Photos: Cama-i Dance Festival infuses Bethel with song, dance and color

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Bethel's Cama-i Dance Festival kicked off Friday night, April 17, 2015, with a lineup of traditional -- and some not so traditional -- dances. Cangarraq Noatak, 9 months, and Jessica Nelson Noatak, who turns 3 Sunday, were crowd-pleasers on stage with Bethel Traditional Dancers.

BETHEL -- With hundreds of dancers, drummers and singers, with 400 volunteers, with thousands of spectators, Bethel's Cama-i Dance Festival kicked off Friday afternoon in a whirl of color and a steady beat of drums.

Babies took the stage along with elders. This year's theme is "Generations Celebrating Through Dance," or in Yup'ik, "Kinguveqellriit Nunaniryulriit Yurakun."

Dance leader Chuna McIntyre, originally from Eek and now living in California, was honored as a "living treasure." Peter Atchak, originally from Chevak, danced onstage with his young grandson, waving dance sticks carved long ago by an uncle. Girls lined up for pictures with Facebook and YouTube teen sensation Byron Nicholai of Toksook Bay.

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