Imagine you are standing in an open field in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Reach your hand out in front of you and touch your finger to the horizon line. Now slowly turn in a circle and make your finger follow along that line, creating a hoop around yourself. Many Native American cultures believe this hoop represents the balance between the sky and the earth. Learn more about the significance of the hoop at the Aurora Public Library District (APLD) Sunday, Nov. 23 as we welcome celebrated Lakota Hoop Dancer and educator Starr Chief Eagle. This performance promises to connect, uplift, and bring understanding across cultures.
For Starr Chief Eagle, hoop dancing goes back to before she could walk. A member of the Lakota Sioux Tribe, she learned to dance from her father in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Her performances, which use 22 hoops to create dynamic shapes and symbols, tell stories of unity, transformation, and the circle of life. Over the past 29 years, she has shared her art and stories across the world and throughout the Midwest, working with schools, camps, libraries, museums, and hospitals to celebrate and sustain Lakota culture. She has performed in prominent institutions such as the Field Museum, Tedx USA, and the Smithsonian. “Starr Chief Eagle continues to be one of the few women who practices and performs the Lakota hoop dance,” said senior children’s manager, Monica. “She is a prominent hoop dancer who is recognized for her talent, preserving the tradition, and sharing her culture.”
Starr’s mission is one of connection and understanding. On her website she mentions addressing common stereotypes about Native people and creating safe spaces for learning through her work. “It’s important that we honor and learn from other cultures,” added Monica. “Starr proudly showcases her Lakota culture, and we are so fortunate to be able to offer this culturally rich program.”
Remember that hoop you drew around yourself? Join us in that circle of earth and sky Sunday, Nov. 23 at 2 p.m. at the Santori Library, where Starr Chief Eagle will bring the spirit of the Black Hills to life through rhythm, color, and storytelling. Due to limited space, this is a ticketed program, which means free tickets will be available beginning 30 minutes before the program at the Children’s Desk. For more information, visit www.aurorapubliclibrary.org/event/14432845 or contact the library at 630-264-4117. Come experience the beauty of a tradition that inspires all who gather within its hoop!
Andrea Tiberi is the communications coordinator for the Aurora Public Library District.