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Heard Museum to host 30th Annual World Championship Hoop Dance Competition
Posted
Independent Newsmedia
The Heard Museum will host the 30th Annual World Championship Hoop Dance Competition on Saturday, Feb. 8 and Sunday, Feb. 9.
Bringing more than 80 contestants from across North America to compete for a national title, according to a press release, top American Indian and Canadian First Nations hoop dancers will compete in the renowned competition for cash prizes and the title of World Champion Hoop Dancer.
Each contestant will showcase their personal dance style and cultural traditions with dance performances, demonstrating strength, creativity and intricate footwork, the release said.
The art of hoop dance honors cultural traditions from multiple Indigenous communities, reflecting the form’s roots in traditional healing ceremonies, noted the release, describing hoop dance, which is shared as an artistic expression to celebrate and honor Indigenous traditions throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Dancers are judged on five criteria: precision, timing/rhythm, showmanship, creativity and speed. Contestants compete in one of five categories during the two-day event: Tiny Tots (5 and under), Youth (6-12), Teen (13-17), Adult (18-39) and Senior (40 and older).
For individual routines, dancers may use as few as four and as many as 50 hoops, which are manipulated to create a variety of designs including animals, insects and globes, according to the release.
The competition attracts thousands of attendees from around the world and is a “testament to the long-standing history of American Indian dance traditions, and the Heard Museum’s commitment to advancing American Indian art and culture,” said the release.
Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets and folding chairs for the outdoor event that will be held 9 a.m.-5 p.m., both Saturday, Feb. 8, with grand entry at 9:30 a.m. and Sunday, Feb. 9 at the Heard Museum Amphitheater, 2301 N. Central Avenue in Phoenix.
Admission prices vary, but fees include day-of museum admission, according to the release.
The 2020 World Championship Hoop Dance Competition will be broadcast live via Gila River Broadcasting Corporation – the first Low Power television station in Indian Country and also live streamed on the Heard Museum’s Facebook page, the release added.
Learn more about the 2020 World Championship Hoop Dance Competition at https://heard.org/event/hoop/.
