During American Indian week, American Indian Programs hosted many events. On March. 20, they organized a country dance night, they showcased line dancing and how the new tradition has shaped their culture.
Michael Ray, director of American Indian Programs, gave insight on what country dancing and line dancing mean for their community.
“Country dancing and line dancing is a cultural past time of many tribal communities that are close to ‘border towns (Albuquerque, Gallup, Santa Fe, Farmington, etc.) and have been part of ‘new traditions’ that many of our communities continue,” Ray said.
Former Miss Native American NMSU Shaylyn Smith, talked about her love for dance and how she wanted to leave her position with a memorable night full of life.
“I have a deep love for dancing, it’s my way to unwind, de-stress, and clear my mind. Through the dance lessons, I saw an opportunity to share with the NMSU community that staying active can be both enjoyable and refreshing, offering a unique and fun way to connect to others,” Smith said. “I hoped to make my final night as the 2024-2025 Miss Native American NMSU truly unforgettable, leaving a lasting impact through my dance lessons, something that people would carry with them and look back on fondly.”
Michelle Lonasee, student program coordinator for American Indian Programs, gave a closer look to how Smith left her mark through this event.
“The Country Dance Night was an incredibly enjoyable event to organize, especially for the 2024-2025 Miss Native American NMSU. She stepped out of her comfort zone, engaging actively with both NMSU and Las Cruces communities. Shay’s dancing skills truly shone during the event, leaving a memorable impression on everyone who attended,” Lonasee said.
Lonasee shared the thoughts she had during the organization process of the dance night.
“Having worked with the American Indian Program, I found myself reflecting on my own experiences as a student and an active member of student organizations. I wanted this event to show students that we have the ability to embrace change and try something different, something memorable and impactful,” Lonasee said.
Smith had the same sentiment as Lonasee, expressing that she wanted to create something memorable and something new for students to experience.
“I wanted students to immerse themselves in the music and step outside of their comfort zones, especially those who might not usually experience the unique energy of live bands compared to a DJ. It was about creating a fun and memorable atmosphere for everyone involved,” Smith said.
Ray also gave his thoughts on what he hoped students would get out of the dance night, and all other events that occurred throughout American Indian Week.
“Like with a lot of American Indian Week, we want to expand the understanding of Native American culture beyond a couple of paragraphs that is in the history books we got as high schoolers and expand the idea of native communities in the past. Provide a glimpse of parallel community activities that transcend norms that might have been put in place by popular culture or mainstream media,” Ray said.
Smith mentioned how live bands were a big part of her community and explained she wanted to bring that overall feeling of community to the event.
“I proposed the idea of a live band to Michelle, as it brought a unique touch, a band from my hometown. Reservation bands have a distinct sound that sets them apart from the usual bands you’d encounter here, and I wanted to share that special vibe with the community,” Smith said.
Lonasee described the process of deciding to go with a band instead of a DJ, and how they found just the right band for the job.
“Initially it was a bit challenging as we debated whether to go with a DJ or a live band, factoring in both the vibe we wanted, and the costs involved. Once we decided on a live band, the challenge became finding the right one,” Lonasee said. “That’s when Shay suggested a group [The Desert Diamond Band] from her hometown, Pueblo of Laguna, NM I reached out to them and before we knew it, they agreed to make the four-hour drive south to perform for us. It was the perfect choice, and everything came together beautifully in the end.”
Lonasee left the event with gratitude to other programs from the university and around the city.
“On behalf of the American Indian Program and the 2024-2025 Miss Native American NMSU, Shaylyn Smith, I extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Latin American Programs and the City of Las Cruces Baila for their incredible partnership in making this event possible,” Lonasee said.
