Dance Tells a Story
Story is a theme in the lesson plans that have been developed about the hoop dance. The hoop dance is a way of storytelling. As students learn about the dance, they will be learning about stories and that words are not the only means to telling stories. Each Hoop Dance comes from a different background, different history and, often, a different family.
According to Jamie, one story that has been told through the dance is about an eaglet that is born and then the eaglet is discovering the world. In the dance, students will see the nest and that the eaglet is discovering its wings and then discovering nature. It illustrates, through movement and shapes, how the eagle grows and develops to adulthood. Each hoop that is added illustrates the eagle growing.
Kelina describes how many Hoop Dances show ways to take care of the earth and our gratitude for nature and the earth. The shapes that hoop dancers make represent flowers, animals, and the spiritual aspects of the earth. Dancers pay tribute to the spirits of the beautiful world. In Kelina’s experiences with her family members and hoop dancing, they always finish with two worlds – one that we live in now and one that is the spiritual world.
The hoop dance is a healing dance for those who are dancing and for those who are watching. Even though it has changed over time, the healing aspect of the dance remains constant. Each story is unique – they are passed down from generation to generation. There is a connection to history, to lineage.
BYU ARTS Partnership’s Collaboration on Hoop Dance Lesson Plans – Learning about Native Culture
Kelina described the great conversations that have come about as lessons have been planned surrounding the hoop dance. These conversations help educators know how to teach hoop. One of Kelina’s favorite things is the way to talk about the circle, the hoop in general, the sacredness of it and how kids can see the visuals with hoop. Hoop is using the body to tell stories. Kids can create with different shapes through learning about the dance and being exposed to the history of the dance.
Emily tells about how, over the course of a year, one lesson plan has been published and others are in development. Possibly the most important question that has come out of this process is about the appropriateness for children to learn to hoop dance.
The hoop dance has been performed by many tribal nations across North America. It is a sacred dance and it is meant to be shared by different native cultures. Generally, Native Americans should be the only ones to participate in hoop dance.
If My Students Can’t Learn Hoop Dance, What Am I Going to Teach Them?
Because it is not appropriate for non-Native Americans to participate in the actual hoop dance because of its sacredness, educators might wonder what they can do to teach about the dance.
The dance does not have to be a participatory experience in order for the students to learn. Being an observer is a great learning experience. Within the approved lesson plans, learners participate in the interactive lessons.
As educators, we know the importance of kinesthetic and play learning. The four Hoop Dance lesson plans span four artforms and encourage movement, shape, thinking, storytelling, and dance.
Resources
Native American Lesson Plans - www.education.byu.edu/arts/lessons
Native American Curriculum Initiative Blog Posts - https://byuartspartnershipblog.org/category/native-american/
BYU Living Legends - https://pam.byu.edu/ensembles/living-legends/
Living Legends Hoop Dance Film - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQBJcWGHJro
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Don’t forget to peruse the bank of lesson plans produced by the BYU ARTS Partnership in dance, drama, music, visual arts, media arts, and more. Search by grade-level, art form or subject area at www.education.byu.edu/arts/lessons.
