Friday, March 29, 2024

Family, fans celebrate the legacy of champion fancy dancer

Family, fans celebrate the legacy of champion fancy dancer
Navajo Times | Adron Gardner Fancy dancer Tommy Draper Sr. dances in honor of his late son, fancy dancer world champion Spike Draper for the opening of the 2016 Gathering of Nations at the WisePies Arena in Albuquerque Friday.

Navajo Times | Adron Gardner
Fancy dancer Tommy Draper Sr. dances in honor of his late son, fancy dancer world champion Spike Draper for the opening of the 2016 Gathering of Nations at the WisePies Arena in Albuquerque Friday.

ALBUQUERQUE

In years past, Spike Draper entered the arena alongside his father during the grand entry of the annual Gathering of Nations Powwow.

But this year was different as Tommy Draper Sr. walked alone.

Spike, whose real name is Tommy Draper Jr., passed away in May 2015 and the day after his death, his father received a letter stating that his son was selected as the head man dancer for this year’s Gathering of Nations Powwow.

Needless to say, Draper walked onto the arena floor with the spirit and memory his late son, a 15-time Gathering of Nations fancy dancing champion.

Family members of the late world champion fancy dancer Spike Draper honor their loved one by going around the arena with his photo on Friday night.

Family members of the late world champion fancy dancer Spike Draper honor their loved one by going around the arena with his photo on Friday night.

The organizers of the event, which draws thousands of spectators and dancers, had sent a notification of their decision to have Spike as the head dancer, a letter his dad opened the day after the passing of his son.

Organizers still made Spike the head dancer and dedicated the opening day of this year’s event “Spike Draper Day” on April 29.

Draper led almost 3,000 dancers into the arena – the image of his son emblazoned in the beadwork on the chest of his regalia.

“My daughter and my wife made this,” he said, as he pointed to the beadwork. “He’s riding right there.”

Draper had shared the craft with his son since an early age, and Spike became a staple of Gathering of Nations as he made the art form his own.

“He grew up here,” he said of his son. “Before that we went all over, then they started this powwow here. We’ve been coming ever since he was a little guy.”


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