Dance on in the star-realm Nakotah, we love you! Nakotah “Lomasohu” LaRance. 1989-2020
Nakotah “Lomasohu” LaRance
1989-2020
With respect, we share a message from his close circle
Fans of Nakotah LaRance:
“Many friends and family have been reaching out on how to show your support for Nakotah and his loved ones. At this time we are asking for prayers for Nakotah and for our family. Kind words and honoring Nakotah in your own home, encourage your children to dance, watch videos of Nakotah dancing, listen to music or whatever you think would make him smile.
Our family is not asking for donations, but if you see fit, donations made in the honor of Nakotah will be accepted through the nonprofit Lightning Boy Foundation website (link below) and the Lightning Boy Foundation Facebook Page. All funds will go to commemorating Nakotah’s legacy and the continuation of his life’s work of inspiring, teaching and empowering people of all ages around the world, in particular Native youth.
Nakotah will be laid to rest in the traditional cultural way. A public memorial will be held in his honor. Details will be announced at a later date. Respect and understanding for the Denipah-LaRance family is greatly appreciated in this difficult time. Thank you to those who have already demonstrated your love and support. We are still in disbelief that our Handsome Star has left us, but we will press on and grow stronger each day as he would so wish.”
Nakotah “Lomasohu” LaRance
1989-2020
Today we join communities, friends and relatives around the globe to both mourn the passing and celebrate the remarkable life of Nakotah LaRance. Nakotah’s incredible achievements in performing arts since an early age are too vast and monumental to list, and we were blessed for him to have joined our 2012 cast of Walking At The Edge of Water, where he became part of our Dancing Earth cultural and artistic family. His Dancing Earth brother and sisters remember not only his dazzling innovations in hoop dance, but his kindness, ready smile, encouraging words, mischievous humor, and huge heart. On the last day of our 2012 performance, Nakotah gave fellow dancer Xeric Meraz his blessing to name Xeric’s future son in his honor, so the name of Nakotah lives on, as does his incredible legacy of hoop dance through the Native youth he mentored, which was his greatest pride. Dance on in the star-realm Nakotah, we love you.
This epic photo was taken by Will Wilson while we were in rehearsal at SFAI, and this photo was displayed by Smithsonian Museum and in magazines - the most epic of an incredible portrait series. Here he is, ancient and modern, old and young, gone in a flash and with us forever.
Nakotah gifted this copy to his dear friend, another dancer in the Dancing Earth production - Hosanna Sophia Littlebird, who holds it in her hands with feathers and medicines, in his honor.
In this photo Nakota LaRance stands with his brothers (Xeric Tlaloc Meraz, Deollo Johnson, Nimkii Osawamick and Rulan Tangen in foreground) as a Water Warrior, protecting the waters inside each living body and of the planet. This epic vision with gas masks and traditional porcupine headdress on the far right looks everyday now, but was very much ‘ on the edge’ of innovation in 2012 . Years later people saw it as a premonition of Standing Rock - intertribal peoples uniting for water. Ahead of its time, like the quicksilver Nakotah LaRance. In gratitude… photo by Hosanna Sophia Littlebird
