On pointe: from hoop dancing to ballet, one teen girl does it all

As an Indigenous person and a dancer, she appreciates that there is more to it than just the ability to move well. There are things to say.

“Also, I think the storytelling that comes with how our dancing each style has its own story. It’s a story that you’re telling when you dance and people get to see that in their own way,” she explained.

“I think the storytelling part of it is something that has always connected me to dancing, drawn me to it, I think that also comes with roots in power dancing.”

“I started dancing when we were living in Canada. I started out with ballet, and I just continued that. And then, since I could walk, my parents have been bringing me to pow wows, so I’ve been pow wow dancing.”

When ballet meets hoop dancing…Niyana Harris is not shy about loving both. (Harper Digital Photography)

Niyana’s mother, Penny and her sisters are all Ahtahkakoop members and her dad, Bartley Harris, is from Peguis First Nation in Manitoba.

“We are incredibly proud of our daughter for the dedication and passion she brings to her dancing. Her commitment not only to the art itself, but also to sharing and celebrating her culture through dance, is truly inspiring,” said the Harris’

“Watching her grow both as a performer and a cultural ambassador has been a joy and we’re excited to see what the future holds for as she continues on her journey at university and beyond.”

The Sugar Plum Fairy is a very challenging role for ballet dancers and a very well-known one.

“I got to be the Sugar Plum Fairy, which is the most advanced role in the production,” she said. “I got to that on pointe in ballet with my studio and as a senior in high school and it was a pretty big achievement for me.”

Physically, Niyana prepared herself by maintaining her technique and strength in her feet and body to do pointe, ballet and keep her stamina up.

She also had a big challenge dancing with a male partner, which she had never done until this year. He was very helpful with tips and techniques to smooth out her performance.

It is also only the second time an Indigenous dancer as performed at that level in the United States, according to a social media post from Ahtahkakoop recognizing the achievement.

None of it came without some time, commitment and hard work though. Niyana and her troupe began practicing in August in order to be ready for the Christmas season.

“All of that hard work and the summer before and all of the years have training have built up to that,” she said.

Several years ago, she started hoop dancing and now does that competitively around the southwestern Unites States.

She recently was accepted into Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah where she will major in dance.

“I’m going to continue dancing ballet and there’s an Indigenous dance group there with Native American, Polynesian and Latin dancers – I just recently also got a spot on that team as well so that will be exciting.”

The family will be travelling to Saskatchewan this summer and Niyana will have a chance to build her relationships, a key requirement for her to realize another dream; to have her own dance company and teach other children including Indigenous youngsters .

“I want to be dancing and performing as long as I can,” she said. “I know that with ballet and doing hoop dancing and doing power dancing, I’ll always have that in my life to continue.”

“That would be really great. I’d love to be an example, and I think all it takes is just practice and lessons, so even giving them the opportunity for that would be amazing.”

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com

On BlueSky: @susanmcneil.bsky.social

by Susan McNeil

On pointe: from hoop dancing to ballet, one teen girl does it all

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