The Amazing Mr. Pipestem

Quentin Pipestem (Tsuu T'ina) was the very first World Champion, once the championship was moved to the Heard Museum (I think in 1992).  The first video below was taken this year (2011) at the February Championship.  As you can see, he is still an incredible dancer.  Word has it, Quentin Pipestem spends much of his time touring Europe; thus, the second video.

Heard Championship

2009 Exhibition in Germany

Summer's almost over

So my summer's almost over.  School starts in August.  I'm on my last trip of the season.  I can't wait to get home and work on my moves and start blogging more. 

I'm also thinking my blog needs more information about the other hoop dancers.  There are so many awesome ones.  In fact, I might make an entire video page of famous hoop dancers, kinda of a tribute to the great dancers of our time.  Check back to see...

Laters.

Hey there

My summer's in full swing.  As part of a powwowing family, summers are our busiest time.  We just got a new van so maybe we'll be pulling into a town near you.

My hoop dancing is going well.  I wish I had more time to spend on it though. 

Thanks for sticking with me.

Bleaders, bleaders, everywhere

So I learned recently that blog reader are call "bleaders."  Hello to my bleaders everywhere! 

This blog is a month old today.  I am very proud to report that it  already has bleaders from every continent, except Antartica.  It makes me happy to know how many people seem interested in Native American/American Indian Hoop Dance.

I love those videos

I just love Native American hoop dancing videos.  I think some of you might too.  So, I'm thinking of inserting a bunch more into this blog and creating some type of index to find them. I just have to figure out how to do it.  Hmmm...which would make more sense to organize by: dancer or year?

Keep an eye out for the new videos.

Japan's Earthquake & Tsunami

I just heard a 8.9 earthquake and tsunami hit Japan.  My heart goes out to everyone affected, especially the children who were not with parents.  Things like that really make me appreciate all that I have in my life.

In my thoughts are all the indigenous villages around the Pacific Ocean.  I hope they are okay.

Video: 2011 Top Ranked Female Hoop Dancer

Here is a new Youtube video of Jasmine Pickner, taken at the Heard Museum in Phoenix, Arizona in February 2011.  She finished 4th in the World during the 2011 Championship, the highest of the female competitors this year. 

I love this video.  I hope you enjoy it too.

Spring Break

My spring break is later this month.  A whole week off to do nothing be the stuff I want to do (like hoop dance). Yeah!

One of my favorite relatives is coming to visit.  I am planning to show her some moves. 

Later, blog readers!

Pretty Hoops

I found this picture of Native American hoops online.  They are so pretty that I just had to post them.  Native American hoop dancing hoops can be almost any color or any design.  The hoops probably should match each other though. 

   

The original of this picture can be found here.

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.