Native Hoop Dancer Nakotah LaRance Dies at 30

By Mary Anne R. First Posted: Jul 16, 2020 02:38 AM EDT

World-class hoop dancer Nakotah LaRance died at age 30 on Sunday after accidentally falling from a bridge in New Mexico's Rio Arriba, County.

The Native American hoop dancer's father announced his death.

Reports said LaRance started dancing when he was 5-years old. His father Steve LaRance took him to a powwow, where he met champion hoop dancer Derrick Davis.

Davis made LaRance his first set of hoops and taught him how to dance.

Steve LaRance said the native hoop dance is a healing ceremony. He added that it is an energy that comes out of performing.

Dan Hagerty said Nakotah was known for doing fearless and thrilling performances. Hagerty was the director of strategic development and planning at the Heard Museum in Phoenix.

"His risk-taking in the hoop arena resulted in unforgettable performances, and he will forever remain a fan favorite," Hagerty was quoted in a report.

Nakota's heritage came from the Hopi, Tewa, and Assiniboine people. His name in Hopi was Lomasohu or "Handsome Star."

Nakotah LaRance's Hoop Dancing Career

Nakota started competing in the Heard's annual World Championship Hoop Dance Contest. He won championship titles in each category.

Nakota also won in the adult division, which earned him the World Champion. He won his three times in 2015, 2016, and 2018.

The World Champion hoop dancer also performed on NBC's "Tonight Show" with Jay Leno.

His performance led to some acting roles, such as a part in Steven Spielberg's 2005 television series "Into the West."

Other acting roles he played were in the 2007 film "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee." He also featured in the TV series "Longmire."

At age 20, Nakota became a principal dancer with Cirque du Soleil in 2009. He traveled the world performing in its shows for around three years.

George River, who was a co-founder of a youth dance group, said that Nakota was really a top performer.

"Most human beings, even if they're dancers, would never be able to pull off what he could pull off with his style. And the fact that he was trained to Cirque du Soleil just gave him a whole 'nother dimension of gymnastics and athletic ability as well," Rivera was quoted in a report.

LaRance worked with Native youth in New Mexico through the Lightning Boy Foundation for the past several years.

Native Hoop Dance

Native hoop dance is a form of storytelling through dance. The dancer uses hoops to create shapes to move to the music.

Hoop dancing has been around for years and has been practiced by First Nations for centuries.

There was a story about native hoop dance saying that there was a boy who dislikes hunting or fishing but would spend hours watching the animals in the wild.

The boy eventually copied the animals's movements. He then added the hoops and created a dance he taught to others.

The dancers could use up to 50 hoops at a time and wear colorful regalia.

Native hoop dance has been passed from one generation to the other and is not like other dances that can be taught in a class.