Canku Ota

(Many Paths)

An Online Newsletter Celebrating Native America

July 17, 2004 - Issue 117

Flag Teen Gets Green Light for 'Tonight Show'

by Sara Kincaid Sun Staff Reporter

Like most teenagers, Nakotah LaRance likes to hang out with his friends at the mall.

But unlike his friends, he will head to Los Angeles Friday to perform on the "Tonight Show with Jay Leno."

"I was nervous right away and excited," LaRance said about finding out he was selected to perform.

LaRance found out Monday he was performing the Hopi hoop dance in Los Angeles.

"He doesn't seem to be fazed by what it means," his father, Steve LaRance, said.

Nakotah, 14, was selected from the 25 people who auditioned at The Galaxy Diner last Thursday as part of Tom Green's Most Interesting Talent Search, which is traveling to the 50 states in alphabetical order to discover local talent.

Nakotah is the reigning teen hoop dancing world champion for a second year in a row. He also was the youth hoop dancing world champion two consecutive years before he moved into the teen division.

In hoop dancing, the dancer must pick up hoops with his or her feet before being allowed to touch a hoop with his or her hands.

The hoops can be juggled, jumped through and used as part of the intricate footwork of the dance to represent animals and plants.

Nakotah learned to dance 10 years ago.

Auditioning was different than competing, where he advances based on his skill.

"It was scary," Nakotah said. "It was my first time auditioning for hoop dance."

But it will not be his first time on television. He has performed on television before, such as a morning talk show before the last hoop dancing competition at the Herd Museum earlier this year.

But unlike other television appearances, he'll get to talk to Jay Leno, Nakotah said.

The Museum of Northern Arizona recommended Nakotah to NBC, Steve LaRance said.

Right up to the day of the audition, NBC was calling to remind them to go, he said.

"It is really a great opportunity to share a cultural performance and give Nakotah national exposure," Steve LaRance said.

Nakotah has traveled and danced often because of hoop dancing. He has performed in New York, New Jersey, Dallas, Atlanta, Los Angeles and other places. He has performed for Coca-Cola, on television and at banquets.

Steve LaRance said he and Nakotah will probably fly out Thursday to Los Angeles. The show will be taped Friday afternoon for that night's show.

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