The Tongva Dancers celebrate the songs and dances, rituals and ceremonies of
pre-European Tovangar: the culture and world of the Tongva, the indigenous people of the Los Angeles basin. This
world, comprised of hundreds of villages and towns, stretched from what is now Newport Beach to Malibu and as far
Northeast as San Bernardino and Northwest into the San Fernando valley. It included the four Southern Channel Islands.
You may be familiar with some Tongva place names, such as Cahuenga, Topanga, Tujunga, Cucamonga, and Azusa.
Founded in the spring of 1995, the Tongva Dancers perform under the auspices of the Gabrielino Tongva Tribal Council.
Dancers of all ages make up the dance company -- from elders to children. The company's handmade regalia, the songs,
dances and music are all created from an extensive ongoing research program into Tongva history and culture.
The Tongva Dancers have primarily danced at such tribal-nation events and ceremonies as their annual Pinon Festival
and Naming Ceremony. They have appeared at the San Diego Grunion Festival at Pacific Beach, the Calabasas Pumpkin
Festival the Basket Weavers' Association gathering, the San Gabriel Mission Fiesta, the San Dimas Juana Maria Gathering
of the Acorn People, and numerous city parades. Recently they danced at the dedication of the "Bosque del
Rancho de Don Daniel" on the Rio Hondo River and at Cal State Long Beach.
It has been said that "all Tongva are Dancers", because of the importance of dance as a ritualistic way
of attaining harmony with nature, placating adversity, celebrating events, expiating tragedy, and explanation and
initiation. The Dancers are thus vital to the revival of Tongva language, culture and ceremonies. |