Natalie Benally – Dance/USA Artist Fellow

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Image Description: Natalie Benally, a dancer and choreographer from the Navajo Nation, stands beneath a green shade of trees. She carries a slight smirk on her face and stands determined in her stance. Photo: Morningstar Angeline.

Natalie Benally

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Currently based: Occupied Tewa Lands, AKA Albuquerque, NM. Originally from: Dinetah, the Navajo Nation; Gallup, NM

Natalie Benally is a dancer, choreographer, filmmaker, writer, actor and community/language advocate from the Navajo Nation. She has directed and choreographed numerous theater productions. Likewise, Benally has also become involved in film and television productions, both as crew and in creative direction. She is the Co-Founder/Creative Director of Tse’Nato’, a mixed media storytelling company that amplifies Indigenous voices and representation. She is the recipient of numerous Native-led grants and honors. Of note, Benally has performed the lead role of Dory in the Navajo dubbed version of Disney/Pixar’s Finding Nemo. She will soon appear in her first lead role as an actor on a new series on FOX/SONY and also appeared in the AMC TV series, Dark Winds.

For more information about Natalie Benally: 

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Image description: In a lush green setting, Natalie intently gives direction to a young dancer standing opposite of her. We see an over the shoulder view of the young dancer, who listens intently to her. Photo: Ernie Zahn.
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