INUVIK - Eleven-year-old Timothy Richards Jr. walked in front of his fellow Barrow Dancers and faced the Sir Alexander Mackenzie School audience with a cool and casual stare.

Then the drumming, chanting and singing began softly with Timothy bobbing and weaving, arms swaying side to side in perfect time. As the music erupts, he suddenly dips forward, then lunges backwards, side to side, while stamping in rhythm with the drum beat.

Timothy Richards Jr. strikes a pose while dancing with the Barrow Dancers of Alaska on Saturday evening. - Andrew Rankin/NNSl photos

With each dance the cameras and recorders emerge followed by a thunderous ovation. When it's time to rejoin his team of drummers he relaxes for a moment and smiles. He's an 11-year-old boy again.

Tanya Tucktoo of Taloyoak, Nunavut, couldn't help herself after the Inupiat group from Alaska concluded their second show of the weekend. She approached Timothy for an autograph, and he was only too happy to oblige the request.

"He's the best dancer I've seen," said Tucktoo. "He's just awesome."

The Barrow Dancers became fan favourites at the Circumpolar Northern Games last week, with Timothy leading the way.

But he wasn't about to let all the attention go to his head. This being his first time visiting Canada, he said the cheers put him at ease and made him feel proud.

"They got so excited when I dance like that and I feel proud of how I dance," he said. "I'm proud to be here. I like to dance and I don't want to stop."

He came to drum dancing at age four on his own, without the pressure of his parents who aren't involved in the group.

"I just loved the sound of it. I learned as I watched," he said.

He joined the group at age five and said he commits a lot of time to practising.

"I just have to keep trying and be confident. I have to remember the moves and the drum beats. When I'm in the mood, I'll keep going."

Wendy Smith, a member of the Inuvik Drummers and Dancers who also performed at the Games, called Timothy an awesome talent who deserved all the attention he garnered.

Timothy said he continues to get all kinds of encouragement from fellow group members, several of whom are related to him, and he wants to drum and dance for as long as he can.

"I just want to continue training and dancing," he said. "Because I love it and I love my culture."