Ramah dance to benefit gourd dancer

By Helen Davis
Cibola County Bureau

RAMAH — A tiny bingo game to raise some money for a gourd dancer took life of its own and became a full-fledged fund raiser set for tonight.

The Old School Gallery in Ramah will hold a bingo game, auction and dessert sale tonight to help Zuni gourd dancer Shorty Lewis get to Washington and join other dancers in his Zuni group at The Wall.

Pam Pickins of the Inscription Rock Trading and Coffee Co. said the gourd dancers were invited to Washington to dance at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, or “The Wall.” All of the dancers are veterans.

Most of the dance team members will drive to the event, taking equipment for the performance, but Lewis has health conditions that require he fly. The cost of air travel is too much for the dancer to afford, Pickins said. The widespread mountain community thought they could help out.

When Ramah and El Morro residents first thought to raise money to get their neighbor to the dance the plan was a local bingo game at the trading post, but people kept expressing support and offering items for prizes. Pickins said the game got too big for the family store. The Old School Gallery across New Mexico Highway 53 offered their space for the bingo game and other activities.

Some of Lewis’s family are accomplished turquoise jewelry makers. They are donating jewelry as bingo prizes, Pickins said. They will also provide three kinds of homemade bread pudding for sale. Other local artists and craftsmen are donating hand-made goods for an auction.

Pickins said organizers have not set a price for bingo cards, but she expects packets will be sold at or under $10.

“We are not rich here,” she said.

Organizers want people to be able to buy food and participate in the auction, so they are keeping the bingo prices reasonable, at the very least.

“If we sell 50 packets, that will cover air fare,” Pickins said.
Information: Friday, April 25. For starting time contact The Old School Gallery on Route 53 east of Ramah, phone: (505) 783-4710, or Inscription Rock Trading and Coffee Co. at (505) 783-4706. The trading company is across from the gallery.

On the Web: http://thewall-usa.com/, http://library.thinkquest.org/3081/gourd.htm