Dancing with the president

September 8, 2015

So, just how did a 4-H dance group in Dillingham end up dancing with the president?

President Obama And Bristol Bay Native Association CEO Ralph Andersen dance with the 4-H Native Dance Group. White House photo by Pete Souza.

Bristol Bay 4-H Coordinator Deanna Baier said the 4-H Native Dance Group, which danced with President Obama on Wednesday, grew out of the 4-H Summer Youth Culture Camp. Bristol Bay Native Association Chief Executive Officer Ralph Andersen asked instructor Sophie Woods to continue dancing with the youth in case an opportunity arose to dance for the president.

The dancers, including others from the elementary school, practiced weekly. As the schedule was set for Obama's visit, all the youth, parents and leaders needed to be cleared with background checks for security in a very short time period. “Security was intense,” Baier said.

At first only a few youth were selected, due to the small space available. But a week before the visit, the president's staff saw the group perform at a community event and were convinced that all 30 youths needed to be included. They found a larger space to host Obama.

On the day Obama arrived, Baier said, the youths were ready and waiting by 10:30 a.m. “We waited patiently in a classroom until the president arrived and we were led into the gym to dance at around 1:20 p.m. The kids and parents were so excited!” she said.

Baier said the group performed four Native dances. The last one, traditionally an invitational dance for community members to join the group, was nixed by the Secret Service as it might compromise the president's safety. But when the president was told of the tradition, he chose to join the group and dance. He spoke to the audience and posed for a group photo with the dance group. Sitting on the floor, the kids crowded around him, then assisted him to his feet. He shook hands with everyone in the group and hugged Sophie, the dance leader.

Baier said the president did not practice beforehand with the group. "He just picked up the dance and was a natural."

4-H is a national youth leadership development program administered by the University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service.

See the video from the Alaska Dispatch News.