The second dance festival honoring the five renowned Native American ballerinas from Oklahoma known as the Five Moons will be held Sept. 9-11 at the First Americans Museum in Oklahoma City and on the University of Oklahoma Norman campus.

The five ballerinas–Maria Tallchief, Marjorie Tallchief, Rosella Hightower, Moscelyne Larkin and Yvonne Chouteau–created distinguished careers in the dance world during the 20th century. This year’s festival will highlight Moscelyne Larkin and her legacy.

Larkin, a member of the Shawnee-Peoria tribe, co-founded the Tulsa Ballet with her husband, Roman Jasinski, in 1956. In honor of Larkin, the Shawnee variation from The Four Moons will be performed by an OU dance student.

The Five Moons Dance Festival aims to inspire the community’s interest in learning more about the Five Moons’ remarkable accomplishments and to provide a platform for female-identifying choreographers from historically underrepresented populations to present their work, thereby contributing to the future of female leadership in dance.

The festival will include an opening reception on Sept. 9 at Thirty-Nine Restaurant inside the First Americans Museum as well as a series of discussions and educational events with Peoria members, dance artists, and scholars on Sept. 10 at the Five Moons Theatre inside First Americans Museum. It will culminate in a dance performance on Sept. 11 in the Reynolds Performing Arts Center at the University of Oklahoma.

Events:

Opening Reception Friday, September 9, 2022

To celebrate the launch of this three-day weekend event, join us for an opening reception at 6:30pm in the Thirty Nine Restaurant at the First Americans Museum including hors d'œuvre and beverages. First Americans Museum is located at 659 First Americans Blvd. Oklahoma City, OK 73129.
6:30 pm, Tickets $25 Tickets now available

Symposium Saturday, September 10, 2022

The OU School of Dance will host a symposium in collaboration with the Peoria Nation on Saturday, September 10, from 10am to 3pm in the Five Moons Theater of the First Americans Museum at 659 First Americans Blvd. Oklahoma City, OK 73129.

The symposium will include a series of lectures, discussions, and Q&A's to inspire interest in learning more about Moscelyne Larkin (Peoria/Eastern Shawnee) and the Five Moons’ remarkable accomplishments. Make reservations for lunch at Thirty-Nine Restaurant for the 12pm-1:30pm lunch break.

10:00 am – 3:00 pm, Free and open to the public.

Stage Performance Sunday, September 11, 2022

Featuring artists from the American Indian community, OU School of Dance, Tulsa Ballet II, Oklahoma City Ballet, as well as work by guest choreographer Sidra Bell.

3:00 pm, Reynolds Performing Arts Center, 560 Parrington Oval, Norman, OK 73019
Tickets $25 (students $10) Tickets now available