The January meeting features Ken Zoll, an Arizona Humanities speaker. In 1921, the Hopi tribe was told that so called “church people” petitioned Congress trying to stop their “pagan” dancing. Milo Billingsley, who founded the school on Second Mesa, was asked for his assistance. He formed a dance troupe to show that these dances should not be stopped, referred to as The Billingsley Hopi Dancers. The Hopi Dancers traveled extensively throughout the United States. A platform was erected on the U.S. Capitol steps in 1927 where both Houses of Congress assembled with their families to watch the Hopi dancers. Congress passed a resolution giving the Hopi permission to carry on their dancing “for all time,” after this performance. The dancers continued to perform for the public culminating with performances at the 1937 New York World’s Fair and Carnegie Hall in 1955. The Verde Valley Archaeology Center and Hopi Tribe received a joint grant to preserve a rare 1957 film of the Billingsley Hopi Dancers. This Arizona Humanities presentation provides background and shows selected segments of the 1957 film
Reception and socialization at 7:00 pm, program begins approximately 7:30 pm.
