playing his hand made flutes four times at Smithsonian venues.

William is a self taught flute player and willing to share his technique on how to master the Native American Flute.

Shopping

Artists' Tents

The performers will be selling their CD's, tapes, books, etc. as well as providing greeting and signing opportunities.

Gift Shop & Merchandise Tent

The Friends of Ganondagan's gift shop will be open and featuring Native music, books, arts, and more throughout the festival. Stop by the main giftshop or the merchandise tent next to the main performance tent.

Native American Art Market

This unique shopping experience brings together some of the most gifted traditional and contemporary Native artists of the region, U.S., and Canada.

As part of each year's Festival, dozens of the most gifted traditional and contemporary Native Artists from across the U.S. and Canada will exhibit at the show.

Ganondagan State Historic Site Programs

Throughout the entire festival the Visitor's Center will showcase various historical and cultural videos. These screenings are free.

Guided Trail Walks will be held throughout the festival. Experienced trail guides will share the beauty and history of the site with festival goers. These trail walks are free with festival admission.

17th Century Seneca Bark Longhouse Tours will be on-going throughout the entire festival. Site interpreters will share information on the history of the site and on Haudenosaunee culture. These tours are free with festival admission.

Food

Native Food Vendors

The festival food vendors sell both traditional and contemporary foods that are not repeated at any other local event!

Be sure to look for Indian Tacos, fry-bread, venison sausage, Iroquois corn soup, strawberry shortcake, and more!

Cooking Demonstrations

Each day we will feature live cooking demonstrations. Please see the program for more details and times.

Wegmans Family Discovery Area

Wegmans Family Discovery Area will have activities for the whole family to take part in that center around the idea "healthy earth, healthy bodies." Featured will be crafts and activities using recycled items (what treasures are in your recycle bin?) as well as a display on healthy snacking that has lots of items to nibble and try! Come have fun, learn, & be an Earth hero!

Family Discovery Area sponsored by

Raffle

This is a popular attraction each year. The raffle features donated items of: art, jewelry, handicrafts, gift items, and more. There are unique items featured every year in this Friends of Ganondagan fund-raiser.

Sign Language Interpreters

All performers in the Main Tent have sign language interpreters for deaf and hearing impaired festival attendees. Please see the complete schedule at the admissions tent as well as being able to sign up for additional interpreter services.

Parking & Shuttle Service

Handicapped parking is also available at the Historic Site. There is Festival Grounds Shuttle Service for the elderly and handicapped.

Festival parking is at Fireman's Field, off of Maple Avenue in Victor, NY. Follow festival signs from Route 96 in Victor or see the map link below.

Driving Directions

Please refer to the map below for general driving directions to the Ganondagan State Historic Site and Native American Dance and Music Festival grounds.