Iglulik (Feb 28/05) - They attend school and live in Iglulik, and everyone knows them. But the Amittuq Dancers of Iglulik still blew the crowd away at the Ataguttaluk elementary school gym on Feb. 7 during the commissioner's awards.

To a fast, spirited version of "My Bonnie Lassie" on the keyboard, with machine-like drumming by an increasingly sweat-soaked Greg Qulaut, the 12 Amittuq Dancers embraced traditional Inuit dancing with modern enthusiasm and energy.

This is not a high school group. In fact, they aren't even a dancing group per se. They are a youth group that runs itself and happens to like dancing at the community hall, usually on Thursdays from 9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. (a new community hall will be built by 2009 they say).

Silas Qulaut said the dancing is just one way to bring their culture to life.

"It's part of our culture, the dancing," he said.

Many members also say it's a great way to simply hang out together and get some exercise during the long winter in the High Arctic.

"We don't practise that much," said one of the group leaders, Thomas Johnston. "It's just fun."

The group started two years ago and hasn't performed much publicly at all.

They dance with the intensity of a professional group, but say they simply learn a few basic moves, then have four different leaders who pace the movements, mainly done in a circle.

Since their successful performance at the commissioner's awards - a 30-minute non-stop performance - the Amittuq Dancers are talking about holding more canteen and bake sales to raise money for a stint on stage during Ottawa's Canada Day celebrations.

Stephanie Tongak, Grade 11, who made all the costumes for the group, said they dance in memory of Shannon Kalliraq, a friend and visionary group member who sadly passed away recently.

"Shannon had it all planned out, even what our costumes would look like," Tongak explained.

The group has about 18 members, among them Jeanitta Allurut, Cora Akittiq, Joey Ammaq, Tomassie Johnston, Alexandra Ungalaq, Allan Kangok, Jimmy Qamwkaq and Geraldine Oolateeta.

"We have leaders and the group just follows them," said Johnston.

If you would like to help Amittuq Dancers with their fundraising to get to Ottawa you can contact Ataguttaluk high school in Iglulik.