Wigwam Festival of Fine Art

         We went to Litchfield Park today to see some great art and hear my favorite musician, Arvel Bird.   The Wigwam Resort is hosting the three day festival.   I saw so many great pieces of art--sculptures, paintings, photography, jewelry and even some clothing.   But the highlight for me was the music and dancing.

The performance began with a blessing, as is traditional in the Native American culture. This was followed by story-telling and an explanation of the dances.    I didn't write down the names of the dancers because I thought I'd be able to find them on the web.   Unfortunately, I couldn't.   A lesson to me to take my own notes!

This dancer is doing a Shawl Dance.   The men compete in Fancy Dance, and this is the women's equivalent to that.   Very beautiful and fast-paced.

Arvel Bird started with the title song from his album "Ride, Indian, Ride".  I love this album and listen to it a lot on my commute.  After a few songs from this album, he performed "Great Blue Heron" and "Dolphin Dances" from the  "Animal Totems II" album.  I love the stories that he tells about the meaning of the animal totems whenever he performs. 

This young man did a great job with his hoops.  

The national championships are being held at the Heard Museum this weekend.  I wondered if he would have competed in one of the youth divisions if he had not been performing with his family here.   His father is the drummer, barely visible to the far left.

Arvel Bird's latest music features the Celtic side of his heritage.   One of his selections was a tribute to the poorer passengers on the Titanic, many of whom were from Ireland.  The music is excellent, but his Native American songs will always be my favorites.  

  

  

Hoop Dancers - Senior Division

Brian Hammill  

     The Senior Division in the Hoop Dance Competition is  for dancers over 40.    We saw six competitors initially, from which three were chosen for the Final Round.    Brian Hammill was one of the ones who made it into the Final Round.  He is HoChunk and from Wisconsin.

Montee Sinquah is Hopi, Tewa, and Choctan.

Daniel Tramper is Cherokee.   He was also selected for the Final Round.

Celina Cada Matasawagon, who is Ojibway, was the only woman in the Senior Division. 

Tommy Draper is Navajo.   He was a crowd pleaser.  He made a dragon or perhaps it was a dragon fly.  Very unique.   He was the third dancer to make it into the Final Round..  

Allenroy Paquin is Ticaricca Apache. 

. 

Hoop Dances at the Heard

H

      This weekend was the 21st Annual Heard Museum World Championship Hoop Dance Contest.  Native dancers from across the U.S. and Canada competed for the title of World Champion.   Yesterday everyone danced, from toddlers to seniors.  Then the judges began selecting the best dancers from the teens through seniors, the ages that compete for prized money.  
     We saw the Second Round of the Adult and Senior dancers, and the final rounds for everyone.   We arrived early and stayed all day, but left before the final votes were tallied.  I'll post the winner later,  but they are all champions in my mind. 
      Here are a few of the dancers from the Adult Final Round.

 

     Jasmine Rae Pickner, who is Crow, Creek and Sioux, was the only woman in the Final Round.  I love her dancing.   She is graceful and has the most unique style.  She makes baskets out of the hoops, which I had never seen before.    I'll post more of her pictures later.  

 

Tony Duncan is San Carlos Apache and from Mesa.   

     The hoop represents the Circle of Life and the continuous cycle of summer and winter, day and night, male and female.  The dancers are judged on speed, precision, timing or rhythm, showmanship, and creativity. 

Lane Jensen is Navajo/Maricopa.  He is a talented designer, and made his own dance regalia.  

Drummers and singers performed all day, too, to provide the music for the dancers.   Northern Drum was performed by Mandaree Singers from North Dakota.  Southern Drum was provided by Bad Medicine from Oklahoma.  Dennis Bowen, Sr. was the Master of Ceremonies and teller of great jokes.   He's from Tuba City, Arizona.