“Yuraryaraq Yugtun”
The Art of Yup’ik Dancing
by Pauline Natalia Walter Haas (Tutmalria) *

“Yup’ik dancing is an expression of art, by communicating visually, by displaying movement for meaning, and by getting words across to the mind, enhancing the imagination of the story being told. The dancers are the instruments of depicting the scene or event. Yup’ik dancing requires right and left hand coordination, and is structurally organized so that the right movements are always done first, creating a symmetry, or balance of movement.
Yup’ik dance has “many” individual pieces, composed of the yuarun (chorus) which is sung eight times; the apalluk (verses) which are sung twice; and, the cauyarialnguq (displays motion to music with no singing) which is performed four times. The drummer directs the dancers with demonstrative action words that pertain to the cauyarialnguq of a particular song. As the song progresses, the motions increase in tempo and sharpness. Usually right before the song is sung for dancers to dance, the drummer introduces the song. This is called mengla, the preliminary singing to familiarize the audience. During this stage, it is customary during more formal events for dancers to stand through the beginning by leg flexing (uyungsuaq) and change from right to left hand motions with the end of the piece. Repeated pamyuas (requests for repetition “encore”) add to the number of times a piece (cauyarialnguq) is performed.
The best thing about Yup’ik dancing is that there is the positive encouragement to participate, resulting in a feeling of one belonging to a selfless contribution of making others happy.”
* Excerpt from The Face of Dance by Lynn Ager Wallen. Visit the Bethel library for more information on Yup’ik dance and festivals