Gene Slay’s hosting Navajo troupe

You’re invited July 28

If you want to see something you’ve never seen before – an award-winning native American dance troupe featuring a 90-plus year-old Navajo grandfather and his family – mark your calendar for 4 p.m., July 28 at Gene Slay’s Girls and Boys Club, 2524 S. 11th Street in St. Louis’ Soulard District.

In a fund-raiser for the club that serves almost 300 children daily, the “Jones Benally Family with Sihasin” will perform, featuring grandfather Jones Benally, his two children and four grandchildren.

“It’s a spectacular performance that’s really a once-in-a-lifetime event,” said Byron Clemens, Teachers Local 420 spokesman, who is a member of the extended family.

They will perform traditional native American dance, a special hoop dance by Benally and a rock-and-roll dance (Sihasin) by two of the children.

Benally is a seven-time world champion hoop dancer and an authentic Medicine Man who still practices in Indian Health Service hospitals.

To add to the fun and excitement, adventurous adults and children will be invited to join the Navajo group in one of their dances.

The group is on a national tour, and Clemens invited them to come through St. Louis to perform at the Boys and Girls Club. They have danced here several times over the years to sell-out audiences.

The cost is a donation of $5 per person at the door (children are free) to help fund the club’s extensive summer program. Advance tickets will be available from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on July 22 at the Local 420 office, 2710 Hampton.

Gene Slay’s Girls & Boys Club, in its 93rd year, is the oldest boys club in Missouri and is the only comprehensive youth development facility serving south St. Louis with year-round after-school programming in athletics, academics, aquatics, character and citizenship building, plus healthy lifestyle living and the arts. The club also offers a full-time summer program for boys and girls. The club currently serves more than 700 youth ages 6-16.