Dallas Arcand is 2007 World Champion Hoop Dancer

2007 Hoop Dance Contest Results

In the most competitive contest ever, Cree dancer Dallas M. Arcand won the World Champion Hoop Dancer title for the second year in a row at the Heard Museum’s 17th Annual World Championship Hoop Dance Contest. This year’s event on February 3 and 4 drew 73 dancers – the most the contest has seen in its 17-year history – and more than 10,000 spectators.

A resident of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Arcand joined 23 other Canadian dancers to compete this year. Arcand beat out the second place winner, Lisa Odjig, Odawa/Ojibwe Nation, from Wikwemikong, Manitoulin Island, Canada, by four points. Odjig won the World Champion title in 2003.

Taking third place was Lane Jensen, Navajo/Maricopa, from Scottsdale, Ariz., and fourth place went to Dineh dancer Lowry Begay from Jonesborough, Tenn. Contestants Tony Duncan, San Carlos Apache/Arikara/Hidatsa/Mandan, from Mesa, Ariz., and Brian Hammill, Hochunk, from Phoenix tied and competed in a dance-off to determine the final two places. Duncan took fifth place and Hammill placed sixth.

Hoop dancing incorporates speed and agility as dancers maneuver their bodies through one to more than 50 hoops. Dancers also integrate creative designs and difficult manipulations of the hoops to present a unique variation of the dance.

This year’s event – considered the most competitive hoop dance contest in the world – was sponsored by Casino Arizona. Competitors danced in five divisions: Senior, Adult, Teen, Youth and Tiny Tot. In the top four age categories, dancers compete in three elimination rounds for the World Champion title.

In the Senior Division, Daniel Tramper, Cherokee, from Cherokee, N.C., took the title Senior World Champion title. Second place honors went to Terry Goedel, Yakama/Tulalip, from Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., and New Mexico resident Tommy Draper, Navajo, claimed third.

In the Teen Division, Charles Denny, Chippewa/Cree, from Fort Duchesne, Utah, claimed the teen champion title. Nakotah LaRance, Navajo, of Flagstaff, Ariz., took second place and Oklahoma resident Peanutt Roberts, Choctaw-Nakoda, rounded out the top three.

There were a record number of Youth competitors – 28 dancers total. First place went to Scottsdale, Ariz., resident Tyrese Jensen, Navajo/Maricopa. Second place was awarded to Waskwane Stonefish, Odawa/Chippewa/Delaware/Pattowatomi , from Peshawbestown, Mich., and Starr Chief Eagle, Rosebud Sioux, from Rapid City, S.D., won third place. Ten dancers competed in the Tiny Tot Division, the youngest of whom was 11 months old, and they evenly split the $250 cash prize.

The judges included: Randy Medicine Bear, Rosebud Sioux, from Loveland, Colo., Andy Grant, Eastern Band Cherokee, from Cherokee, N.C., Michael Roberts, Choctaw/Chickasaw, from Ada, Okla., Mike Salabiye, Navajo, from Window Rock, Ariz., and Jackie Bird, Sioux/Mandan/Hidatsa, from Bushnel, S.D.

The Oklahoma Outlaws hosted the Southern and were led by Glen Ahhaitty, Kiowa/Comanche. The Mandaree Singers from New Town, ND, led by Sidirick Baker, Mandan/Hidatsa/Arikara, served as host Northern Drum.

The 18th Annual World Championship Hoop Dance Contest is set for February 9 & 10, 2008.

Information and Article Courtesy: Heard Museum