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PHOTO: L to R Dallas Arcard, Charles Denny, Lisa Odjig (see additional photos in our photo gallery)�

Phoenix��I was glad (to hear my name). I wasn�t too sure if I was going to get it or not. I went out and did what I knew and tried to step it up,� said Charles Denny after he won the World Champion Teen Hoop Dance title last weekend at the Heard Museum. Denny, 17, Chippewa/Cree/Ute, edged out defending champion Nakotah LaRance, Hopi/Tewa in the final round.� Denny is from Ft. Duchesne, Utah and is a student at Uintah High School.

In the adult division Dallas Arcand, Cree, recaptured the World Champion title. �I feel good. I was really surprised,� said a happy Arcand after he won. �I was hoping she would win it,� Arcand added referring to fellow Canadian Lisa Odjig who took second place. The top two finishers traveled together to Phoenix from Calgary, Alberta.

PHOTO: Hoop Dance finalists

�I feel really good for him. We were blowing kisses at each other before the second place winner was announced. Shoot. It was so close but I�m happy,� Odjig said. She lost by only four points.

The World Champion Hoop Dancer title drew a record 73 top Native hoop dancers from North America to compete for the world title in one spectacular weekend of athleticism, speed and grace.

Over the years, the intertribal hoop dance has grown to incorporate creative designs, difficult manipulations of the hoops and intricate footwork. Each dancer presents a unique variation of the intertribal hoop dance, weaving in aspects of his or her distinct traditions and cultures. Individual routines are presented using as few as four to as many as 50 hoops, which are shaped to create a variety of designs including animals, butterflies and globes.

Competitors performed in five divisions including Tiny Tot (under 5 years), Youth (5 to 12), Teen (13 to 17), Adult (18 and older) and Senior (40 years and older).

PHOTO L To R: Nakotah LaRance and Q'orianka Kilcher

Watching her first Hoop Dance competition was actress Q�orianka Kilcher of The New World fame. �I thought it was really awesome. I was trying to hoop dance (behind the scenes) and I couldn�t do even one of the simplest moves. It takes a lot of skill,� Kilcher said. She was there cheering on �special� friend and fellow actor Nakotah LaRance.

More Photos

See list of World Championship Hoop Dance winners (below)

Adult division�

First: Dallas M. Arcand.

Second: Lisa Odjig.

Third: Lane Jensen.

Fourth: Lowry Begay.

Fifth: Tony Duncan.

Sixth: Brian Hammill.

Senior division

First: Daniel Tramper.

Second: Terry L. Goedel.

Third: Tommy Draper.

Teen division

First: Charles Denny.

Second: Nakotah Larance.

Third: Peanutt Roberts.

Youth division

First: Tyrese Jensen.

Second: Waskwane Stonefish.

Third: Starr Chief Eagle.

Read another Hoop Dance article�