ArtsHERE Grant Spotlight: Art Maker (Pawhuska, Oklahoma)

Over the last century, Native American history has intertwined with the world of ballet, producing five Native American ballet dancers—two of whom, Maria and Marjorie Tallchief, hailed from the Osage Nation. Their legacies helped weave ballet into the cultural fabric of the Osage people, inspiring a deep connection between this art form and their heritage.

In 2015, Randy Smith (Osage Nation), director of the Osage Ballet, established Art Maker, an organization dedicated to supporting the arts while promoting education, culture, and community values throughout the Osage Nation and Pawuska, Oklahoma area. Art Maker serves as the umbrella organization for various programs, including Dance Maker Academy. 

Art Maker is among 112 organizations awarded an ArtsHERE grant as part of a new NEA pilot program aimed at supporting projects nationwide to bolster organizations’ capacity for meaningful community engagement and to increase arts participation for underserved groups and communities. In partnership with the U.S. Regional Arts Organization (RAO) South Arts and in collaboration with the other five RAOs, ArtsHERE focuses on organizations with a demonstrated commitment to equity in their practices and programming.

With ArtsHERE funding, Art Maker will hire a consultant to develop a strategic plan aimed at expanding its reach, engaging more children in the arts, and addressing challenges such as declining arts participation. The plan includes increasing arts education in local schools, hiring additional teachers, and fostering a deeper, lasting appreciation for the arts within the community.

Dance plays a central role in connecting the Osage people to their cultural heritage. “The Osage danced before a raid, they danced before a hunt, they danced to the beat of the drum, they danced to the prayer songs, and sometimes they just danced. What better way to tell the Osage story than through a ballet that expresses the rich culture of a warrior people that controlled a large part of what is now called the United States of America,” said project sponsor Kathryn Red Corn (Osage Nation).

In 2014, the Dance Maker Academy was founded by Director of Dance Jenna LaViolette (Osage Nation) and provides students from one of the most underserved rural areas with opportunities to overcome educational and cultural challenges. In the academy’s state-of-the-art facility, over half of the students attend on scholarships and are held to high standards by their teachers who emphasize that their disciplined efforts not only shape their own growth but also create meaningful performances to share with their community. Smith said, “With this training, it has been observed that the older students are learning to give back to the community through performances and by inspiring the younger students to apply themselves. They give the younger students a living, breathing vision of what they can aspire to and help to hold them accountable in their discipline and behavior.”

Despite the challenges of operating in a small town of 3,500, the academy has grown, welcoming as many as 100 students. Smith said, “Our story is a story of the Osage, but also a story of the land, of survival and spirituality, of family and community, of America and the human experience. Osages are proud of our rich past and our vibrant community today, our resilience in the face of many challenges over the years and our plans for an exciting future.”

Dance Maker Academy has dedicated the last eight years to advancing dance programs in public schools by offering a comprehensive dance curriculum for students ages three and older, driven by the mission to provide the highest quality arts education to the youth within the community. The selection process for in-school teaching artists is deeply rooted in its mission to serve Native students and their diverse cultural backgrounds. Smith said, “We have a network of teachers that has grown over the years, of people we trust and who share our passion for the mission of helping children with the challenges of physical and emotional health and mental well-being as they continue recovering from generational trauma.”

Initially met with the skepticism from some of the boys in the class, a recent focus on student-led choreography transformed their participation. By splitting the students into smaller groups, including an all-boys group, the teacher allowed them to explore their creativity at their own pace. The results were remarkable—not only did all the boys become involved, but the larger group even expressed interest in taking studio classes, with two boys enrolling.

In 2022, Dance Maker Academy expanded its reach by introducing fine art classes at the Alternative High School, an initiative that proved transformative. Previously disengaged students began attending regularly, drawn by the art program's appeal. One student, who didn’t expect to graduate, found renewed motivation through the classes and achieved his goal of finishing school. This success underscored the program's value, leading to full academic credit being awarded for student participation. "As it should be," said Smith.

Operating in a small town presents unique challenges, particularly in rebuilding audiences for performances after the COVID-19 pandemic. "During the pandemic, our students and families became very introverted and it was a challenge to draw our audience back into the theater," said Smith." Since then, the pendulum has swung in the opposite direction and students and families seem to constantly be on the run. There are multiple events to choose from on any given day, so it has been a challenge to rebuild our audience.” Steadfast in its mission to advance dance and nurture artistic talent, Art Maker presents three annual performances: Wahzhazhe: Osage Ballet, Dance Maker Academy’s spring showcase, and The Nutcracker. Smith said, “It is exciting for many of our parents and grandparents to witness their children being able to do something that was never available to them.”

“One of our main goals is to open doors of opportunity for our students. Because of the arts, our students have had some tremendous ones,” said Smith. Students have performed alongside professional dancers from American Ballet Theatre (ABT), Tulsa Ballet, and Oklahoma City Ballet at the Five Moons Festival. Last year, [ABT Principal Dancer] Misty Copeland visited the studio to share her journey and later that week, students performed at the unveiling of the Maria Tallchief quarter. Most recently, two students participated in the unveiling of the Inspiring Women Barbie® doll, modeled after Tallchief.

Looking ahead, Art Maker is committed to empowering students from over 20 Indigenous nations, sharing the Osage heritage to help bridge cultural gaps, and inspiring both Native and non-Native students to pursue excellence in dance while navigating and honoring their unique cultural backgrounds. Smith said, “We inherited the legacy of two Osage prima ballet dancers that we honor today and want to continue to build on this legacy. We are their legacy.”