The World Championship Hoop Dance Contest is an annual American Indian and Canadian First Nations
hoop dancing competition held at the
Heard Museum in Phoenix, Arizona.[1]
During the contest, dancers are scored based on their skills in precision, timing, showmanship, creativeness and speed.[2] Competitors are allowed to use as many hoops as wanted during their dances, some using as few as four to as many as 50 hoops.[3][4] The competition is divided into five categories, including Tiny Tots (age 5 and below), Youth (6–12), Teen (13–17), Adult (18–39) and Senior (40 and above). The dance is used as a way of self-expression and storytelling, including dancers spinning the hoops or transforming hoops into animal shapes.[5][6]
The Championship began in 1991, originally created for the
New Mexico State Fair by Ralph Zotigh and his son Dennis Zotigh.[7] After the first competition was held, according to Dennis Zotigh, the contest was named the "Tony White Cloud Memorial World Championship Hoop Dance Contest" in honor of White Cloud "for his contributions in founding the modern Hoop Dance."[8] In 1992, the competition was moved to the Heard Museum, where it continues to be held.[7] In 2021, the event was held fully online for the first time in the competition's history.[9]
The World Championship Hoop Dance Contest is an annual American Indian and Canadian First Nations
hoop dancing competition held at the
Heard Museum in Phoenix, Arizona.[1]
During the contest, dancers are scored based on their skills in precision, timing, showmanship, creativeness and speed.[2] Competitors are allowed to use as many hoops as wanted during their dances, some using as few as four to as many as 50 hoops.[3][4] The competition is divided into five categories, including Tiny Tots (age 5 and below), Youth (6–12), Teen (13–17), Adult (18–39) and Senior (40 and above). The dance is used as a way of self-expression and storytelling, including dancers spinning the hoops or transforming hoops into animal shapes.[5][6]
The Championship began in 1991, originally created for the
New Mexico State Fair by Ralph Zotigh and his son Dennis Zotigh.[7] After the first competition was held, according to Dennis Zotigh, the contest was named the "Tony White Cloud Memorial World Championship Hoop Dance Contest" in honor of White Cloud "for his contributions in founding the modern Hoop Dance."[8] In 1992, the competition was moved to the Heard Museum, where it continues to be held.[7] In 2021, the event was held fully online for the first time in the competition's history.[9]