The tourism industry in New Mexico in New Mexico took a hit during the pandemic, but there is optimism as the state vaccinates more people and cases drop.
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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.”
Fairgoers fly through the air on one of the midway rides during the 2012 State Fair.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. The New Mexico State Fair once again has been recognized for excellence in the industry, both before and during the pandemic.
The International Association of Fairs and Expositions, and the Western Fairs Association recently honored the New Mexico State Fair with five First-Place awards and four Second-Place awards in a host of categories.
Among the awards presented were those for video at home activities, innovative use of technology in agriculture, virtual fairs, online competitions, virtual livestock auctions and sales, and state fair wellness drives for vaccines, blood drives and food distribution.