2021 Virtual Hoop Dance Contest

An online celebration of artistry, sheer athleticism, and cultural traditions

The Heard Museum Virtual Hoop Dance Contest will be presented as a prerecorded online event on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021. Check this page, or visit us on social media for continued updates.

Highlights

• The 2021 event will be FREE and premiere on the Heard Museum’s Facebook page and YouTube channel
• The premiere will be a 60-75 minute video of the top 3 dancers and a Viewer’s Choice in each division
• The tiny tots will also make an adorable appearance
• 80 hoop dancers submitted videos and are competing for up to $2,500 prize money in each division
• All videos will be available for voting on Viewer’s Choice awards at www.youtube.com/heardmuseum starting Saturday, February 6th
• Voting for the new Viewer’s Choice award will be available on the Heard Museum YouTube channel until Wednesday, February 10th
• Donations to support the 2021 Virtual Hoop Dance contest can be made via Facebook or Youtube during the event or at heard.org/donate

Contest Rules

These Rules have been developed with input from the Hoop staff and Advisors to the program (Advisors and staff are listed on the Rules document). Please read the rules carefully, and direct any questions to: hoopdance@heard.org.
Heard Museum Hoop Dance Contest 2021 Rules

Contestant Information

Prizes

Youth	Teen	Adult	Senior
1st $350	1st $750	1st $2500	1st $1500
2nd $200	2nd $500	2nd $1500	2nd $1000
3rd $150	3rd $350	3rd $1000	3rd $500

A cash prize of $250 in each age division will also be awarded for a “Viewer’s Choice.” Online voting will take place the week prior to the virtual event. Further details on voting will be announced.

ABOUT HOOP DANCING

Hoop dancing is a long-standing tradition in many Native cultures. The art of hoop dance honors the cultural traditions from multiple Indigenous communities that first employed hoop dance as a healing ceremony. Today, hoop dance is shared as an artistic expression to celebrate and honor Indigenous traditions throughout the U.S. and Canada.

This unique dance can involve the use of more than 50 hoops. Passed down from one generation to the next, hoop dancing communicates individual and tribal stories using hoops to create symbols and depict animals of great meaning in Native communities. The continuous circle of the hoops symbolizes the circle of life and the continual changing of the seasons.

Traditional hoops were made from the wood of a willow tree. Modern-day hoops are often made from reed and plastic hose because of the durability of the material when traveling. The hoops are decorated with tape and paint to symbolize the changing colors of each season. The traditional wooden hoops are still used on rare occasions.

The art of hoop dance honors the cultural traditions from multiple Indigenous communities that first employed hoop dance as a healing ceremony. Today, hoop dance is shared as an artistic expression to celebrate and honor Indigenous traditions throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Dancers are judged on a slate of five skills: precision, timing/rhythm, showmanship, creativity, and speed. Contestants compete in one of five divisions: Tiny Tots (age 5 and younger), Youth (6-12), Teen (13-17), Adult (18-39) and Senior (40 and older). See the contest rules for further detail.

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2021 Winners

Adult (18-39)

1st Place: Tony Duncan (San Carlos Apache, Mandan/ Hidatsa/ Arikara)
2nd Place: Scott Sixkiller-Sinquah (Gila River Pima, Hopi)
3rd Place: Tyrese Jensen (Diné, Pima Maricopa)
Viewers Choice: Josiah Enriquez (Pueblo of Pojoaque)

Senior (40 and above)

1st Place: Terry Goedel (Yakama)
2nd Place: Moontee Sinquah (Hopi, Tewa, Choctaw)
3rd Place: Celina Cada-Matasawagon (Ojibway)
Viewer’s Choice: Celina Cada-Matasawagon (Ojibway)

Teens (13-17)

1st Place: Kailayne Jensen (Diné)
2nd Place: Rito “RJ” Lopez (Akiemel O’odham/ San Carlos Apache/ Arikara/ Hidasta/ Mandan)
3rd Place: Mitchell Shonkwaiataroroks Gray (Mohawk)
Viewers Choice: Joseph Romero (Pueblo of Pojoaque)

Youth (6-12)

1st Place: Mateo Ulibarri (Pueblo of Pojoaque)
2nd Place: Jai’Po Harvier (Pueblo of Pojoaque)
3rd Place: Isiah George (Santa Clara Pueblo)
Viewers Choice: Keeli King (Eastern Shoshone) & Paloma Rivera (Pueblo of Pojoaque) – TIED

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2020 Winners

Adult (18-39)

World Adult Champion:Scott Sixkiller-Sinquah (Gila River Pima, Hopi)
2nd Place: Tyrese Jensen (Diné, Pima Maricopa)
3rd Place: James Jones (Tallcree First Nation)
4th Place: Sampson Sixkiller-Sinquah (Gila River Pima, Hopi, Cherokee)
5th Place: Talon Duncan (San Carlos, Apache, Arikara/Hidastsa/Mandan)
6th Place: Patrick Willie (Diné)

Senior (40 and above)

World Senior Champion:Moontee Sinquah (Hopi, Tewa, Choctaw)
Second Place:Lisa Odjig (Obijwe, Odawa, Pottawatomi)
Third Place:Terry Goedel (Yakama)

Teens (13-17)

World Teen Champion:Nedallas Hammill (Diné)
Second Place:Josiah Enriquez (Pueblo of Pojaque)
Third Place:Joseph Romero (Pueblo of Pojaque/Nambé)

Youth (6-12)

World Youth Champion:Kailayne Jensen (Diné)
Second Place:Isaiah George (Santa Clara Pueblo)
Third Place: JaiP’o Harvier (Pueblo of Pojoaque) #

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Questions?

Get in touch via contact@heard.org for general inquiries.
Email tvigil@heard.org for PR/Media requests.

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Major Sponsor Sponsors Youth & Teen Division Sponsor Supporters