ADVANCING AMERICAN INDIAN ART
NEW DATES! March 26-27, 2022
The World Championship Hoop Dance Contest has been postponed and will take place at the Heard Museum on March 26-27, 2022. Please check this event page for continuing updates.
The art of hoop dance honors cultural traditions shared by multiple Indigenous communities. With roots in healing ceremonies, traditions and practices, today hoop dance is shared as an artistic expression to celebrate and honor Indigenous traditions throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Over the years, as the hoop dance community has grown, dancers have incorporated new and creative designs and intricate footwork while still respecting the fundamentals of the form. Each dancer presents his or her own choreography, weaving in aspects of tradition and culture. Men and women compete on an equal field, and individual routines may feature as few as four to as many as 50 hoops, which are manipulated to create a variety of designs such as animals, insects and globes.
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.
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). Cash prizes totaling $25,000 are awarded to winners in each division, and victors in each division can claim the honor of being the World Champion.
Through stunning performances of those women and men competing to be named the next World Champion Hoop Dancer, the event combines artistry, athleticism, tradition and suspense for an unforgettable weekend of fellowship and competition.
Rules have been developed with input from the Hoop staff and Advisors to the program. If you would like to enter the contest, please read the rules carefully, and direct any questions to: hoopdance@heard.org.
Heard Museum Hoop Dance Contest 2022 Rules
Registration is open. You can fill out the registration form via the link in the sidebar titled, “Register to Compete.”
In order to compete, you must fully complete your online registration by March 14, 2022, at 11:59pm Arizona-Time. We strongly encourage you to register early. You may register online by clicking here or via the “Register to Compete” button in the sidebar.
Once registered, your registration materials will be verified within three (3) business days. Upon verification, you will receive a confirmation email at the address you provide.
| Youth | Teen | Adult | Senior |
| 1st $600 | 1st $1000 | 1st $5000 | 1st $3000 |
| 2nd $400 | 2nd $700 | 2nd $3500 | 2nd $2000 |
| 3rd $250 | 3rd $300 | 3rd $2500 | 3rd $1000 |
| 4th $2000 | |||
| 5th $1500 | |||
| 6th $1000 |
Adult Division First Runner Up – Beany John (Plains Cree and Taino)
Adult Division Second Runner Up – Talon Duncan (San Carlos Apache, Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation)
Adult Division Third Runner Up – Tony Duncan (San Carlos Apache, Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation)
Adult Division Fourth Runner Up – Scott Sixkiller Sinquah (Gila River Pima/ Hopi-Tewa/ Cherokee/ Choctaw)
Adult Division Fifth Runner Up – Joseph Secody (Diné)
2022 Heard Hoop Dance Contest Senior Champion – Derrick Suwaima Davis (Hopi/Choctaw)
Senior Division First Runner Up – Terry Goedel (Yakama/Tulalip)
Senior Division Second Runner Up – Dallas Arcand (Cree, Nakota Sioux, Metis)
Teen Division First Runner Up – Mitchell Shonkwaiataroroks Gray (Mohawk)
Teen Division Second Runner Up – Joseph Romero (Pueblo of Pojoaque/Nambe Pueblo)
2022 Heard Hoop Dance Contest Youth Champion – Jai’po Harvier (Pueblo of Pojaoque, Santa Clara Pueblo, Taos Pueblo, Tohono O’odham Nation)
Youth Division First Runner Up – Mateo Ulibarri (Pueblo of Pojoaque)
Youth Division Second Runner Up – Naiche Duncan (San Carlos Apache, MHA Nations, Plains Cree, Taino)
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)
World Senior Champion:Moontee Sinquah (Hopi, Tewa, Choctaw)
Second Place:Lisa Odjig (Obijwe, Odawa, Pottawatomi)
Third Place:Terry Goedel (Yakama)
World Teen Champion:Nedallas Hammill (Diné)
Second Place:Josiah Enriquez (Pueblo of Pojaque)
Third Place:Joseph Romero (Pueblo of Pojaque/Nambé)
World Youth Champion:Kailayne Jensen (Diné)
Second Place:Isaiah George (Santa Clara Pueblo)
Third Place: JaiP’o Harvier (Pueblo of Pojoaque) #
Get in touch via contact@heard.org for general inquiries.
Email media@heard.org for PR/Media requests.
March 26 – 27
Saturday – Sunday
Location:
Libby Amphitheater
Event Category:
Festivals, Performances, Special Event
Event Timings:
Saturday, March 26
Gates Open: 8:45am
Event start: 9:30am
Event ends: 5:00pm
Sunday, March 27
Gates Open: 8:45am
Event start: 9:30am
Event ends: 5:00pm
*All listed times are approximate*
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