Christina Solstad - Spirit of Chaco Blog

Chaco Canyon Solstice 2008: Acoma Dancers, Pueblo Bonito, Part 4

At the end of the Acoma dances (Cyrus Concho and the Acoma Sky City Group Dancers), the two young woman presented the beautiful pots they had been dancing with to G.B. Cornucopia (park ranger extraordinaire) and to Caroline Brown. This was a complete surprise to them, and a great honor.

Caroline is head of Friends of Native Cultures, and, along with G.B., is responsible for bringing the Pueblo people to Chaco over the last several years for summer solstice. I had the pleasure of volunteering with Friends of Native Cultures this year at Chaco to support the Acoma and Laguna pueblo dancers.

Without Friends of Native Cultures and their volunteers, we would not have the experience of this missing piece of Chaco Canyon - its people. Thank you!

Related posts:

Chaco Canyon Solstice 2008: Acoma Dancers, Pueblo Bonito, Part 1

Chaco Canyon Solstice 2008: Acoma Dancers, Pueblo Bonito, Part 2

Chaco Canyon Solstice 2008: Acoma Dancers, Pueblo Bonito, Part 3

Chaco Canyon Solstice 2008: Acoma Dancers, Pueblo Bonito, Part 3

The young children always capture my eye and my heart.

The Acoma Dancers (Cyrus Concho and the Acoma Sky City Group Dancers) at Pueblo Bonito included two very young girls and a young boy intently helping Cyrus play the music and sing for the dancers.

The two young girls shown above (and below) carried sacred corn and pottery, and sang and danced in place. Look at the lovely shawl of the girl in pink on the left. Fairy tale characters are favorites of little girls everywhere!

The young boy looked older than his years as he focused on his drumming and singing for the dancers.

Related posts:

Chaco Canyon Solstice 2008: Acoma Dancers, Pueblo Bonito, Part 1

Chaco Canyon Solstice 2008: Acoma Dancers, Pueblo Bonito, Part 2

Chaco Canyon Solstice 2008: Acoma Dancers, Pueblo Bonito, Part 4

Chaco Canyon Solstice 2008: Acoma Dancers, Pueblo Bonito, Part 2

As described in the post, Chaco Canyon Solstice 2008: Acoma Dancers, Pueblo Bonito, Part 1, I always love watching the Pueblo dancers at summer solstice sharing their traditional dances.

Here are more photos of Cyrus and the Acoma dancers (Cyrus Concho and the Acoma Sky City Group Dancers dancers at Pueblo Bonito.

Cyrus Concho (see photo above) was playing the drums and singing for the dancers. His son, also named Cyrus, was one of the dancers.

 

One of the two dances performed was the Buffalo Dance. Photos of the Rainbow dance are in the previous post, Chaco Canyon Solstice 2008: Acoma Dancers, Pueblo Bonito, Part 1.

See the next post (part 3 of 4), Chaco Canyon Solstice 2008: Acoma Dancers, Pueblo Bonito, Part 3, for more photos of the Acoma dancers, including the adorable children.

Related posts:

Chaco Canyon Solstice 2008: Acoma Dancers, Pueblo Bonito, Part 1

Chaco Canyon Solstice 2008: Acoma Dancers, Pueblo Bonito, Part 3

Chaco Canyon Solstice 2008: Acoma Dancers, Pueblo Bonito, Part 4

Chaco Canyon Solstice 2008: Acoma Dancers, Pueblo Bonito, Part 1

After a glorious sunrise at Casa Rinconada to begin the day (Chaco Canyon Solstice 2008: Sunrise at Casa Rinconada, Part 1, Chaco Canyon Solstice 2008: Sunrise at Casa Rinconada, Part 2),  Cyrus and the Acoma dancers (Cyrus Concho and the Acoma Sky City Group Dancers) danced two times (11 am and 3 pm) in the great plaza at Pueblo Bonito.

Seeing the contemporary Pueblo people, descendants of the ancient Chacoans, dance their traditional dances among the magnificent stone buildings built 1,000 years ago, fills me with such awe and gratitude, and a greater sense of what life must have been like here long ago.

Even with temperatures in the mid 90s (fahrenheit), and a blazing sun, we had a good crowd gathered for both the morning and afternoon dances. Again, I had the pleasure of helping to park and direct the visitors, and, hopefully adding to their day. I love to have fun while I'm at it!

The heat, and the heavy costumes worn by the Acoma dancers, kept the dances short. I can't imagine how it must have been for them!

The first dance was the Rainbow Dance. Unfortunately, I saw only the end of the afternoon dance, as I was still parking visitors.

I did see the second dance, the Buffalo Dance (see dancers above, and next post: Chaco Canyon Solstice 2008: Acoma Dancers, Pueblo Bonito, Part 2), both in the morning and afternoon. I love these dances.

Here is the overall view of the dancers and visitors at Pueblo Bonito.

Rainbow Dance (note the beautiful rainbow headdresses and costumes)

 

See the next post, Chaco Canyon Solstice 2008: Acoma Dancers, Pueblo Bonito, Part 2, for more photos of Cyrus and the Buffalo Dance. Chaco Canyon Solstice 2008: Acoma Dancers, Pueblo Bonito, Part 3, has additional photos, including the adorable children.

Related posts:

Chaco Canyon Solstice 2008: Acoma Dancers, Pueblo Bonito, Part 2

Chaco Canyon Solstice 2008: Acoma Dancers, Pueblo Bonito, Part 3

Chaco Canyon Solstice 2008: Acoma Dancers, Pueblo Bonito, Part 4

Chaco Canyon Solstice 2008: Sunrise at Casa Rinconada, Part 2

Acoma Dancers

Once the sun reached its solstice marker at Casa Rinconada, Cyrus and the Acoma dancers (Cyrus Concho and the Acoma Sky City Group Dancers) sang and prayed and danced, greeting the sun, praying for all living things. They did as their ancestors did. We were the guests, feeling welcomed and in the presence of the ancient ones.

Moonset, Sunrise

As the sun rose, the moon set. The moon was just past full, shining brightly over the mesa to the south of the great kiva. There is something about seeing the moon, full and plump in the sky, that takes my breath away.

The solstice sun has risen, and begins its journey southward once again. All is well with the world.

Related posts:

Chaco Canyon Solstice 2008: Sunrise at Casa Rinconada, Part 1

Chaco Canyon Solstice 2008: Sunrise at Casa Rinconada, Part 1

Solstice sunrise at Casa Rinconada was glorious.

"Solstice" means "sun stand still." The sun rises at its most northern point on the horizon, virtually in the same spot for several days.

For that reason, we were allowed into the loop road for three consecutive mornings to view the sunrise at Casa Rinconada, giving those who cannot attend on solstice day the chance to also experience the solstice event.

Because the volunteers were there (really) early, we got to see the Acoma dancers preparing in the pre-dawn cold at the parking lot. The sight of those adorable children, dressed in their traditional dress, smiling, excited, and trying to stay warm, was absolutely precious.

The Acoma dancers (Cyrus Concho and the Acoma Sky City Group Dancers) greeted visitors with songs and drumming on solstice morning as they walked up to the magnificent great kiva in silence.

Even though I was still down at the road, helping to greet and park visitors, I could hear the drumming at the kiva, and felt at peace and happy.

Experiencing Summer Solstice

As G.B. Cornucopia reminds us, for most, summer solstice is simply another date on a calendar. For the ancient peoples, it was much more, signaling the start of the sun's journey back to the south, and helping to guide their activities. They knew every movement of the sun, for it was linked to their survival.

For those of us who stood at the edge of the kiva (see photos above), watching the sun's light appear over the northeastern horizon, then slowly making its way across the kiva's western wall, and into a special niche, solstice is an event we have experienced (see photos below).

We watched in awed silence. We felt its sacredness. We felt a kinship with the ancient Chacoans.

 

Related posts:

Chaco Canyon Solstice 2008: Sunrise at Casa Rinconada, Part 2

Back From Chaco Canyon - and Missing It

I am back from my solstice trip to Chaco Canyon. I always love being in the canyon, and always find it difficult to leave. As I get back into my routine and work back home (sort of), I think often of the canyon, and my friends, experiences, and learnings. I always do my best to bring the Chaco magic and energy back into my daily life.

Though Chaco has a funny way of bringing itself into my life.

I have noticed that Chaco and electronics don't seem to coexist very well at times. My smart phone and computer had meltdowns as I left Chaco, with my phone still not working properly. At least I was able to post remotely while at Chaco!

It has actually kept me from returning fully to my routine away from Chaco, and has me focused more on some more heart-centered parts of my life ... perhaps there are some messages here?!

More posts and more photos to come soon! In the meantime, here is a photo of the moon setting behind Casa Rinconada, at a glorious sunrise the day before solstice.