Tribe.net. Local Connections silverstar http://hooping.tribe.net/thread/f3fac5b0-935f-44d8-8e80-415208c3562b#88d60c8b-6654-493a-989b-c9ccaa88d71f 2007-09-01T21:51:37Z 2007-09-01T21:48:30Z

I took dance classes when I was younger and I was always a "shake your booty if the music is playing" kind of girl, but hooping posed quite a challenge for me, especially in the beginning. I am used to having my entire body free to move to the music, and when I began hooping I had a hard time keeping my arms out of the way of the hoop and moving my feet in rhythm with the music without dropping the hoop. I used to just stand still with my arms in some form of the T-rex position. Even though I could walk and turn with the hoop, I rarely did it because to me, that wasn't dancing with the hoop - it was just walking or turning while hooping with my arms crumpled up around my Hupper body. I had to put a lot of conscious effort into relaxing my arms and shoulders, moving my feet, and moving around in rhythm with the hoop. I still have a loooooong way to go, but I feel like I've made a lot of progress in that at least I'm not standing in one place with my arms frozen. Hooping comes very naturally to some people, dancing comes naturally to some people, and hoopdancing comes naturally to some people. If any of these components do not come to you naturally, focus specifically on improving it. Skilled hoopdancers make it look very natural, and for some hoopdancers, it IS natural. We like to think about how organic hooping is (and it is!) but if there is an area that you want to improve, think about ways to do it because it might not happen otherwise. Don't just hope that it will magically happen some day (even though that might happen for some people!). Just like learning tricks, integrating dance into hooping requires practice. You wouldn't think, "I really hope that I can do Beam Me Up one day," but never try it, right? Whatever you think you need to improve, really make a conscious effort to work on. For example, if you are keeping your arms folded up by your chest, spend one set period (whether it's one song, one hour, one week) thinking about your arms. Start off by just keeping them in motion or keeping your elbows straight or your shoulders down. If it's your feet, think about staying in rhythm with the music by standing in place and doing a step tap motion in time to the music, or try walking on the beat. Alternate bending deeply and picking up one foot, or try timing a jump through with the music. It's a lot to put together (hooping, arms, feet, style) so keep working at each component and it will happen! I agree with Beth about focusing on something and then letting go. When you practice, it later gives you the ability to let go and not have to concentrate because you have put the mechanics and tricks and movements into your body memory. Once they are there, you can let go instead of thinking, "Okay, now I am going to jump through. Grab the hoop, turn, bend my knees, GO!" Similarly, once you have trained your arms and feet where you want them to be, you won't have to think, "Arms up, relax the elbows, shoulders down, step to the right."

silverstar 2007-09-01T21:48:30Z Sue http://hooping.tribe.net/thread/f3fac5b0-935f-44d8-8e80-415208c3562b#70450671-62e4-4b4c-addb-868a9e3dbc95 2007-09-01T20:58:50Z 2007-09-01T20:58:50Z

Yes, this is the way I feel. No dance training (your Mother can't sew, so you can't have dance lessons because she can't make the costumes) and lots of years spent telling myself I couldn't dance anyway. Hate dancing at parties because I feel stupid and limited, so basically only jigged around when on my own and listening to something, or if forced to do some in a show of some sort. Then I found the hoop and suddenly I am starting to feel that I can dance. OK, a dancer wouldn't think so, but all I need is some music and my hoop and I'm off! No stopping me until I have to catch my breath. My feet are starting to really get into it. I've wondered about dance lessons, but frankly I'd feel a twerp and be all self-conscious, although I may think differently soon. But meantime, the hoop is teaching me to dance and enjoy myself an enormous amount. I saw a video recently (can't remember who sadly), that showed a woman dancing something like a quick step with her hoop and it looked really sweet. If I do decide to have a bit of training I'll start by asking a couple I know to teach me some formal steps like that as a start. There is really no limit to what we can each do with a hoop. Everyone's dance looks different. Nothing is right or wrong. The important thing to remember is that dancing isn't about tricks, but about flowing with the nature of the music you are playing. Some tricks will fit well with given music and can be incorporated, but for the dance to look good they should be kept in control and not allowed to take over. If you simply run through your tricks repertoire each time you practice it can look a bit stilted. All in all, isn't a hoop a wonderful thing!

Sue 2007-09-01T20:58:50Z myriah http://hooping.tribe.net/thread/f3fac5b0-935f-44d8-8e80-415208c3562b#aa252fbd-5c03-42fa-8abb-f4156747cfe2 2007-09-01T18:31:57Z 2007-09-01T18:31:57Z

I know exactly what you are talking about. I've completely felt it and I think that was a great explanation. =) <3!!

myriah 2007-09-01T18:31:57Z beth http://hooping.tribe.net/thread/f3fac5b0-935f-44d8-8e80-415208c3562b#c854cc40-957a-4b51-a0ce-6f22a093ec73 2007-09-01T13:50:41Z 2007-09-01T13:50:41Z

This is probably the best thread I have ever read on the hooping tribe. I have learned so much. I'm not a teacher but I sometimes sub for Baxter when he is out of town. All of your comments affirm what I have been wanting to say and you have given me more tools, so thank you! One thought I'd like to add is that I like the idea of consciously thinking hard about what we ae doing and exploring new ground. I think we can take in every influence that might help our hoopdance. And then we can let it all go. When we can switch back into the unconscious, I think we can really find ourselves. I don't know if I am saying this well, but it's like taking nibbles from an exotic banquet of all sorts of food, really savoring each flavor and ingredient, and then just letting it digest naturally in our bodies and seeing how it will nourish us. And Paula, what time DID you start hooping?

beth 2007-09-01T13:50:41Z eternalvoyageur http://hooping.tribe.net/thread/f3fac5b0-935f-44d8-8e80-415208c3562b#ba704b84-f849-4cd0-836a-8895024cc631 2007-08-30T19:24:21Z 2007-08-30T19:24:21Z

That sounds a lot like me... even in normal life I tend to bump around things, and I have noticed that it's because my body awareness is quite low.

eternalvoyageur 2007-08-30T19:24:21Z Susan http://hooping.tribe.net/thread/f3fac5b0-935f-44d8-8e80-415208c3562b#9956560b-6e46-45cd-b7d7-37be4987ba53 2007-02-01T18:23:52Z 2007-02-01T18:23:52Z

PBS is currently airing a Ballroom Dance competition series that might be helpful to watch: Go to http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/ballroomchallenge/ for more info and air dates. susan

Susan 2007-02-01T18:23:52Z Nicki http://hooping.tribe.net/thread/f3fac5b0-935f-44d8-8e80-415208c3562b#e57016c1-803e-419b-9e78-bacc7031626d 2007-02-01T03:12:36Z 2007-02-01T03:12:36Z

What time did you start hooping?

Nicki 2007-02-01T03:12:36Z Paula http://hooping.tribe.net/thread/f3fac5b0-935f-44d8-8e80-415208c3562b#5f34820b-130a-41c5-92c2-1cf025d89daf 2007-01-31T22:36:05Z 2007-01-31T22:36:05Z

Wow - this is the perfect thread - just what I was looking for. I'm no dancer - but I do try. Based on what some of you have said at this tribe - I start out with some stretches, then on to some plain hooping to music. And then I dance around with the hoop. And then just keep dancing around. its probably not graceful. Its probably even funny. But its incredible fun to just twist and spin in the hoop - go this-a-way and that-a-way. Put my hands up in the air and spin the hoop above my head and beside me and above me and then bring it down the the forearms and the neck and shoulders and waist. AND the feet dance by themselves till then. But the troubles start with the hoop around the waist. Where do my arms go then? Mostly I spread em out - hold em up and just move them slowly around. But last saturday night I realised that the arms don't stay up and out all night. I popped - something clicked - I hooped, I mean I hoop danced till 9am!! All night long. My longest stretch. With my eyes shut. Spin spin spin. It was BRILLIANT to feel the hoop move around me as I danced! It felt like nothing ever before - I felt - HAPPY. But my arms - my arms - they didn't know what to do...or where to go...I guess when I dance for only a few hours - its all good - but all night long the arms tend to curl up by my side - yes - probably looking messy and limp. Caroleena - thanks so much about the 'arms' tips. Hopefully now they'll behave themselves. And acquire a bit of dignity.

Paula 2007-01-31T22:36:05Z Caroleeena http://hooping.tribe.net/thread/f3fac5b0-935f-44d8-8e80-415208c3562b#4ae1d65f-f440-4c85-9968-e54f8d9287ec 2007-01-31T18:00:27Z 2007-01-31T18:00:27Z

When I was in bed last night, I thought of another type of dance that's perfect for hooping -- Hula! The hand and armwork are so lovely and perfectly suited to hooping.

Caroleeena 2007-01-31T18:00:27Z jasmine http://hooping.tribe.net/thread/f3fac5b0-935f-44d8-8e80-415208c3562b#aa10d3f0-b9e4-4861-a434-be15b8c9b5f2 2007-01-31T17:29:19Z 2007-01-31T17:29:19Z

What a great topic! I have many ideas after reading everyones posts. I have been dancing for years, at parties, on the playa, and 3-4 times a week I take Nia classes (www.nianow.com) They are wonderfully fun and engaging, and encourage each person to find their own dance. I feel that what I have taken from Nia has helped my hoopdancing so much! I call it hoopdance, because that's what I like to do with it. Following are my suggestions: ***Dancing is about the music, so connect to the music. Listen to the beats, the melodies, the textures, find a part of the music and play with it. See what unfolds. And I think Corbett is so right about listening to alllllll kinds of music, as each kind evokes different moods and movements. ***Dance without the hoop. During your hoop practice, go back and forth between dancing with and without the hoop. I did this last week and it was great. I was able to feel how my body wanted to move to a song, and then translate it into a little dance with the hoop on. ***Mark the beats with your feet. Try hooping just on your waist. Choose a song that is not too fast, not too slow. Step to each beat with your feet while hooping. No tricks, just waist hooping. Start travelling around the room while stepping on the beat. I have done this countless times, and it really helps with coordination. When it becomes easy you can add other things in. ***Take more dance classes. Each style has different ways of connecting with music, expressing with the arms and legs, etc. There may be one that you really connect with that will take you into "YOUR" dance.

jasmine 2007-01-31T17:29:19Z Caroleeena http://hooping.tribe.net/thread/f3fac5b0-935f-44d8-8e80-415208c3562b#d315ecb9-a26c-4504-8e34-fc86875f8fc9 2007-01-31T05:49:33Z 2007-01-31T05:49:33Z

I'd encourage all hoop dancers to take a dance class -- preferably ballet. Ballet teaches you to balance in a variety of positions, to stand up tall, to squat without leaning forward (essential to hoop dance) and about the entire range of motion with the arms. You are never too old to take a dance class. (I started at 40!) If you don’t have access to a class near you, try Netflix! You can rent all kinds of dance and yoga teaching videos as well as dance performances. (Yoga is also very helpful for creating smooth and flowing hoopdance as well as for finding and maintaining balance.) There are also many things you can do in your living room to enhance your hoop dance – right here, right now. Dance is all about line and form. When you’re hooping, practice standing with your feet together, feet apart, on one leg or the other and in a squat (plie). The difference between keeping your legs together or apart makes a huge difference. Do it consciously. If you're lifting one foot, point your toes or even point your knee and place the toes behind the other knee (so you're shaped the line number 4). Simply pointing your toes during step-throughs make them look much more polished. When you lift the hoop above your head, make sure you fully extend your arm and straighten your elbow. When you take your arms out of your hoop, extend them energetically and straight in front of you or to the sides. That makes our presentation so much more dramatic. Also, if you are lifting with one arm, pay attention to what you’re doing with the other arm. Straighten it, bend it or place it elsewhere deliberately. Finally, practice different forms of hand work. Note if your hands are open or closed, fingers splayed or fingers together. Try on each of these forms and see how they look in the mirror. Look at, and learn from, other types of dance so that you can practice their hand and arm work. I recommend ballet, bellydance, bollywood, flamenco, salsa, samba, African, modern, jazz and hip hop. Again, videos are really helpful. Most of all, practice lots of different things. You’ll develop your own movements and combos that work from you. The more you try, the more you’ll learn. It’s all about developing a variety of techniques that you can draw upon. All of these are spices that add to the flavor of our dance. They are tools in our tool box. You can’t have too many. And you’re never too old to learn more. This site has free bellydance and flamenco instructional videos online. Check 'em out: http://www.expertvillage.com/category/hobbies.htm

Caroleeena 2007-01-31T05:49:33Z Corbett http://hooping.tribe.net/thread/f3fac5b0-935f-44d8-8e80-415208c3562b#1c846380-5f84-4239-888e-ae0058e4ce7f 2007-01-31T03:01:29Z 2007-01-31T03:01:29Z

Ok... I feel a bit odd posting here but I am a dancer. I dance a minimum of 4 hours a day (that's 4 hours of actual in studio movement time). I teach ballet, tap, jazz and musical theatre to kids, a few of you here probably already know all this about me but I wanted to state it again for those who didn't know. I was introduced to the hoop a few years before I ever gave it a chance but my friends all insisted it would come naturally to me with how I move. Finally I listened to them and started hooping and love dancing with my hoop. Honestly I don't like tricks... I would much rather be in my own world spinning around in my own hoop. Watching the videos I am in don't reflect how I hoop with music because we taped us hooping to no music, then added the sound later. Basically I am saying don't judge my suggestions based on how I hoop, just try them. For those of you looking for an easy way to try moving differently with the hoop I would recommend using different music. Honestly I have hooped to so many different kinds of music it is amazing to think about. I know when we go to hoop or hang out we want to listen to our favorite tunes but just try some different stuff. I have studied lots of ethnic dance styles and find traditional music from different cultures to be particularly interesting to use while hoopin. Try hooping to music you hate! You could also use a song with powerful lyrics and try to make my movements reflect the lyrics more then the music (that exercise comes from a style of dance called lyrical). You could also have someone read a poem out loud and you try to hoop to the words, or way the words make you feel. If you have some even basic previous dance training you could use what you remember with the hoop. For example I can do chaine turns so one day on the playa at my first Burning Man I was turning across the emptiness when I thought I wonder if I could do this with a hoop. Luckily I went to the hoop-down that night and practiced. It turns out I can chaine turn with the hoop but the speed of my turning effects the speed of the hoop. If I place the hoop right and turn at the right speed I can move the hoop from diagonal across one shoulder to around my waist by the third turn without ever using my hands. In a matter of 15 minutes I came up with a new skill I could do with a hoop and I came up with a new way to start the hoop around my waist. I have stood with my hoop before and done just basic ballet exercises before and that was interesting to me. Doing a series of tendus or plies with my hoop has been an interesting way to examine how I hold my posture when dance with a hoop versus when I dance technically. You would need to remember s series of dance exercises to really appreciate this. That's all I got for now.

Corbett 2007-01-31T03:01:29Z Diana http://hooping.tribe.net/thread/f3fac5b0-935f-44d8-8e80-415208c3562b#5d333b61-df73-4729-b5a0-74d24cfe4957 2007-01-31T02:30:33Z 2007-01-31T02:30:33Z

yes, taking dance classes is a wonderful way to help inspire new ways of movement. Whether its Jazz, Belly Dance, Capoiera, African or Swing, the classes will encourage you to bring more awareness into your body as you move in new and different ways, which can be integrated into your hoopdance. Another idea is to start out with basic waist hooping and explore moving your arms out beside, above and in front of you. Try side stepping and moving forward and back and turning. Listen to the rythym of your music and see if you can count it out and move in sequence...start out with simple movements and gradually add a little more flair on the "1" or the "8" or whatever, but in continuity. Warming up with some basic waist hooping, while stepping about and exploring the space with the arms, and leaving out tricks for a song or two can be a great way to not only start your daily hoop practice but to also just explore rhythym in your hoop. I also like to hoop with the eyes closed and without any limits other than feeling the music and using this practice with different styles of music which evoke different moods and movements. Give yourself permission to reach out, kick, shake, swing and move your body in new ways, as awkward as it may seem at first, don't think about it too much, just move and groove...feel it and have fun.

Diana 2007-01-31T02:30:33Z Nicki http://hooping.tribe.net/thread/f3fac5b0-935f-44d8-8e80-415208c3562b#469882a4-d76f-416e-90ca-669bdf90cf78 2007-01-31T00:08:49Z 2007-01-31T00:08:49Z

*Getting some precision into my style that seems to come from having some dance technique* precision - yes, that's exactly it! Good comments people. Look forward to hearing more. Let us know how the dance classes go. :-)

Nicki 2007-01-31T00:08:49Z Surprise! http://hooping.tribe.net/thread/f3fac5b0-935f-44d8-8e80-415208c3562b#70ca9866-975d-46e6-9df8-4892403e53d5 2007-01-30T19:39:13Z 2007-01-30T19:39:13Z

I guess the challenge for me is two-fold 1) Generally grooving and moving to the beat and not just moving from one move to another and 2) Getting some precision into my style that seems to come from having some dance technique. I actually like to dance a lot, and when I dance I am usually of the mind that I should just do whatever moves me. I move my body, I hop up and down, I shake my butt, I kick my legs, I bend over and get back up. I try not to be self conscious and usually successful in a club setting. But after seeing videos of myself and really wanting to progress in my hoop dancing I have been feeling like having some skills spotting, turning, isolating movements, kicking, and improving my posture would be helpful. It is the detail of the dance that I think ends up making a difference. For example, I recently saw a dancer doing very crisp arm pullouts, energetically she was flexing all the way through her fingers and the entire movement just looked sharp. In comparison, in video and photographs of my own hooping my hands are usually crumpled and slightly limp which has the effect of making the move look crumpled and slightly limp. By the way, I was so inspired by this conversation that I decided to try a dance class last night. I have set a goal of taking one dance class per week.

Surprise! 2007-01-30T19:39:13Z Britta http://hooping.tribe.net/thread/f3fac5b0-935f-44d8-8e80-415208c3562b#cf5d7266-f5e1-4c0d-a5a8-cd2ad03baa2f 2007-01-30T19:14:16Z 2007-01-30T19:14:16Z

I'm totally the same type of dancer, and I like the practice idea. I will be trying it.

Britta 2007-01-30T19:14:16Z Kara http://hooping.tribe.net/thread/f3fac5b0-935f-44d8-8e80-415208c3562b#bf369e84-7365-436b-831d-ce5211ef7100 2007-01-30T15:08:28Z 2007-01-30T15:08:28Z

I'm not a trained dancer, but I have immersed in yoga training and teach a lot of vinyasa flow...the sanskrit word vinyasa (often used to describe the practice of flowing with the breath) has the direct translation of "without resistance" or "without obstruction" - our hoopdance (and our whole lives actually) can find inspiration from this... Let GO! Feel the music in your belly and pouring through your veins... the best flow comes when you try not to think your practice too much, but FEEL it...no one is in that hoop (usually) but you :) Close your eyes when you can and explore fluidity...explore the reality that there truly is no separation between the music, the hoop, and you. To me, that is the dance.

Kara 2007-01-30T15:08:28Z Brook http://hooping.tribe.net/thread/f3fac5b0-935f-44d8-8e80-415208c3562b#4c99df83-6fed-4a4b-969a-2d9551fa4f82 2007-01-30T15:01:28Z 2007-01-30T15:01:28Z

This topic couldn't have come at a better time for me. I have been thinking alot lately about dancing more when I hoop. I have always been a dancer. Not a formally trained dancer, but a "can't stop shaking my booty when the music is on" dancer, but I find that alot of what comes naturally to me hoop-less, I have been unable to bring inside the hoop. I have been planning on starting my practice by just dancing, without the hoop, for one song, and then just dancing with the hoop for one song, before moving on to tricks, etc. Maybe it will help. Nicki, on the subject of spinning: I am a spinning/turning hooper too. I don't get dizzy if the hoop is on my body, but if it is off my body, and in a stall, I get one or two turns before I almost fall down, but it seems to get better with time.

Brook 2007-01-30T15:01:28Z Nicki http://hooping.tribe.net/thread/f3fac5b0-935f-44d8-8e80-415208c3562b#d0d013a4-2503-4a2d-9943-b47fdd573435 2007-01-30T03:11:18Z 2007-01-30T03:11:18Z

Good question. I've struggled with this too. I like the *not caring what you look like* part. :-) I am learning that I don't look as bad as I think I might so just go with the flow and keep the flow flowing. I figure no matter what you do if you keep on doing it someone will appreciate it and it will probably look pretty good too! I have a couple questions for everyone that stem from this topic. First, overall, I am not necessarily the most coordinated person there is. Hooping is definitely teaching me how to be more so, but I still feel a little bit stuck as this uncoordinated person. Any suggestions, thoughts, experiences on this? Will this ever change and do I have hope of becoming graceful? Also, I like what Christa says about spinning/turning - it definitly helps the feet movement part of hooping, in addition to helping keep the hoop moving. However, have you more experienced hoopers out there noticed anything about the getting *dizzy* part? For instance, is it like the bruising aspect in that the more you hoop the more accustomed your body gets to it? Thanks hoopers! ~Nicki

Nicki 2007-01-30T03:11:18Z Jess http://hooping.tribe.net/thread/f3fac5b0-935f-44d8-8e80-415208c3562b#2872365c-83ae-4cf6-abbb-b5b4b4456deb 2007-01-30T02:57:42Z 2007-01-30T02:57:42Z

I wasn't "allowed" to dance growing up, and didn't really explore it...ever. I felt too self-conscious with the complete lack of exposure to it, i think. Anyway, I haven't taken any dance classes besides ballet as a tiny tot, and hooping has been teaching me how to dance! I would love some training, especially with arm- and hand-movement (a video would be great, Caroleena!), and basic stuff, too. I imagine people with dance-training cringe when they see me hoop, but I don't mind...it just feels so good! :) It's strange, because I can keep a beat, mostly, but when I hoop, I realize that sometimes I slow it down, so, say, after a few measures on beat, I feel myself lose a beat and have to catch up. anyone else experience this? It's not the clearest explanation, but maybe you've felt it, too, and will know what I mean! I could definitely stand to lengthen through my arms and neck while hooping. Also, I often have my legs far apart...i noticed this in my videos. (video-taping yourself is a great way to get an idea of what you look like while dancing/hooping, of course) The hoop is a dance teacher, I believe. and a good partner, too! :) I am curious to read the responses to this thread!

Jess 2007-01-30T02:57:42Z Sharna Rose http://hooping.tribe.net/thread/f3fac5b0-935f-44d8-8e80-415208c3562b#148848ba-eb04-4748-a127-4e7049e31721 2007-01-30T02:24:14Z 2007-01-30T02:24:14Z

I love to dance but I have never had any formal dance specific training - like jazz, ballet, tap. I have studied 5 rhythm ecstatic dance but in that practice you are encouraged to explore whatever your body wants to do, and you are given free range to move in any which way you want - there are no specific moves. Like Xta I spent time developing my movement with the hoop while it was just on my waist, I like to jump so I jumped about a lot to the beat. I even waved my arms about a lot even though it felt funny (inner critic) until I found a wavy arm movement that felt real rather than a copy of someone else. I think you've got to just let yourself go and not care what you look like. I mean who cares what you look like. Its how you feel inside that counts and if you ever catch someone laughing (I really dance strange when I get going) then sod it - if they don't know that feeling that you are experiencing then its their loss. Chances are if you are really feeling that music then you're going to look great because that bliss will radiate out of you and shine on everyone.

Sharna Rose 2007-01-30T02:24:14Z Xta http://hooping.tribe.net/thread/f3fac5b0-935f-44d8-8e80-415208c3562b#3b5a002f-f4c9-4855-93c0-a72959d107ee 2007-01-30T01:57:22Z 2007-01-30T01:57:22Z

Turning and spinning was the first way I figured out to be able to move to the beat of the music while keeping the hoop going.. and I've never stopped! Most of my dancing involves turning.. which is why knee-hooping doesn't feel like dancing to me yet, 'cause I feel STUCK in one place! The other thing that makes dancing easier is to do off-body hooping, either horizontal overhead, or vertical at your side or in front of your body - it leaves your legs and hips free to move and groove, while your shoulders get into the swing of things while manipulating the hoop! No classic dance training here, though, aside from a bellydance class I took last summer with the lovely Tonje (before I infected her with hoopiness too!), so I don't know how to speak the language of dance training. X.

Xta 2007-01-30T01:57:22Z Spinna Sparks http://hooping.tribe.net/thread/f3fac5b0-935f-44d8-8e80-415208c3562b#bf897010-114f-4f46-85f6-7e5a4f6e0b9e 2007-01-30T01:45:42Z 2007-01-30T01:45:42Z

I am soooo not a dancer no classes, so clubs, nada. I tried Step, and while I had fun, I was really bad at it. Untill I saw a hoop, that is. I love the hoop because it gives me freedom to dance when my movements would otherwise look goofy on the dance floor, most people see the hooping first and are already amazed ( just cause its new to them) so the are predisposed to enjoy the rest. The more I hoop, the more I dance, and the better I feel about it! I'd love to take some dance lessons, I'm thinking about bellydancing...hmm.

Spinna Sparks 2007-01-30T01:45:42Z Britta http://hooping.tribe.net/thread/f3fac5b0-935f-44d8-8e80-415208c3562b#9ba73753-b7b0-4d67-8b9e-139606043957 2007-01-30T01:22:33Z 2007-01-30T01:22:33Z

The lovely Hadria's video over on the Hooping Videos tribe sparked some good discussion on integrating dance into hooping. There were several mentions on how the discussion should be brought over to the hoop tribe and I was dying to give my two cents, so I took the liberty (please forgive me if my doing so bothers anyone). Surprise! posed a thought provoking question... "How does one who is not already a skilled dancer work on integrating more dance into the hoop mix? Perhaps this is a better topic for the hula hoop tribe because it is totally something that I personally struggle with in my hoop practice. I guess how i have approached it is to practice grooving to the music and not doing tricks for a few minutes each time I practice hooping. I also try playing with different arm movements, dance steps and how they work with different hoop movements. But even still I don't feel like a particularly strong "dancer." I have also taken a few dance classes hoping that I would learn some new moves that would also improve my dancing while hooping, but yes I would also like to dance more while hooping." Personally, I dance all the time. If music is on I cannot stop moving and shaking, but when I hoop I find I must think about what my legs and arms are doing. It must be some sort of coordination thing. I do try and devote my warmup song to dance and waist hooping where I concentrate on dance moves and simply try to keep the hoop spinning.

Britta 2007-01-30T01:22:33Z