Dallas' Bio
Dallas Arcand is an Aboriginal Entertainer from the Alexander (Kipohtakaw) Plains Indian Cree Nation, located near Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. He is broadly talented, but best known for his achievements as a hoop dancer, a motivational speaker and a musician.
Dallas Arcand
Dallas has been a World Class Hoop Dancer for 14 years. In 2007, Dallas was again awarded 1st prize at the Annual World Championship Hoop Dancing Competition in Phoenix, Arizona, USA, and the right to bear the title of World Champion Hoop Dancer for the second consecutive year. In both 2005 and 2004, Dallas received second place honors with an impressive showing.
As well as being a dancer, Dallas was a finalist in a national singing contest called Aboriginal Icon in Winnipeg, which featured Canada's best singers, songwriters, and performers. Dallas also plays Aboriginal acoustic instruments, best known for native flute.
A talented musician, Dallas has developed a unique singing and songwriting style, 'indigenous hip-hop', and performs under the name Kray‹Z›Kree. His debut CD "REZalationzzz..." was released in April, 2007. READ MORE
In November 2006, Dallas was a featured hoop dancer on the Aboriginal People's Choice Awards. In August 2005, he completed filming a vignette called Aboriginality being aired on Bravo TV and APTN. Dallas was also featured on a television production called Kanata (APTN), which was directed and produced by Tom Jackson.
Dallas facilitates workshops for aboriginal people of all ages, speaking on topics that range from self-awareness to personal motivation, to music and dance.
Background
From an early age Dallas has exercised his artistic talents through Pow-Wow, Hip-Hop, and Métis Dancing. He is strongly influenced by his belief in Aboriginal spirituality and traditional teachings.
He likes to keep his spare time open to teach young people, both as a motivational speaker and a dance professional. He is a positive role model for young people and teaches them to follow their dreams and goals.
Dallas' Aboriginal name is "Dancing Buffalo Man' (Nimihto Paskwa Mostôs Napew). Aboriginal names are chosen at birth, and for many years he had no idea that dancing would become a major influence in his life. Now, 2007 World Champion, he delights in sharing his culture through this athletic and creative art form.
Dallas was born in Edmonton but his mother put him up for adoption. He started his life's journey in Kinuso (Swan River Cree Nation), with his foster parents. By the time Dallas was 16, he had lived in ten different places. His Proudest accomplishment is being the father of Dallas jr (Choo-Choo) and Meadow Estrella.
Dallas graduated in 2005 from Mount Royal College in Calgary, Alberta, with a General Studies Diploma majoring in Behavioural Sciences. He is working to complete a B.A. / B.ED Degree.
Performance Highlights
- 2008 Alberta Aboriginal Youth Achievment Awards (AAYAA) - Co-Host of the Award Ceremony, filmed and televised on CTV, held at Winspear Centre in Edmonton.
- Aboriginal People's Choice Music Awards (APCMA) (2007) - Nominee / Recipient. We won an award for 'Kray‹Z›Kree - Rezalationzzz.' for best Producer / Engineer, as well were nominees in: Best Hip-hop, Best Album Design, Best New Artist, Best Single of the Year.
- 2007 Gathering of Nations Pow-wow - Performer.
- Annual World Hoop Dancing Championships (2007) - Dallas Arcand won title for a second consecutive year at the competition in Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.A.
- Healing Our Spirit Worldwide - Keynote Speaker and Entertainer; Hoop Dance and Indigenous Hip-Hop performances.
- Going Miles - Facilitator for youth workshops; this program travels to small communities in Alberta
- Calgary Exhibition & Stampede (2006) - Featured Hoop Dancer in Grandstand Show and Daily Events at the Saddledome Plaza Stage and other outdoor Stampede performance locations
- Seven Sacred Teachings Youth Conference - Facilitator, Seven Sacred Teachings Youth Suicide Awareness Conference
- Alberta Scene Festival - As part of an ongoing commitment to Aboriginal education Suncor Energy sponsored Dallas and two other artists to travel to Ottawa to participate in and observe the creative talent featured during Alberta Scene – an arts and culture festival produced by the National Arts Centre which showcased over 600 Alberta artists to mark Alberta's Centennial. The festival boasted an incredible line-up of Alberta's best-known names.
- Knowing Our Spirits Conference (2006) - Featured Hoop Dancer
- “Aboriginal Experience” Capital 'X'. Edmonton (2006) - Featuring some of Western Canada’s top Aboriginal entertainers and arts and crafts people, the ten day event brought an Aboriginal perspective to the Exhibition though daily cultural showcases featuring First Nation dancing, music, and storytelling.
- World Urban Forum - Featured Hoop Dancer at this congregation of First Nations
- British Columbia Association of Aboriginal Youth Conference - At the Opening Ceremonies, BC Lieutenant Governor, The Honourable Iona Campagnolo, said, "Among the most intriguing challenges to your generation is your dedication toward reaching your own highest realization of who you are. There are so many outstanding First Nations achievers for you to emulate, people in business, in the arts, sciences and in academia, people who have reached beyond the past as Waneek Horn-Miller and Dallas Arcand have done..." READ
- Gathering Our Voices - Featured Hoop Dancer, facilitator and entertainer
- Gold Medal Plates Olympic Fundraiser - Featured Hoop Dancer; one of six featured celebrity performers on this tour, raising money toward the 2010 Olympics
- Empowering Indigenous People in Economic Development & Capacity Building Conference - Flute Performance
- The Masters at Spruce Meadows - Featured Hoop Dancer
- Annual World Hoop Dancing Championships (2006) - Dallas Arcand wins title.
- Aboriginality (2005) - Canadian Talent Video production by Bravo!FACT. "Dallas Arcand, a seventh generation First Nations Canadian, blends traditional with modern by adapting his Native culture with our contemporary modern existence. "Aboriginality" blends dance and animation with English and Cree spoken word rap." Art Curry, Animator; Dallas Arcand, Choreographer; Bruce Leitl, Composer; Kendall Yellowhorn, Costume Designer; Dallas Arcand, Dancer; Tom Jackson, Director; Jarrett Craig, Director Of Photography; Dallas Arcand, Narrator; Dominique Keller, Producer; Dominique Keller, Writer
- GlobalFest 2005: Calgary Foundation Centennial World Stage - Featured Hoop Dancer
- Featured Video, Heritage Community Foundation - A number of videos showcasing Aboriginal content have been included in a DVD called "11,000 Years Celebrating Aboriginal Life in Alberta," produced to commemorate this province’s centenary. In his video, Dallas speaks on Hoop Dancing and it's cultural significance. VIEW VIDEO
- 3rd National Aboriginal Dance Symposium (2005) - Workshop Speaker; Dallas spoke on his cultural history, the different styles of hoop dancing and their meaning, the physical and mental applications of the Hoop Dance, step-by-step; interactive component.
- Annual World Hoop Dancing Championships (2005) - Dallas Arcand wins second place, 3 points short of the first place winner.
- Y.E.A.R.S. Conference For Youth Empowerment - Featured Hoop Dancer
- Annual World Hoop Dancing Championships (2004) - Dallas
Arcand wins second place with an impressive showing.
- Dancing Buffalo Productions - In 2003, Dallas created Dancing Buffalo Productions, a group of youth Hoop Dancers, which he trained and choreographed. They have performed at the Calgary Stampede every year since 2003.
