The Native American Hoop Dance

Before we went to see the Antelope Canyon in Page, (Arizona), our driver dropped us off at the town center where the mini trucks that would take us to the canyon are. A bunch of tourists was already there when we arrived. Everyone was told to take shelter under the shed where a hoop dance performance from a native American will be shown. The performance started on time and lasted for around 20 minutes.

The Native American Hoop Dance is a kind of performance art that tells a story.

It is usually performed by a solo dancer with a number of hoops.

This dance is kind of a ritual.

The hoop is considered as the eternal, never-ending circle of life.

While performing, the dancer makes shapes and objects – various kinds.

It might be something that looks like a butterfly.

Or an eagle.

A plant you see every day?

Or a lotus flower, maybe?

A snake or a coyote?

A globe.

A hunter hunting an egg?

In this dance, the hoops are picked up through the dancer’s feet, not hands.

They are then interlocked to one another, forming wings, tails, etc…

The dance is accompanied by music that’s fast and lively.

I was told that in some version of this hoop dance, a performer carries 30 hoops at once.

Related: All Things to do and see in Arizona

There’s an annual World Hoop Dance Championship that happens at Heard Museum in Phoenix, Arizona. This year, the event celebrated its 25th year!