ZUNI, NM (Sept. 25, 2023) — On Friday, Sept. 15, the Zuni Youth Enrichment Project launched a seven-week community program designed to bring people together for an hour of movement and music. Called O:dip’sheh, or Dance Medicine, the free program is held every Friday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in Ho’n A:wan Park, and it will conclude on Friday, Oct. 27.
Seventy-four community members are registered to date, and new participants are always welcome. On opening night, ZYEP welcomed community members as well as youth, family and friends from neighboring communities; Zuni Royalty also were in attendance. Then, on the second Friday of the program, the youth project welcomed Cloud Eagle Drum Group from Jemez Pueblo.
Behind Dance Medicine is Kenzi Bowekaty, one of ZYEP’s food sovereignty leaders. Bowekaty observed the positive community energy during the Zumba dance activities at last year’s Buddy Walk and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives Walk, and she said she quickly realized her community needs more opportunities like these.
“After being on pause during Covid, I think we’ve all been missing each other and missing that connection,” she reflected. “We need to come together, to be together. And, we love to dance and sing!”
This summer, Bowekaty came up with the idea of bringing community members together weekly to listen and dance to traditional music. While attending the NB3 Healthy Kids, Healthy Futures conference, she attended a presentation by Anthony Fleg, founder of Running Medicine; she said his perspective, experience and success inspired her.
“Dance Medicine was just a dream at the time, but with that motivation, it helped bring the dream to life,” she said.
A program of the Native Health Initiative, Running Medicine is based on the understanding that movement is a powerful medicine for mind, body and spirit. It also encourages a culture of wellness through a supportive, loving community.
“Dance Medicine is aligned with Running Medicine in that way,” Bowekaty said. “We shared the same perspective. We find medicines we need in movement, and within each other.”
Each session of Dance Medicine begins with stretching and meditation, accompanied by slower songs. Then the upbeat music begins, allowing participants of all ages and abilities to jump and dance.
“Some people love to exercise, but they don’t want to do cardio, and traditional social dancing isn’t an option,” Bowekaty said. “Dance Medicine changes that.
“We all end in a circle as well, with more stretching and meditation,” she continued. “After the stretching, the whole circle comes to meet one another, to thank each and every individual for sharing their medicine and also to share good words of encouragement.”
Bowekaty said she and the ZYEP team also are planning to hold a 2nd annual Buddy Walk/Zumba event for Down Syndrome awareness in late October. More details will be available in the weeks to come.
To learn more about the Zuni Youth Enrichment Project and its programs, and for information about making donations, partnering with ZYEP, and volunteering, call (505) 782-8000 or visit zyep.org. And, to stay up to date on the latest news and events, follow the nonprofit youth organization on Facebook (/zuniyouthenrichmentproject), Instagram (@zuniyouthenrichmentproject), YouTube (/ZuniYouth), and TikTok (/zyep09)
Founded in 2009, the nonprofit Zuni Youth Enrichment Project is dedicated to promoting resilience among Zuni youth so they will grow into strong, healthy adults who are connected with Zuni traditions. ZYEP fulfills its mission by providing positive role models, enriching programs, and nurturing spaces that contribute to the healthy development of Zuni youth. ZYEP strives to provide every child with the encouragement and opportunities they need to reach their full potential.
