Circle of life celebrated by hoop dancer

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As part of the opening celebrations held Aug. 25 to 27 at the Frog Lake First Nation Millennium 2000 Powwow, several young women from Samson band in Hobbema, Alta. teamed up to give the crowd a treat.

Creating a circle within a circle, the four female hoop dancers entertained a full house in the open-air arbor.

Braving the gusting winds and late summer chill, world champion hoop dancer Roberta Saddleback led the field. She did not miss a beat, a step or a hoop, and her grand finale brought the large appreciative crowd to its feet. After the spectacular display of showmanship, Saddleback, wrapped up in a cozy blanket coat, tied up her hoops and accepted congratulations from many well-wishers.

The stop at Frog Lake First Nation was part of a day in the life of this busy young hoop dancer whose schedule is crammed with schoolwork, teaching, competition, showcase dancing and international travel.

"My grandfather, George Saddleback, has just made the arrangements for my trip to Italy in September. He tells me what my schedule will be, when to start practising and takes care of all the details. I have traveled to Phoenix, Arizona for the world championships and places like Germany, Mexico and Hawaii to give cultural demonstrations of my dancing," she said.

The tradition of hoop dancing is part of a strong circle that ties her family together.

"Hoop dancing runs in my family. I am the fourth generation. I started with the hoops at nine years old and am 16 now, just finishing high school. I am hoping to attend Arizona State University, where my other traditional grandparents live, to study mathematics and physics," said Saddleback.

Once the exclusive domain of Aboriginal men, the competitive hoop dance world has now opened up to include girls and women.

"Some people say that hoop dancing is just a man-thing, but women can do things just as well as men. I am proud of what I do. In our family, the hoop dancing tradition was passed on by my late great-grandfather to my grandparents, who taught my uncle, who taught me," said Saddleback.

"Women ask me to teach their daughters. I guess younger girls look at me as a role model. It feels really good to know that I can be a good role model, because that was my goal, to be part of a bigger circle, carrying on my family traditions."

The number of hoops used varies with different traditions and individuals.

Ancient Hopi tradition speaks of the sacred number four in hoop dancing; four hoops configured to represent the union of the physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual realms.

Individual hoops are wrapped with white cloth or tape and accented with red, black, yellow and white representing the four directions, four winds and four seasons.

Each dancer works with her own set of custom hoops, the size and weight geared to the individual.

"I dance with 41 hoops. There is nothing special about that number. It is what I need to do certain designs like the butterfly, the moon rising, the sun setting, the eagle soaring, the nest, diamond and rainbow," said Saddleback.

Hoop dancing regalia is pared down to the essentials so as not to interfere with the movement of the hoops. Traditional dancing regalia based on ancient Hopi dress with bare arms and legs gives better traction for the hoops and a more tactile feel for the dancers.

Manipulating 40 to 50 hoops in a fast-moving routine demands keen senses and total focus. Hoop dancing meshes intricate footwork, complex patterns, precision, timing, speed and agility, with an uncanny ability to know where all of the hoops are at any given time.

Different combinations of traditional drum, rattle, flute and singing accompany exhibition and competitive dancing. Choreography reflects ancient myths and new age influences, diverse regional cultures and personal interpretations.

Combining the individual and the universal, no two hoop dances or dancers are ever alike.

"First Nations people have always used circles in their medicine whels, sundance lodges, powwow arbors, fire pits, sweat lodges, tipis, pottery-making, basket-weaving and round dancing. I was taught that the hoop is the circle of life; how so many things that are separated can be put back together and make something beautiful. That is how we should treat life," said Saddleback.