Square Dance Showdown, Gjoa Haven 2013

The kids at school have been JACKED for the past two weeks.  Counting down the number of sleeps until the Square Dance Showdown has preoccupied their every waking moment.  They have been vibrating with anticipation, unable to focus on anything else.  All the cool kids especially the boys (and I'm not being sarcastic) are on dance teams.  They have been practicing their hearts out.  Teachers have been both frustrated and baffled by this phenomena. I mean, I say square dance and my first thought is some old Hungarians at the cottage dancing around the living room in front of the fire to accordion music.  The idea that the social leaders at school all actively practice square dancing and promote the participation of family and friends is mind boggling to me. And yet, no teacher in their right mind would ever discourage students taking pride in something. It would be nice though, if the kids would also participate in school with the same enthusiasm...

One of the visiting teams.  They had really great kamiks (seal skin boots).

I have been craving live music. Like, missing it with my whole heart - craving. I didn't realize that I had been missing it until I sat down at the Square Dance Showdown this weekend and heard the band.  I literally welled up and got goosebumps... for square dance music.  That's how much I missed live music.

The band.  The guy with the fiddle alternated between that and the accordion.  These guys were CHAMPS with some routines running as long as 40 minutes.

The Square Dance Showdown is an intense three day competition that I don't think can accurately be described in words but I will try my best.  

Dance teams come in from all over the Kitikmeot region.  They don't fly in, no, they skidoo hundreds of miles from their own communities to dance.  Baker Lake, Taloyoak, Kugaruk, Kugluktuk, and Rankin Inlet all had teams come to compete. Most communities are a 2-3 day skidoo trip away and most communities sent skidoo caravans with 14+ machines and fully loaded kamatiks (wooden sleds).  Gjoa Haven's population increased by several hundred this weekend with all our guests bunking with friends and family - no one stayed at the hotel.  We actually cancelled school for kids the Monday and Tuesday after The Showdown because of how intense it is... at least we have realistic expectations.  Heck, the  dancing probably won't stop until 3am Sunday night/Monday morning.   

You can see the judges to the right of the spinning couple.

This was an intense fusion between traditional drum dancing that you see in Aboriginal ceremonies, traditional Inuit clothing, and European Folk dancing.  There isn't a caller like in American versions of square dance but a lot of the spins and hand positions are similar to the American Style. 

 Starting at 5pm the dancing goes allll night.  The pictures are from Saturday night and early Sunday morning.  The last team took the floor at 2am... and after that there was a couples square dance competition that each couple paid 5 bucks to dance in.  We didn't stay for that because I heard it wouldn't be over until at least 4am and after sitting on the gym floor for 8 hours I just couldn't do it.  My core hurt from bopping around to the music and my butt hurt from being so closely acquainted with the gym floor for so long.  My hands hurt from clapping to the beat for 8 hours straight and my jaw hurt from biting back the words I really really wanted to use on the children.  Ohhhhh the children.  

Gjoa Haven's youth team made up of kids from grade 6-8

 This event was simultaneously incredible and a nightmare (for a teacher or someone with first aid).  The dancing was incredible. The tiny tot fight club that took place in between dances stressed me right the hell out.  The dance crew would take a bow and leave the floor and at that very moment when the band played their last prolonged note, hundreds of kids would rush the floor and proceed to go B-A-N-A-N-A-S.  Full out youth mosh-pits filled with angry aggressive 4 and 5 year olds where kids would literally be dropped on their heads, get up close-line the dropper and fight club it out all without any parental intervention despite them being conveniently seated within arms reach. My weekend mantra went something like: "I'm not in charge, they are not my kids.  I'm not in charge, they are not my kids."  At one point I had to cover my eyes and my housemate Kelli leaned over and asked me which part was affecting me: the fist fights? or one kid strangling another kid?  
Picture a conga line with mixed martial arts liberally sprinkled in.

I had a hard time articulating. But I was somewhat calmed by the fact I wasn't the only one mentally climbing the walls at the live portrayal of The Hunger Games during intermissions.      

Gjoa Haven's Adult Team. Instead of Seal Skin Kamiks, these dancers favoured Dene style moccasins.

Overall it was an incredible weekend.  The music and dancing gave me some much needed excitement. My entire body hurts today and I didn't even dance. I'm really glad I got to see The Square Dance Showdown 2013.