An unexpected spring blizzard kept the Chefornak dancers from performing as planned at the 2001 Cama-i Dance Festival.

Chefornak's women were able to fly into Bethel just as the storm was starting to cancel flights in the area. But the men - the group's drummers and singers - were stuck in Chefornak.

While some groups might have been inhibited by the absence of the male half of their group, the women of Chefornak decided the show must go on.

"The women made it in and performed alone. They drummed, sang and danced without the men," Cama-i organizer Linda Curda said.

Women's primary role in traditional Yup'ik Eskimo dancing is as a dancer. It's unusual for a woman to drum and sing and the practice is commonly frowned upon.

“We were so proud of them,” Curda said. “It was wonderful.”

The men were finally able to make it to Bethel on Sunday afternoon. They rushed to Bethel Regional High's gymnasium and performed twice as a complete group before the festival ended.

While demand for an opportunity to perform at Cama-i from groups from the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta is high, organizers thought it was only fair to give Chefornak another chance to perform. "They certainly didn't get their full opportunity to perform and that's why we're bringing them back again," Curda said.

Chefornak, which is located in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta on the south bank of the Kinia River, at its junction with the Keguk River, has performed at the 1992, 1996, 1999 and 2001 Cama-i festivals.

Chefornak's dance group is known by its Yup'ik name, Caputnguarmiut Yurartait. The groups leader is Sam Flynn. "Dancing has been going on as long as I can remember," Flynn said. "It's been our traditional culture even before I was born.

Caputnguarmiut Yurartait will perform on Saturday at 3:10 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.,
Sunday at 1:05 p.m. and 1:45 p.m.