Native hoop dance wins valley talent show

Thunderous applause greeted Robert Parot, Jr. after he performed a dance in front of nearly 530 people last week.

Parot, who performed a Native American hoop dance, took first place in the Mission Valley Has Talent show, which was held at Polson High School on Friday, March 9.

“It doesn’t take long to learn it, but it takes a long time to get good at it,” he said.

Wearing Native American regalia and using multiple hoops, Parot, of Seneca and Kootenai heritage, said that he had wanted to get on a stage and go through the routine lately.

Then he heard about the talent show and decided to attend an audition.

Building on a routine his father taught him, Parot said he worked on the dance, incorporating hoop moves in which he could transition into different moves faster and achieve a “better overall flow.”

Although he takes part in pow wows and most recently at the Ballet for Borders in Missoula in January, Parot said sometimes he gets nervous but as he starts to dance, the butterflies fly away.

Parot explained that the Native American hoop dance originated in the southwest, but over time the dance has spread all over North America and Canada.

Tillie Marshall, director of the talent show, said that more than $6,300 was raised by the show, which was a fundraiser for the Helping Hands Fund, a non profit ministry of the Mission Valley Ministerial Association.

Twelve finalists performed music, monologues and drama in hopes of winning the top prize of $500.

Taking second place and $300 was Josiah Pettit, who performed Ballade by Debussy, and Cammy Maughan took home $200 for third place for singing “One and Only.”

Since 2004, Helping Hands Fund has provided emergency assistance to county residents, as well as to those traveling through who find themselves in need.

Marshall said that with the response that organizers received this year, next year different categories will be introduced, including one for those up to 18 years, and then another for ages 18 and over.

Along with Marshall, Jason Burrough and Valerie Lindstrom were directors of the show.

Organizers will start planning for next year’s event in January 2019.