Carson-area American Indian dancers featured in tourism commercial

The Nevada Commission on Tourism was in Carson City over the weekend filming a segment for its latest television commercial, part of its campaign to draw visitors to the state

The commercial, the first the commission has done in four years, will highlight different aspects of the Silver State.

“The idea is to show people what they can experience in the state,” said Claudia Vecchio, director of the Nevada Commission on Tourism. “All these things convey the uniqueness of Nevada.”

Set to the band The Killers singing “Don’t Fence Me In,” the commercial will showcase activities such as hiking and motorcycle riding, rather than specific locations.

“It’s so different from what we’ve done in the past,” Vecchio said.

Sunday’s segment was filmed along the Carson River in Riverview Park. It featured traditional American Indian dancers — fancy dancers father and son Ben and John Rupert, fancy shawl dancer and Miss Indian Nations Shannon Hooper, and grass dancer Martin Montgomery — dancing to the beat of the Red Hoop Drum Group from Minden.

“People don’t always know about the Native Americans in this state,” said Sherry Rupert, director of the Nevada Indian Commission. “That’s one of the things we’re trying to do in Nevada is tell the story of the Native Americans. We’re grateful to the Nevada Commission on Tourism that they see the value in including our culture. We’re honored to be able to participate.”

Rupert said the American Indian culture is also a draw for international tourists.

The commercial will be finished in April, Vecchio said, and will air in the Los Angeles, San Francisco and Phoenix markets.

Instructions on how to view it online will be posted on travelnevada.com once it becomes available, Vecchio said.