Heard Museum: World Famous for a Reason - 2010 International Hoop Dance Championship

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2009 Hoop Dance World Champion Brian Hammill, Ho Chunk. 2008 champion Charles Denny, Chippewa/Cree/Ute, is expected to battle Hammill to regain the top spot in the hoop dance.	WORLD’S BEST NATIVE HOOP DANCERS RETURN TO PHOENIX FOR 2010 WORLD CHAMPION TITLE Top American Indian and Canadian First Nation hoop dancers from the United States and Canada are set to compete for the prestigious title of world champion during a weekend of competition at the Heard Museum on Saturday and Sunday, February 13 & 14, 2010. These accomplished dancers will showcase their skills in amazing performances of the intertribal hoop dance. The Jay Kahn Memorial Fund sponsors the youth competition prizes and the Arizona Commission for the Arts is a supporter of the contest. First-time adult champion Brian Hammill, Ho Chunk, 39, of New River, Arizona is expected to return and defend his title against Charles Denny, Chippewa/Cree/Ute, 19, from Fort Duchesne, Utah, the 2008 champion. Also, look for seasoned competitors and crowd favorites as Derrick Davis, Hopi/Choctaw; Nakotah La Rance, Hopi/Tewa, from Flagstaff, Arizona; Alex Wells, Lil Wat First Nation, of Morley, Alberta; and Lisa Odjig, Odawa/Ojibwe, from Wikemiking, Ontario. The winners will take home their share of more than $30,000 in prize money. (Final competitor list will be available on Saturday, February 13 at the event.) Hoop dance fans from across the U.S., Canada and Europe are already making plans to cheer their favorite dancer on to glory. Other categories of competition include Tiny Tot (under 5 years), Youth (5 to 12), Teen (13 to 17) and Senior (40 and older). Also, it’s easier to get to the Heard and to our events via light rail! Look for the Heard Museum parking signs along Central Avenue, take the light rail to the Encanto Station and avoid having to locate a parking spot! Or use Park and Ride lots all along the Light Rail route.
Jasmine Pinckner, Crow Creek Sioux	History of the Modern Hoop Dance For many years, the intertribal hoop dance has expanded to incorporate new and creative designs and extremely intricate footwork. Each dancer presents a unique variation of the intertribal hoop dance, weaving in aspects of his or her distinct tradition and culture. Individual routines are presented using as few as four to as many as 50 hoops, which are manipulated to create a variety of designs including animals, butterflies and globes. Dancers are judged on a slate of five skills – precision, timing/rhythm, showmanship, creativeness and speed. In recent years, younger competitors such as La Rance, who’s also an up-and-coming actor, are incorporating modern dance steps like hip-hop into their routines.
Lowery Begay, Diné, is a crowd favorite.	Saturday and Sunday, February 13 & 14, 2010 - Rain or Shine 9:30 a.m. Grand Entry – Saturday and Sunday Competition will end at approximately 5 p.m. on Saturday. The Adult final round will begin at 2 p.m. on Sunday. COST: $10 general admission, $9 seniors (65+), $7 American Indians, $3 children 4-12, FREE for children under 4. Cost is per day and includes the event and museum admission. INFO: Call 602.252.8848 or visit heard.org/hoop.
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