Fancy Dancer age 72 Ben Boyd

Fancy Dance by Ben Boyd who has been Native Dancing since the age of six and is now 72 and still Fancy Dancing just as well. This performance was at the 2016 Festival of Native Arts at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
Shot by George Koontz with cell phone.
I started fancy dancing in the 50.s when the style of dancing and Regalia was different than today. We wore head dresses called Feather Crests and matching Bustles made from fluffs. Later in the 60's we switched to wearing hair roaches with eagle feather swing bustles. I still ware this same style today but have tried to up-date my dancing style to the more modern style of today thought I am sure that the old style still comes out as I have been dancing it for over 60's years. It seems that two of the main differences between the old style and the style of today is the use of whip sticks moving with the arm motion and the constant bobbing of the head with eagle feathers on a rocker, in the middle of the hair roach,moving with the head motion. I am an Elder, so I ware my roach like an Elder without feathers in the middle and no headband. I don't think we bobbed our heads like that when we wore feather crests. Some of them, mine included, were pretty big and heavy. I think in the 60's there was some head bobbing, but not as much as today. I still move my head more like it was done back then. I tried moving my head like they do today, but I am old and it made my neck sore. I have though, tried to incorporate the whip sticks into my dance as I like the extra body movement it makes. I have read comments on UA-cam about different fancy dances with people discussing whether dancers are doing the steps the right way. I don't know or not, if today some people think fancy dancing is like a bunch of solders marching and they are suppose to all do the steps the same way but in the old days fancy dancing was a "free form dance" where dancers could do anything they wanted as long as they kept time with the drum and ended on the last beat. Dancers like Elmer Brown, a World Champ, who was my friend, even did back flips in time to the beat. That was part of it to come with original moves and steps and have your own style. Like I said, some folks seem today to think everyone is suppose to do everything a certain way. There is an interview with George Alexander, who is one of the best dancers today, where he said the same thing I am saying. When I was a teenager I use to dance along side and pick up steps from Charles Chibity, another Worlds Champ. I was never that great of a fancy dancer and have always mainly been a Hoop Dancer and fancy danced mostly to get in shape for my Hoop Dance. I made a lot of money Hoop Dancing for tourist when I was a teenager and am still doing the same thing here in Alaska today. I am sure I can in no way compare with the young dancers of today, but "what you see is what you get" and "what you see" is someone 72 fancy dancing, and "what you get" is someone at that age who can still at least fancy dance a little bit. I would not be in shape to do that if it were not for the fact that I lived my entire middle age out in the wilderness making a living hunting, fishing, trapping, using only a sled dog team for transportation. About 50% of the lively hood of most Native Alaskans still comes from hunting and fishing. This has helped them to maintain their traditional culture and young people show a great respect for Elders. I thank them for showing me that respect and support for my dancing. You might hear them whiseling and yelling when I am dancing which helps to drive me on to keep dancing. Now, I have retired from living in the wilderness and am making a living in tourist business again. By the way, the little guy out there fancy dancing with me, his name is Ben also, so what you see is two Bens dancing.
Your can see me Hoop Dance at: / boydcommunicat. .
My website: www.benboydalas...
I am Elder Advisor for the Midnight Sun Powwow here in Fairbanks, Alaska that will be held July 8-10 2011. Come and dance in the Midnight Sun with us. More info at:
/ midnigh. .