Death of Hopi-Tewa Hoop Dancer Nakotah LaRance

“Nakotah LaRance, an acclaimed Hopi-Tewa hoop dancer [in the United States] who performed with Cirque du Soleil, passed away on July 12 near the Ohkay Owingeh pueblo in New Mexico. He was 30 years old.

He died after falling while climbing a bridge in Rio Arriba County, N.M., his father, Steve LaRance, stated. (…)

Hoop dances, a tradition in many Native American cultures, tell tribal and individual stories using up to 50 hoops, which represent the circle of life and are decorated with tape and paint to represent the changing colors of the seasons.”

Our thoughts go out to his loved ones and to all members of the circus community who knew him.

Translated from English. Read the full New York Times article (in English) to learn more about him and his work.