Intertribal Dance Enterprise to Perform at Schaefer Center

Intertribal Dance Collective Indigenous Enterprise Showcases Native American Culture through Dynamic Powwow, Fancy Dress and Jingle Dress Dance

 The critically acclaimed troupe performs at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts on Thursday, Nov. 16 at 7pm.

BOONE, NC — The Schaefer Center Presents series, presented by Appalachian State University’s Office of Arts and Cultural Programs, welcomes intertribal collective Indigenous Enterprise in “Indigenous Liberation,” an evening of powwow, fancy dress and jingle dress dance, Nov. 16 at 7pm at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts. Showcasing traditional dance with dazzling regalia and a contemporary flair, the Phoenix, Arizona-based dance troupe brings their rich cultural heritage to life with a dynamic performance of dance and song that is rooted in tradition but flavored with cotemporary hip-hop, bounce and attitude.

Tickets are $28, $23 for local residents of Ashe, Avery and Watauga counties/App State Faculty/Staff, and $10 for all students and children. Purchase at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts, online at theschaefercenter.org, or by calling 828-262-4046.

Since its founding eight years ago, the group has commanded attention: It had a cameo in the 2016 music video “Stand Up/Stand N Rock” with Taboo of the Black Eyed Peas and performed at the Sydney Opera House in 2019. In recent years, Indigenous Enterprise has appeared on the TV competition World of Dance, in the virtual inauguration parade for President Biden, and during the NBA finals.

Indigenous Enterprise co-founder and company leader Kenneth Shirley, a Navajo dancer, was taken to powwows by his mother, a Fancy Shawl dancer. Shirley’s specialty, the Fancy Dance, is an athletic style done in multiple feathered bustles. Fellow dancer Acosia Red Elk, from the Umatilla tribe in Oregon, is a champion powwow dancer, dominating the Jingle Dance category. For that dance, women wear dresses festooned with rows of jingly metal cones. Most of the powwow dances are healing dances, whether danced as stress relief or as a kind of prayer for those who can’t dance. Shirley describes the group’s style as “Native American with a little bit of hip-hop,” discernible in footwork and bounce, as well as attitude. Grounded in tradition but imbued with an improvisational flair, Indigenous Enterprise’s dances stretch the assumption of what a Native American dance troupe can be. In interviews, Shirley has repeatedly emphasized how the group aims to hype up the crowd, urging the crowd to “make some noise,” in the vein of a rock concert. Yet amidst all the flair and flash, Indigenous Enterprise never loses sight of the company’s aim, says Shirley, which is to “increase Native American representation. … to be seen and for Native kids to see that they are included.”

About Indigenous Enterprise
Indigenous Enterprise is a Phoenix, Arizona-based Native American inter­tribal dance troupe founded in 2015 with a mission to share the culture of Indigenous people and increase the understanding of Native identity through film, fashion, and dance. Since their founding, Indigenous Enterprise has become one of the most dynamic and exciting cultural companies in the world. Their performances have captivated audiences at some of the most iconic venues and events, including the Super Bowl, Sydney Opera House, Joyce Theater, and the 2020 Presidential Inauguration. They have received critical acclaim from publications such as The New York Times and Vogue magazine for their captivating performances and stunning visual artistry.

In addition to their dance performances, Indigenous Enterprise has also made a name for itself in the fashion world, with a successful clothing line that showcases the beauty and richness of Native American culture. Their unique designs have gained a loyal following of fans who appreciate their unique blend of tradition and contemporary fashion. Indigenous Enterprise is also a film production company, creating stunning visual storytelling for clients such as the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Phoenix Suns. Their creative vision has been showcased in music videos, commercials, and promotional content. The company is currently in devel­opment on a television show that promises to bring their unique perspec­tive and creative vision to a wider audience. Through their work, Indigenous Enterprise is dedicated to preserving and promoting indigenous culture in a positive and inspiring way.

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Indigenous Liberation was made possible by the New England Foundation for the Arts’ National Dance Project, with lead funding from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

SPRING 2024 SEASON

ON SALE THURSDAY, NOV. 9 AT 10AM!

All performances take place at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts at 7:30pm.

WESTERN PIEDMONT SYMPHONY: CARMINA BURANA

Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024
Western Piedmont Symphony ­— Matthew Troy, music conductor
The Appalachian State University Singers — Dr. Jake Taylor, conductor
The Appalachian Chorale — Dr. DaVaughn Miller, conductor
One of classical music’s most spellbinding and immersive experiences, and the most frequently performed choral work of the 21^st century, Carmina Burana is an epic, captivating choral masterpiece. A massive orchestra and huge choruses join forces for Carl Orff’s infamous ode to love, drink, and living life to the fullest. Tickets: $28 Adults, $23 Local residents of Ashe, Avery and Watauga counties and App State Faculty/Staff, $10 Students/Children

URBAN BUSH WOMEN — 40^th Anniversary: Legacy + Lineage + Liberation

Friday, Feb. 16, 2024

Legacy + Lineage + Liberation celebrates the power of Women(+) in an evening of new and classic works that transcend genres and amplify the voices of Women(+) of color. The program features iconic works giving multiple dimensions of life that resonate in this time of reflection around equity and justice, and that lift up Black lives in inspiring ways. Tickets: $28 Adults, $23 Local residents of Ashe, Avery and Watauga counties and App State Faculty/Staff, $10 Students/Children

ASHLEY MCBRYDE

Friday, March 1, 2024
Grammy Award winner Ashley McBryde straddles lines between traditional country, rock-tinged roots and point-blank biker-bar riffs. The Grand Ole Opry member stops in Boone as part of a national tour celebrating McBryde’s critically acclaimed latest album, The Devil I Know. Tickets: $43 Standard, $38 App State Faculty/Staff, $20 Students/Children

SING & SWING: A JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER PRESENTS PRODUCTION

Tuesday, March 5, 2024
This new touring project celebrates the Great American Songbook with vocalists and trumpeters Bria Skonberg and Benny Benack III — and a who’s who of New York all-stars — as they re-imagine songs by Ella Fitzgerald, Judy Garland, Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, George Gershwin, Duke Ellington, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin and more. Tickets: $28 Adults, $23 Local residents of Ashe, Avery and Watauga counties and App State Faculty/Staff, $10 Students/Children

INDIGO GIRLS

Friday, April 12, 2024
One of the most successful folk–rock duos in history. Over a 35-year career, the multi-Grammy-winning duo of Emily Saliers and Amy Ray — whose power single “Closer to Fine” is enjoying newfound popularity with a new generation thanks to the Barbie movie — has recorded 16 studio albums, sold over 15 million records, and built a dedicated, enduring following across the globe. Tickets: $48 Standard, $43 App State Faculty/Staff, $20 Students/Children

SNARKY PUPPY

with Natalie Cressman & Ian Faquini

Saturday, April 20, 2024
Founded in 2004, Snarky Puppy — a boisterous, joyful collective with as many as 20 members in regular rotation — combines a variety of jazz idioms, rock, world music, and funk, and has won five Grammy Awards (Best R&B Performance in 2014, and Best Contemporary Instrumental Album in 2016, 2017, 2021, and 2023). At its core, the band represents the convergence of both black and white American music culture with various accents from around the world. Tickets: $43 Standard, $38 App State Faculty/Staff, $20 Students/Children

Tickets: Purchase in person at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts (733 Rivers St), online at theschaefercenter.org, or call 828.262.4046.

About “The Schaefer Center Presents”

“The Schaefer Center Presents” series offers campus and community audiences a diverse array of music, dance and theatre programming designed to enrich the cultural landscape of the Appalachian State University campus and surrounding area. By creating memorable performance experiences and related educational and outreach activities, the series promotes the power and excitement of the live performance experience; provides a “window on the world” through the artistry of nationally and internationally renowned artists; and showcases some of the finest artists of our nation and our region. Musical events range from symphony orchestra and chamber music performances to jazz, folk, traditional, international, and popular artists. Theatre productions run the gamut from serious drama to musical comedy. Dance performances offer an equally wide array of styles, from ballet to modern dance to international companies representing cultural traditions from around the world. For more information, visit http://theschaefercenter.org.

Thank You to Our Schaefer Center Presents Sponsors

Explore Boone, Campus Store, Hampton Inn & Suites, Courtyard by Marriott, Our State Magazine, PBS North Carolina, High Country Radio (WZJS and WATA), WDAV 89.9 FM, WFDD 88.5FM, WKSK The Farm, and WASU 90.5FM.