What is Native American Hoopdance?
Traditional Native American Hoopdance is completely different from what we refer to as Hoopdance today. Originally Native American medicine men and spiritual leaders performed dances with hoops for medicinal and/or visionary purposes. It was thought that visions could be seen through the hoops in order to find a way to cure ailments or see into the future. As this evolved, the dancers learned to utilize these concepts in their own interpretive movement: to weave the story of how all living things on the earth are connected and how they grow and change. Native American Hoop dancers use dozens of small lightweight hoops. They are commonly made of plastic, but were traditionally made of reeds. The multi-colored hoops represent the creatures found in nature and/or the elements, and are spun in progression to tell a story. Different dancers lend their own interpretations, but each follows the theme of “harmony with nature”. For example, the dancers may imitate the form and movement of an ea
