Aly567

I think there should be a section for hoop dance.
I'm a hoop dancer and it would becool to post with other hoop dancers.

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AlyAlyAly

WhoMe

Aly5,

Unfortunately, there are not that many hoop dancers in Indian Country and even less who post on powwows.com.

I was a cofounder of the Worlds Championship Hoop Dance Contest and would be happy to talk with you anytime on this subject!

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"Today, recognizing and respecting the origins of powwow aids in our Cultural Survival. If enough people break the rules because they are not satisfied...."We will have no culture."

WhoMe

DaCotau

I have seen several hoop dancers that were not very good. One person that was excellent in my opinion that I used to see around many years ago was Jackie Bird. She sang too, but I have not seen or heard anything about her for a while.

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"No snowflake in an avalanche ever feels responsible"
"You cannot give the people who have wronged you so much power that they take away your dreams"

WhoMe

DaC,

Like any artform, there are degrees of excellence. If you want to see the best hoop dancers, attend the Worlds Championship Hoop Dance contest at the Heard Museum, in Phoenix, Arizona in February.

Jackie competed there when it first started. She had a very unique routine using props while she hoop danced. I have seen her name fairly recently, on the Indian festival circuit posters.

How many hoops do you use?

How many designs can you make?

Who taught you to hoop dance?

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"Today, recognizing and respecting the origins of powwow aids in our Cultural Survival. If enough people break the rules because they are not satisfied...."We will have no culture."

WhoMe

Pheji Wanbli

not just bragging cause delwin is a relitive.but he is also an awsome hoop. dancer.. DELWIN FIDDLER JR.

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MITAKUYE OYASIN... "then I was standing on the highest mountain of them all , and round about beneath me was the whole hoop of the world . and while i stood there I saw more than I can tell . and I Under Stood more then I saw . for I Was Seeing in a Sacred manner the Shapes of All . Hehaka Sapa. dec 1863-aug 17 or 19 , 1950..

SuzzeQ4

Hoop dancing takes alot of practice. If someone is starting out, your going to notice. The fact that they are out thier, doing thier best, thats what matters. As Aly's auntie, I gotta tell you she practices nearly everyday. She has fun but sometimes gets frustrated if she is struggling with somethng new. She has been hoop dancing for just over a year & uses 20 hoops. This in my opinion is amazing. My youngest is just starting this year I suspect that she will be using 6 hoops in the summer.
When you see these young & new dancers, don't think, "oh they're not that good" think about what it takes to do this dance. It's definatly not something all of us could do
Suzze

DaCotau

Didn't mean to offend anyone with my comment, I realize that hoop dancing is very difficult and takes much practice and skill to master. Kudos for those who accept the challenge and give it their best. The situations I was referring to were individuals putting on exhibitions that in my opinion really needed alot more practice before attempting to showcase this form of dance to the public. It is important to take pride in what you do and present yourself accordingly. Having seen hoop dancers that had obviously been taught by knowledgeable, experienced people and who had dedicated alot of time and energy into what they were doing as opposed to some that were very sloppy and uncoordinated in there dancing. I feel that those who deserve the recognition for their hard work and dedication to this form of dance should get it. Not everyone is cut out for this form of dancing because it does require such perseverance, dedication, and yes inate talent as well I believe. Again sorry to anyone I may have offended.

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"No snowflake in an avalanche ever feels responsible"
"You cannot give the people who have wronged you so much power that they take away your dreams"

WhoMe

DaC,

I have seen your site before. I am also a performing artist. I recently moved a few hours from where you live and am looking for a hoop dancer to begin doing shows in my area. I have a dance company already but need some new talent here. We have travelled all over the US, Europe, Russia, Orient, S. America and Africa.

Perhaps we can meet in the near future. I will be coming to NYC soon on business with my new job.

Are you Minnecojou? Are you related to Terry (Fiddler)?

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"Today, recognizing and respecting the origins of powwow aids in our Cultural Survival. If enough people break the rules because they are not satisfied...."We will have no culture."

WhoMe

DaCotau

I think you might have me confused with someone else? Though it is true I am located in NYC. If you are looking for talented, professional performers you should contact the American Indian Community House. They actually keep an updated roster on Native performing artists in the NYC area. If you need contact info let me know I would be happy to provide this to you. There is also the Red Hawk Indian Arts Council located in Brooklyn, they could connect you to some very good dancers as well. I am a social worker by profession lol.....but maybe in my next life I could be a professional dancer, that would be cool but too late to start that now, I don't think my body would appreciate or cooperate with the idea.

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"No snowflake in an avalanche ever feels responsible"
"You cannot give the people who have wronged you so much power that they take away your dreams"

DaCotau

Oops...I forgot to answer the rest of your question. No, I am not Minniconjou, and no I am not related to Terry Fiddler either (as far as I know).

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"No snowflake in an avalanche ever feels responsible"
"You cannot give the people who have wronged you so much power that they take away your dreams"

WhoMe

DaC,

Sorry about the confusion.

We performed in NYC last year and used a local performer to hoop dance (Joshephine Terrant). After our performance, we went to visit the American Indian Community House because one of their staff members was in the audience and invited us.

I met some dancers in Germany, who were from the NY/NJ area and called themselves the Red Hawk Dancers. I wonder if they were affiliated with the website you posted?

Are you Dakota? Me too! "Hau Koda!"

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"Today, recognizing and respecting the origins of powwow aids in our Cultural Survival. If enough people break the rules because they are not satisfied...."We will have no culture."

WhoMe

DaCotau

Yes I am Dakota. My family is from the Manitoba area of Canada.
The American Indian Community House is in the process of relocating to a new building down near the Smithsonian Museum. If you go to their website you can get updates on when they will be settled (aich.org). There are some amazing Native dancers here in NYC, as well as actors, singers, artists etc.

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"No snowflake in an avalanche ever feels responsible"
"You cannot give the people who have wronged you so much power that they take away your dreams"

WhoMe

DaC,

I am not in the NYC area but a few hours away. I have heard through my new employment that the American Indian Community House was moving.

The Native American Film Festival in NYC is taking place as I type. Are you going to attend?

I am in the process of getting a new talent agent in this area. I have an audition pending on January 25, 2007. For now, I will be doing a solo presentation until I can get some native dancers together. Included in my 1-hour presentation is the hoop dance.

*L

Time to do some roadwork!

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"Today, recognizing and respecting the origins of powwow aids in our Cultural Survival. If enough people break the rules because they are not satisfied...."We will have no culture."

WhoMe

DaCotau