Native American World Championship Hoop Festival

The Heard Museum in Phoenix is a wonderful tribute to Native American Culture.

It contains over 38,500 artifacts relating to First Nation life.

  Educational and cultural events take place here the year around,

 including the World Hoop Championships each February.

                                    Tony Duncan-- Five time and 2011 World Champion

Dallas Arcand, 2006, 2007 and 2012 World Champion

Each performer is judged in 5 skills-- precision, timing/rhythm, showmanship, creativeness, and speed.

The variety of designs is very intricate, including animals, butterflies, birds and globes.

The hoop represents the circle of life to Native people, and hoop dancing is often a part of Native American ceremonies.

Colorful clothing design represents many aspects of tradition and culture.

 Over 50 hoops may be used in  one performance.

 

This event brings almost 60 contestants and 7,000 spectators to central Phoenix

 Traditional Frybread is one of my favorites.

  

   Learn much more about the Heard Museum and its' events at www.Heard.org/

To see videos of the champions dancing to the beat of North American drums try;  Hoop Dance Champion Videos

                                                            The smile of champions