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The Heard Museum for American Indian Art and History in Phoenix, Arizona, premiered its first Virtual Hoop Dance Contest Feb. 13, via YouTube and Facebook. The contest included video submissions from 80 competitors from 40 tribes, who competed for $2,500 in the youth, teen, adult, and senior divisions.
Hoop dancing is a popular Native American tradition originally meant for healing ceremonies. This year's competition was unlike any other though, due to the virtual format put in place out of caution for COVID-19.
Dennis Bowen of the Seneca Nation was the master of ceremonies for the event.
“We've danced when it was starting to rain, we've danced when it was a very hot day, we've danced when there is a still of cold wind coming from the north,” Bowen said. “What we have seen was the development of world-class hoop dancing.”