The Hoops Will Come Up Tomorrow...well, maybe

I might be doing parts of my new hoop dancing routine tomorrow.  My feelings are: excitement, fear, excitement, worry, excitement.

Last night, I had a giant job.  I had to decide what order to do my moves in.  Native American hoop dancing is mainly a sequence of hoop formations that the dancer does in order.  Prior to yesterday, I had a collection of about 40 formations/moves, some easy, others hard.  I had to pick my top 30 and figure out what move went smoothly with the next.  It took like 3 hours to plan the moves.  It was really made much hard by the fact that I was in my living room and practicing many of the bigger moves was out of the question (not to mention the throws).

Today, I have to memorize the moves, fight the urge to switch things around (surprisingly hard for me), and work on the transitions between the moves.  I also have to decide for sure whether I am dancing tomorrow.

Part 1: What (Not?) to Wear...Hoop Dancer Edition

I have decided for sure that I need a new outfit to compete at Worlds in February 2012 (if I am lucky enough to make it that far.) 

Right now, I am using a fancy shawl powwow outfit for hoop dancing, minus the shawl.   My Grandma helped me get the outfit and it's actually very pretty but there are a few things about it that make hoop dancing hard. 

First, the outfit has a skirt without slits.  During a lot of my hoop dance, I have hoops balanced at different angles and heights between my feet.  (My mom calls this "not very lady like." She's right but it's a necessity!) During other parts of my dance, I do things like splits.  A skirt without slits just is not practical for these types of moves - for real. 

Second, the outfit has a "yoke" (no joke) as part of the top.  A yoke is extra fabric/beadwork, looking kind of like a small apron, that covers your shoulder blades and are attached to a vest at the shoulders.  (I feel like I'm not describing this well.)  Since yokes are "extra" material, they can get caught in hoops - not good.

Between the skirt and the yoke, this outfit is not the most practical.  Thus, I am in search of outfit ideas.  Wish me luck.

Misconception #1: Native American hoop dancing is just a sport.

Native American hoop dancing is far more than just a sport.

Native American hoop dancing is many things:
* it is a form of storytelling,
* it is our culture,
* it is our connection to the past,
* it is our way of passing on knowledge from one generation to the next,
* it is the understanding that in a circle everything is connected,
* it is really knowing that some things cannot be forced, bought, or sold,
* it is the comfort in knowing that the dance will survive longer than us.

Most importantly:
* it is not for others to steal or appropriate.

From my: Top 10 Native American Hoop Dancing Misconceptions

Misconception #2: Every powwow dancer can hoop dance

Not every dancer who participates in Native American powwows can hoop dance. And, not every hoop dancer does powwows.

Powwows are Native American social events where many people (from lots of tribes) dance.  Powwow dancers have a wide range of experience.  They range from the dancers who enter the dance circle once or twice in a decade to the hardcore competitors who hit a powwow every single weekend.

The vast majority of Native American dancers specialize in a single dance style.  There are at least 8 powwow dance styles plus tribal and regional styles, not even counting hoop dancing.  Each style is a living dance; they can evolve drastically over time.  The styles takes a lifetime to master and regularity to keep with the changes.

It is rare that a dance can reach world-class quality in more than one Native American dance style.  It is also rare to find a dancer that can be a champion hoop dancer and powwow dancer.

From my: Top 10 Native American Hoop Dancing Misconceptions

Misconception #3: Native American hoop dancers are only men

There are both male and female Native American hoop dancers.

When American Indian hoop dancing started becoming popular throughout North America, it was assumed by many that only men and boys could hoop dance. Some people think this was supported by the fact that women's powwow outfits (all styles require calf length skirts) do not easily allow for hoop dancing leg moves.  In reality, no full powwow outfit, men's or women's, can really be used for hoop dancing. 

Today, it is widely accepted that women and girls can hoop dance.  The Hoop Dance World Championship, from the start, has allowed females to compete in all division and there has been a number of female World Champions. 

The majority of Native American hoop dancers are still male but the number of females is growing.

From my: Top 10 Native American Hoop Dancing Misconceptions

Misconception #4: Native American hoop dancers are uneducated

Native American hoop dancers are often very educated.

Of all the adult American Indian  hoop dancers I know, every one of them has attended an university.  Of the dancers that have not reached college age, they are growing up in families that emphasizes education. 

I, myself, am an honors student.  Outside of classes, I spend at least 5 times more hours studying per week than practicing my hoop dancing (although I think both are important.)

The nature of hoop dancing requires a lot of concentration, math, memory, multi-tasking, planning, and focus.  These are traits that help people succeed in school too.  It is not very surprising that Native American hoop dancers are often educated.

From my: Top 10 Native American Hoop Dancing Misconceptions

Misconception #6: Hoop dancers only dance

Native American hoop dancers have lives outside of hoop dancing.

Each Native American hoop dancer has a "real life" outside of hoop dancing.  We have homes, jobs, go to school, help our family - just like everyone else.  Hoop dancing is part of our identity but it's not our whole life.

From my: Top 10 Native American Hoop Dancing Misconceptions

Misconception #7: Every hoop dancer has the same beliefs and/or is from the same tribe

Hoop dancers are from various tribes and have different belief systems.

Hoop dancers come from tribes all over North America.  In addition to their traditional beliefs, dancers have modern influences. 

Native American hoop dancers even vary in the way they see their hoops and their dances.  Some might think of hoops as sacred.  Others might see them as dancing accessories.  Likewise, some might encourage photography and video recording.  Others might request that no records are made of them.

From my: Top 10 Native American Hoop Dancing Misconceptions

Hooping It Up

Today's the best day ever!  My basketball team did great in our tournament.  Woohoo.

I spent last night working on some new hoop dancing moves.  Watch out for "Flying Y", "Make Up", "Four Directions", "Twister", "Angel", and "Front Butterfly."  I think at least two of these have not been done before.  (I of course made up these names.  I have no idea if there are official names for any of these moves - I kinda doubt it.)

More Misconceptions about Hoop Dancing will be posted shortly. :)

Things to Come

Hi.  I was checking my stats today and noticed a few people from Europe have been reading this blog.  Welcome everyone  from America, Canada....and now across Europe too.

I figured out how to setup additional pages and create tabs for them.  Yay me!  My first tab is up, "More About Me."  Check it out if you want.

I realized today how little information is out there about Native American hoop dancing is out there.  So, for the next few days, I will be posting my "10 Misconceptions about Hoop Dancing."   They're all from crazy things people have asked me. So, be on the lookout. :-)

Ready, Set, Go

I actually have two hoop dancing accomplishments to blog.  First, my hoop dancing idol has offered to dance with me sometime.  How cool is that?  But, she lives in a different state so I'm not sure when this will happen.

Second, I have my first four moves decided for my new, more difficult routine.  I call the moves "hopscotch,"  "tight side step," "spinning pick up," and three "high jumpropes".  I am deciding what to do next.  It will probably some throws. 

This means I have about 10 second out of 300 seconds planned.  250 seconds to go.

In other news, I made it through my presentation on Bill Clinton's Politics and Scandals today in class. Yay!  Basketball practice went awesome too.    Plus, I even squeezed in violin practice today.

80% of This; 20% of That

I love love love jingle dress.  Jingle dress is a style of dance seen at powwows.  Jingle dresses actually  have little tin cones on them that sound kind of like rain when they move.  With the right footwork, the cones hit perfectly in time with the drum.  Sorta pretty.

So I was thinking: Jingle dress dancing is 80% footwork and 20% armwork.  Hoop dance is the opposite.  It's 20% footwork and 80% armwork.  It is different than what I'm used to but I do like a challenge. :)

Powwows versus Hoop Dancing

Yay. I think am going heading to a powwow this weekend, my first since New Years.  I have been dancing since I could walk. My family has many powwow dancers but I am the only hoop dancer.  I like being unique.

Just in case you don't know, a Native American powwow is very different than a hoop dance contest. 

Powwows

• Big events
• 6+ dance styles
• Separate contests for men and women
• Dancers in the same category all dance at the same time.

Hoop Dance Contest

• Small enough to know every dancer's name
• Only 1 dance style
• Men and women compete against another
• Competitors dance 1 at a time

So, which do I like? Both, but in separate ways.

Confessions of a Part-Time Hoop Dancer

So I didn't get to practice hoop dancing today.  I feel sorta bad about it.  But my life got busy.  Besides hoop dancing, I'm an honors student, a violinist, on a competitive basketball team, and write piano/violin notes.    (Plus, I'm now a blogger.)

I did however get to watch some hoop dancing youtube videos.  Man, those dancers rocked.  Their routines were so smooth, it looked effortless.  I got a few new ideas for hoop positions. 

On another note, I notice I have people looking here at these words come from all over the place!  Hello people in Canada and America (Alaska, the Northwest, Southwest, Plains, & East Coast).  I am glad you are here and my words aren't wasted. Now I know I have company.  Please comment.

video: 2011 3rd Place & 1st Place World Champions

Happy Valentine's Day.  Here is a video from the 21st Annual Heard Museum Hoop Dance World Championship Contest (2011).  The first dancer, Charles Denny (in black and tan), got 3rd Place.  Charles Denny was the 2008 Champion. 

The second dancer, Tony Duncan (in blue), took first.  He is the 2011 World Champion!   Man, he moves fast!!! 

Days to World's...357

Each day leads me one step closer to the big thing, the World Championship. And, really it means I have one day less of practice.   Today, like all days, I hope to learn new moves. 

Native American hoop dancing is basically a long dance routine of different hoop positions linked together in a single song.  My contest dance has to be about 5 minutes.  That's 300 seconds for those of us that need to know.  I figure 10 seconds for big positions and 5 seconds for easier ones.  That equals somewhere between 30 to 60 positions I need to get into then out of (in my 5 minutes.)  That's a lot of positions. 

This is an interesting dance. And it also can be frustrating. Sometimes, I can't figure out a move or perfect one. I imagine many people have trouble with hoop dancing. All I can do is try. You miss one hundred percent of the shots that you do not take.  I've decided to take this shot.

Goal: World Championship

My goal for this year is to compete in the 22nd Annual Hoop Dance World Championship in February 2012.  I have 357 days to get ready. 

I have hoops, thanks to BJ.  I have a friend (GS) who has won the Championship and who I think will answer questions.  I also know how to dance to powwow songs.  I need great moves, a routine, and a better outfit to wear.  Right now, I'm learning some moves.  Practice, practice, practice...it's the key.