The World Championship Hoop Dance Contest: A Celebration of Indigenous Culture and Connection
Each February in Phoenix, Arizona, the World Championship Hoop Dance Contest brings together Indigenous dancers from across North America in a dazzling display of skill, storytelling, and cultural pride. Held over two days at the Heard Museum, this event is often described as the “Olympics of hoop dancing” and features the top performers in a dance form that is as visually captivating as it is deeply rooted in Indigenous traditions. The 2024 contest marked a new peak in popularity, drawing a record 121 dancers from various Indigenous communities across the U.S. and Canada, all competing for a total of $25,000 in cash prizes across five age-based divisions.
The Dance of Storytelling and Skill
To the rhythm of a powerful drumbeat, dancers spin, weave, and interlock multiple hoops to create symbols that represent animals, elements, and the unity of life. One dancer at the 2024 contest moved with eagle-like grace, using hoops to form a globe that he held up to the sky in a powerful gesture of connection. Judged on precision, timing, showmanship, creativity, and speed, these dancers push the boundaries of physical skill and artistic expression in front of a panel of expert judges.
Yet, as long-time competitor Terry Goedel explains, “It’s more than winning and losing—it’s about holding your head with pride and saying: This is who I am, and this is what I share with you.”
Honoring the Origins and Legacy of Hoop Dance
The origins of hoop dance are thought to trace back to the Taos Pueblo, where the circular form of the hoop symbolized the circle of life and was used in healing ceremonies. In the 1930s, Tony White Cloud of the Jemez Pueblo began to popularize hoop dancing for broader audiences, introducing it as a form of storytelling through intricate patterns created with willow hoops.
White Cloud’s performances across the U.S. and appearances in films helped spread hoop dance, inspiring Indigenous communities to develop and evolve their own styles.
Today, dancers like Goedel credit the survival of hoop dancing to its embrace by Indigenous communities. Regalia worn by the dancers at the 2024 event, ranging from buckskin clothing to the three-feathered Mohawk headdress, illustrated the diversity and cultural pride of these performers.
Empowering Indigenous Youth Through Hoop Dance
A vital part of preserving hoop dance is passing it on to the next generation. Many dancers learn from family members who teach them about their heritage through dance. For young people without that family connection, organizations like the New Mexico-based Lightning Boy Foundation offer guidance. Established in honor of nine-time world champion Nakotah LaRance, the foundation provides free hoop dance instruction to Indigenous youth, including travel support for competitions. LaRance’s sister, ShanDien Sonwai LaRance, serves as the foundation’s master instructor, helping young dancers build skills and resilience.
“Hoop dancing is a difficult dance to learn,” she says. “But it teaches our young kids to try and fail and to continue trying—to pick up a hoop if they drop it and keep going.”
Hoop Dance Across North America: Where to See It
While the World Championship Hoop Dance Contest in Phoenix each February is the premier showcase for this art, hoop dancing is celebrated in other venues as well. The Nakotah LaRance Youth Hoop Dance Championship in Santa Fe, New Mexico, is held each August, providing a unique platform for young dancers. In the Mohawk community of Akwesasne, New York, the Akwesasne Youth Troupe performs annually at the Akwesasne Powwow and Art Market, blending traditional and modern music with a powerful sense of cultural pride.
A Living Tradition
As hoop dancing continues to evolve, it remains a powerful symbol of identity, resilience, and unity among Indigenous communities. For dancers like Feryn King, who also performed internationally with Cirque du Soleil, hoop dancing offers both a personal journey and a way to connect others to Indigenous culture. In every circle created by their hoops, these dancers carry forward the stories, strength, and spirit of their communities—sharing a rich legacy with audiences around the world.