California dancer and choreographer, Lester Horton (1906–1953) choreographed works centered on rituals of native peoples in the U.S. and Mexico. He noted: “If dancers would only make an effort, to preserve this beauty which exists literally at our back doors, something magnificent might be born. A dance can be built upon these art forms that would be truly representative of this great country, something new and fundamental.” Horton and Ted Shawn responded to the admiration for the eagle. Frequently performed to guarantee good hunting, these dances portrayed the bird as noble, beautiful, and strong.