Southern Ute Bear Dance Chief, Matthew Box shares some of the finer points regarding Bear Dance etiquette with attendees of the annual Bear Dance workshop held at the Sky Ute Casino Resort, Friday May 19.

Southern Ute Brave, Henry Whiteskunk II introduces himself to attendees of the Bear Dance workshop held at the Sky Ute Casino Resort, Friday May 19.

Men line dance during the Bear Dance workshop, where young dancers and those unfamiliar with Bear Dancing are taught the basic etiquette surrounding this Ute springtime tradition. Pictured front to back, SUIMA student, Matthew Carrillo, Wildlife Division Head, Aran Johnson, and Tribal Council Treasurer, Marvin Pinnecoose.

Young Adonis, son of Alyas Maez, gravitates towards the Bear Dance growlers, practicing with the instruments used to create the bear like reverberation on the growler box during the Bear Dance.

Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum