Trying to make the dance
Rankin group raising funds for trip to Gjoa Haven showdown
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
RANKIN INLET
A group of eight dancers in Rankin Inlet are trying to raise enough money to participate in a square-dance showdown in Gjoa Haven this coming month.
David Quayaut, left, Christina Innukshuk, Victoria Kapuk and Terentia Niviatsiak are among eight dancers from Rankin Inlet trying to raise $11,000 to attend a square-dance showdown in Gjoa Haven this coming month. Missing from the photo are Daphne Kaurayok, Alister Amarok, John Bruce and Pierre Nipisar. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo |
The group needs to raise about $11,000 to attend the dance competition. Making up the Rankin dance team are David Quayaut, Christina Innukshuk, Victoria Kapuk, Tarentia Niviatsiak, Daphne Kaurayok, John Bruce, Pierre Nipisar and Alister Amarok.
Groups from Arviat and Baker Lake are also trying to attend the event. Kapuk said the group got a late start on fundraising because they only found out about the Gjoa Haven competition this past month. She said even though it's a lot of money to be raised in a short period of time, she's confident they can pull it off.
"We might not be the best team out there, but we love to square dance and we really want to represent Rankin at the showdown," said Kapuk.
"Some people said we couldn't do it when we started fundraising and we want to prove them wrong."
Innukshuk said the group has a lot of ground to make up because of the late start.
She said it all came about very fast but they're going to give it their best shot.
"Hopefully, we'll be able to raise the money we need to go to Gjoa Haven," said Innukshuk. "But, if we don't, we'll continue to fundraise and put this money toward travelling to the next Nunavut competition that's held. "It might turn out that way, but we still have a chance to make our goal."
The square-dance showdown will be held in Gjoa Haven from Nov. 12 to 16.
Kapuk, 23, has been square dancing for about seven years now. She said she has a lot of fun square dancing and hopes her group stays together and continues to improve.
"We haven't been together for very long but we're determined to improve and we all really like to square dance, she said. "It would be a lot of fun to represent Rankin at an event like this, and we'd learn from the other dancers there. We all have relatives in Gjoa Haven, so having a place to stay for everyone is no problem. Even though some people have been saying we won't make it, we believe, as a group, we'll raise enough to go and, with about a month to go, we have a chance."
