The Fast Horses
References
Performance date - November 30, 2006
The FAST HORSE program was great. The audience was mixed with students and community members. Some adults also brought children. The program was appropriate for everyone present. Reuben and Ash were great to work with. Our sound equipment and table were not there on time and Reuben was very good about using his. Overall, great show and good people!!!!
Pat Singleton-Young, Director of Multicultural Affairs, Coastal
Performance Date: Nov. 16, 2006
The Fast Horse performance went well, attendance was low as students had started departing for Thanksgiving L However, the family educated, engaged and entertained those who came out. Furthermore, they were a joy to work with. Thanks for all of your assistance with Fast Horse, and I look forward to working with you next year.
Kelly-Ann Vassel, Specialist, Diversity Advocacy, Illinois State University - Normal, IL
Performance Date: Nov.10, 2006
The show went great! As usual, they did a fantastic job, all those in attendance enjoyed the performance. Many positive comments were received on the part of the performance in which members of the audience participated.
Especially the members that participated, they thought it was a blast! Please let Reuben and Ash know how much we enjoyed their performance and we hope to have them come back again in the future.
Jody Steile, Multicultural Affairs, Minnesota State University at Moorhead - Moorhead, MN
Performance Date: Nov. 9, 2006
Everything went well with Ash and Reuben. They were a great couple and fun to work with. We did have a smaller crowd than I had hoped we would have, they did a great job regardless.
Tom Hogan, Student Life Coordinator, Hawkeye Community College - Waterloo, IA
Performance Date: Nov. 4, 2006
Fast Horse was terrific for our Family Weekend ! They got a standing ovation! I loved how they incorporated their children into the show – I wasn’t sure how that would be done at first, and as Ruben started the show, he talked about how they perform and share their culture as a family, and that sometimes unexpected things happen – he completely incorporated the kids in a way that everyone LOVED. Their son, Calin, is so talented! I’ve heard good things from those who attended too. Our Provost (my interim supervisor) and his wife attended, and gave me some very wonderful comments this morning. Parents and students stuck around afterward to talk with the family, and there was a request for more programming of this format. In a nutshell, I’ll definitely have them back on campus. It was great.
Kate
Performance Date: Nov. 1, 2006 Performance Date: 2002 “The presentation at our Wisconsin Music Educator’s Association conference was beautifully presented, clearly and poetically articulated, highly enlightening and educative, and at the same time, extremely moving ... One teacher specifically said how deeply moved she was by Reuben’s manner of speaking and she was so informed by the content, that she now was interested in the music of this culture, which was to her before, very remote and difficult to understand ... Musically, the songs and dances were performed from the heart and with a degree of genuineness that I rarely see ... Reuben’s pride in his culture and strength as a person was apparent in the way he revealed the breadth of his knowledge, the gentle manner in which he taught, and the sensitive treatment of topics such as stereotypes and misconceptions. I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to have met them. Thank you for touching my heart and lifting my consciousness.” Janice Cusano, Assistant Professor, Music Education, Performance Date: 2001 “The pair ... were surrounded by children in Verona Burgess, The Performance Date: 2001 “The Fast Horses present a very educational, beautiful and fascinating program which brings past traditions and contemporary issues together seamlessly. I highly recommend this program.” Michael Nejman, Performance Date: 2000 “In the six years that we have been doing the Coffeehouse Series we have never received as many complements as came in following your performance. We have always talked about making the series more educational but have been afraid that our students would not sit and listen and, as a result, our audience would disappear. You proved that combining education and entertainment not only keeps an audience, it brings in an even larger audience. I can’t tell you how pleased we are with your program and your professionalism.” Tony Courier, Programming Consultant, Student Activities, Northeastern Performance Date: 1999 “It is a pleasure to present our audience performers of your quality and professionalism. I am sure that you could tell, as we could, that the audience was genuinely fascinated by the Native American music and dances you chose and excited by the brilliance and authenticity with which everything was performed.” Deborah Pankey Stewart, Director, Office of Special Events, Performance Date: 1998 “Songs of the Dakotas” ... was an overwhelmingly successful feature for our American Indian Heritage Month Programming ... We are lucky when we can find performers of such high quality that can convey the cultural message in such a penetrating and yet deeply entertaining way ... Ash and Reuben are beautifully vibrant, personifying their lineage, ancient and modern, in a personal way that is extraordinary and captivating for all ages. They speak directly to the modern audience members, weaving contemporary references to language and arts with demonstrations of the traditions of their Lakota tribal heritage in flute and drum with exquisite dance and song ... I am already looking forward to bringing them back to the Smithsonian: the cultural lessons Ash and Reuben teach are penetrating and joyous. Feel free to have possible presenters call me for recommendations. I will gladly speak to the quality of the program to anyone who asks.” Roberta M. Gasbarre, Discovery Theater, Smithsonian Institution,
The Fast Horses were absolutely amazing! Everyone loved the show, they were so personable and wonderful to work with. They stayed after the show to answer questions and speak with our guests, who just applauded the show to no end. A standing ovation, no less! Thanks so much for everything--it truly was a wonderful experience, and we will definitely have them back!
Kelly Lewis, Coordinator of Student Activities, Kankakee Community College - Kankakee, IL
Performance Date: Oct.28,2006
Everything went great! We were happy to have them on our campus. They did an awesome job performing.
Jane
Performance date: October 10, 2006
The show was very well received! We have a lot of interest in Native American culture locally, so the crowd was totally into it. The Fast Horses were a pleasure to work with. Thanks for your help!
Neil Outar, Program Coordinator,
Performance Date: October 9, 2006
The show was FANTASTIC!!! Reuben and Ash were extremely entertaining and friendly...I would definitely recommend them to other people...
Kayla Harris, the Cultural Arts Chair for the Student Activities Council at the University of Memphis, TN
Performance Date: Sept. 15, 2006
The Fast Horses were wonderful and loved by everyone. We look forward to having them return in the future. Please accept my sincerest appreciation for your assistance and likewise look forward to working with you again.
Marcy Burr, Educational Coordinator, Hastings Museum of Natural and Cultural History - Hastings, NE
Performance Date: February 15, 2006
Fast Horse's performance was great. The audience really enjoyed them and there's been students thanking me all day for bringing them. Their performance was much more modern than I had expected, it worked well and they gave great explanations for why they were doing what they were doing.
Alex Johnson,Vice President,
