Southern Ute kids between 5 and 8 will have an opportunity to participate in a colorguard workshop and perform during the Tri-Ute Games opening and closing ceremonies in Ignacio July 22 and 25.

The two-day Winter Guard camp is designed to help kids learn colorguard, dance and flag handling. Cultural dancing will also be incorporated into the choreography for the ceremony, according to Lucinda Cloud.

“It’s really just about the kids and getting them interested in different things,” said Cloud, a parent involved in the program.

Two of Cloud’s children, Elliot and Dewayne Hendren, participate in the program.

Cloud said she suggested colorguard to Tri-Ute organizers as an event for kids not old enough to participate in the games.

“Just to bring in something new and different,” Cloud said.

The performance during the Tri-Ute Games opening ceremony will include participants from all three Ute tribes. Spectators can expect to see dancers in a two-minute choreographed show with tribal dancing and flags.

A workshop will also take place during the Tri-Ute Games, and everyone who participates will perform in the closing ceremony.

“Kids need to know they don’t need experience [to participate],” said Sharon Hunter, director of La Plata County Independent Youth Performing Arts, which hosts the Winter Guard program. The organization also hosts hip-hop dance instruction and a glee club.

Hunter and Cloud said they would like to see the Winter Guard continue in future iterations of the Tri-Ute Games. They also want to gain more participants in the program and perhaps someday see enough participation for an Ignacio-specific team.

The Tri-Ute Games workshop is open to 10 participants from each of the Ute tribes. Applications are available at the SunUte Community Center and online at www.sunute.com. The deadline to register is Wednesday, July 10.