The annual Bear Dance workshop was held at the Sky Ute Casino Resorts’s event center for participants to come learn the rules and courtesies of the Southern Ute Bear Dance, May 16. Southern Ute Indian Montessori Acadamy (SUIMA) students also came to the event wearing traditional regalia to demonstrate how to dress and how the dance operates. December Santistevan was brought up to the front by Bear Dance Chief Matthew Box to show how women dress for Bear Dance.

Tenetke Wesley looks towards the crowd as he waits to be selected for the demonstration dance, while SUIMA Infant Guide, Jared Ruybal (background) instructs participants on what to do once someone has picked them for the dance.

SUIMA Ute Language Guide, Shawna Steffler stands behind the students to guide them to the rhythm of the Bear Dance song while line dancing.