Sedona Ascension Retreat 2025

In Native American cultures, the hoop dance is a method of storytelling in which dancers use 1 to 30 small, handmade hoops as props to tell a story through dance. The dancer interlocks the hoops on and around the body to represent animals and symbols by replicating wings or tails and forming shapes like globes around the body.

There is no clear origin for the Native hoop dance, but the most popular story is from the Anishinaabe culture about a young boy who was not interested in typical activities like running and hunting, instead preferring to be alone and observe animals in nature. His father did not approve and even disowned him, but the boy didn’t let this stop him. Spending time with animals like eagles, snakes, and bears inspired him to create a dance using hoops that emulated their movement. The dance caught on, spread to other tribes, and was passed down to future generations. To Indigenous cultures, the hoop became a sacred and important aspect of traditional healing ceremonies, representing the never-ending circle of life.