On the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, Indigenous Enterprise practices the full routine for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on the very stage they would soon perform. (Photo by Grace Monos/Cronkite News)
NEW YORK – While many Americans see Thanksgiving as a joyous day to gather with family and feast on turkey, it’s more somber for descendents of people pushed off ancestral lands generations ago.
This Thanksgiving brought a moment of rare visibility, thanks to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, which featured a performance by Indigenous Enterprise, an award-winning dance company based in Phoenix.
Founded in 2015, the group has made a name for itself by blending contemporary dance with traditional powwow culture.
On the rain-soaked streets of Manhattan, with thousands cheering them on and a global TV audience estimated at 31.3 million, they danced to the beat of drums and the jingling of bells on their regalia.
“Indigenous representation in the media is crucial for understanding, respect, empowering and reconciliation for our Native people,” said dancer Jamaal-Isaac Jones.
Powwow dancing is a competitive art form, featuring varying techniques, drum speeds and intricate regalia.
Eleven dancers from Indigenous Enterprise arrived three days ahead of the parade and practiced in a parking lot in Newark, New Jersey; rehearsed outside Macy’s flagship store in Herald Square; and explored the city.
“I don’t think there’s enough words to express how truly unreal the whole experience felt,” said dancer Tatianna Wright. “From rehearsing for hours, to waking up at 3 a.m. to get ready the day of the parade – it was extraordinary.”
Kenneth Shirley, dancer and CEO of Indigenous Enterprise, leads the group in one of their many run-throughs. (Photo by Grace Monos/Cronkite News)
Two days before the parade, they practiced their routine repeatedly, back to back, until they felt confident with their performance. With music blasting from a speaker, they recorded each run-through to ensure every detail was just right.
Wright takes in the New York atmosphere as Indigenous Enterprise prepares for rehearsal.
Jones examines his reflection in the Macy’s storefront window as he prepares to rehearse in front of the crowds. (Photos by Grace Monos/Cronkite News)
Left: Wright takes in the New York atmosphere as Indigenous Enterprise prepares for rehearsal. Right: Jones examines his reflection in the Macy’s storefront window as he prepares to rehearse in front of the crowds. (Photos by Grace Monos/Cronkite News)
Shirley secures his bustles and carefully attaches the backboard and belt to his regalia. (Photo by Grace Monos/Cronkite News)
That night, the group visited the performance location near Macy’s store in Midtown Manhattan.
It was near freezing as they prepared and put on their head dresses, moccasins and bustles. But at least it wasn’t pouring rain, as it would be Thanksgiving morning.
People watched, cheered and took photos as they danced.
Left: Shirley leads the group through a rehearsal and hectic schedule leading up the parade. Center: Lara Lasley, a fancy dancer, twirls gracefully, with her shawl glistening in the bright studio lights. Right: Jared Brown, front and center, showcases his skills as a traditional dancer and professionalism from his experiences over the years with Indigenous Enterprise.(Photos by Grace Monos/Cronkite News)
Parade day was relentlessly wet and cold.
The team woke up at 3 a.m., some already in the city at a hotel and some traveling from their Airbnb in Newark.
They met up at The New Yorker Hotel near the end of the parade route, where other performers were getting ready – clowns, dancers, marching bands from high schools, colleges and the New York Police Department.
Misun Tanka Mills and Wright trail behind the group on the way to the parade to protect their regalia from the relentless rain.
Brown applies his face paint ahead of the parade. (Photos by Grace Monos/Cronkite News)
Left: Misun Tanka Mills and Wright trail behind the group on the way to the parade to protect their regalia from the relentless rain. Right: Brown applies his face paint ahead of the parade. (Photos by Grace Monos/Cronkite News)
Indigenous Enterprise dancers relax and get ready for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. (Photo by Grace Monos/Cronkite News)
At 6 a.m., some dancers opted for a quick power nap. Others were too filled with excitement.
“Almost everyone was running on two hours of sleep or less, but the adrenaline carried us through,” said dancer Shelby Snyder.
They braided their hair, finished their makeup and then shuttled to the start of the parade on the Upper West Side. Snoopy, Santa Claus and dozens of other floats and balloons were already there.
Onlookers huddled under umbrellas. The crowds were thinner than usual in the dreary weather. Some of the dancers opted for sneakers. Others wore their traditional moccasins. Either way, their feet were soaked well before they reached the end of the 2.5-mile route, trailed by a huge Stuart the Minion balloon.
Brown takes a moment to dance on his own in the brief break.
Lasley and Snyder, fancy dancers, also take the opportunity to show the crowds their moves. (Photos by Grace Monos/Cronkite News)
Left: Brown takes a moment to dance on his own in the brief break. Right: Lasley and Snyder, fancy dancers, also take the opportunity to show the crowds their moves. (Photos by Grace Monos/Cronkite News)
During a pause, dancers thrilled the crowds on the sidelines with an impromptu performance.
Due to the rain, the group was unable to wear their full regalia throughout the parade. As a result, they had to carry luggage and bags containing their regalia for their performance at the end of the parade.
“If we could have worn our full regalia in the parade, the crowds would have gone wild,” Jones said as the dancers dried off and tried to shake the morning chill. “Being limited with the ponchos, it was hard to convey who we are.”
There was a rush right before the performance to get everyone ready. Some of the dancers almost didn’t make it on time.
When it came to their live performance, a 60-second televised spot in front of the Macy’s store, the rain brought challenges. The slippery stage limited some of their usual high-energy moves, and Dom Pablo and Shirley had to skip their planned flips at the start.
Even with a few unnoticeable slips, the dancers received roaring applause.
Grace Monos expects to graduate in Spring 2026 with a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism. Monos has worked as a photographer and recently traveled to Africa to report on the increase of teen pregnancy in Rwanda.
