Overview

Sewam American Indian Dance was founded by award-winning dancer and educator, Eddie Madril, and he co-directs the organization with Sara Moncada. Sewam Dance specializes in the dances of United States Plains Indians, and has brought the music, arts and culture of Native American dance and education to national and international stages for over 25 years. Performances are designed to bring together both contemporary and traditional native dance and music to produce inspiring and visually stunning performances for fine arts theater presentations.

Students will be introduced to some of the more popular Native American dances, which are often not seen outside of Native community gatherings and will have a chance to experience and discuss the origins and meanings of dances, understand cultural history, and participate in the dances themselves!

Eddie Madril is a member of the Pascua Yaqui tribe of Southern Arizona and Northern Sonora Mexico. He is an active member of the Native American community and a representative of his culture through various aspects: as a dancer, singer, teacher, playwright and filmmaker. Eddie is currently a professor for American Indian Studies at San Francisco State University and is a monthly host for KPFA Radio's Bay Native Circle program, in addition to traveling the country as a guest lecturer in American Indian music, dance, religion, and contemporary culture. He was awarded a three-year recipient of the California Arts Council Artist-In-Residence grant, as well as the San Francisco Foundation individual artists' grant and a grant from the San Francisco Arts Council. He was nominated for the prestigious Isadora Duncan Dance Award as a soloist for his hoop dance presentation in his 2008 original play SunDagger Solstice. In November 2011, he was recognized by KQED as an American Indian Bay Area Local Hero.

Sara Moncada (Yaqui) is a Native educator, dancer, filmmaker, author and cultural arts advocate. She is CEO of The Cultural Conservancy an Indigenous rights organization devoted to restoring and revitalizing Indigenous lands and cultures, is co-founder of Wise Women Circles a women-owned inspirational media company and is Co-Director of Sewam American Indian Dance. Sara speaks and presents across the country and internationally on Native American arts and culture. 

Each one-hour performance includes a 10–15 minute Q&A session from the stage.

Scholarships/subsidies are available to qualifying schools and educators: Click here to apply.