I hope you all had a fantastic Thanksgiving! I did. To work off the turkey, Rachel Skye from Studio Spin had an open pole/hoop/silks jam at the studio, and we did a mannequin challenge video while we were there.
I was the hoop mannequin, obviously. I chose to do a one handed float move as my pose, and my arm was starting to shake by the time Toni, who was taking the video, came by and got me on camera. I managed to hold my position, though!
Jen has only been hooping for about two months, but she’s quick study and is doing great. She and her friend Lori joined in for Jenny’s hoop choreography series that was held last month. We did a group routine to the same song, and it’s really cool!
Jen and I are the only ones from the class that are able to be at the recital, so Jenny modified the routine to be a duet. We had to change a few things, but it works, and it works well.
So, it will be fun to do a hoop duet at the recital. Jen, we are going to rock this!
Yesterday, a group of eight hoop students wrapped up a five week hoop choreography class taught byJenny Hill atStudio Spin. It was a great class, and we learned a lot! And, it was a lot of fun, too.
Jenny taught us a group hoop choreography to the song “Fever” by Peggy Lee. It’s a great song for a group of gals to hoop to.
A few of us will also be performing the choreography at Studio Spin’s student recital on August 6, 2016. I’ll be one of those performers in the group, and I will be doing a solo act, as well.
Want to see the video of our choreography? Here it is on Vimeo!
Jenny has been working on my footwork whilehoopdancing. It’s been a fun and challenging thing to work on!
She taught me a basic grapevine step, and moved on to a ballet-y almost burlesque-y foot sequence that is very pretty to do. Doing the steps by themselves is fine, but adding the element of hoop dance is a whole other animal.
I decided to put the concept of footwork into practice on Saturday during some of the nice weather we actually got this weekend. I put on some music, and hooped. Here’s what I learned:
Hoopdance footwork is much easier on wooden floors rather than grass.
Hoopdance is also easier while barefoot rather than wearing sneakers.
I videoed part of my practice. It was exhausting, as you can see I tried to do some hoopdance footwork with a polypro hoop, too, just to see how it would go.
How did I do? I think I did pretty well concerning the circumstances.
I encourage you to play around with footwork, too. It’s freeing! I’m able to move, at least in the studio with a lot more grace and find myself experimenting more with my feet. It’s a new element of dance for me!
The day started out rainy, but cleared up beautifully just in time for Lancaster Social Circus Day held at Buchanan Park, Lancaster, PA. It was a rousing success!
My job was to help man the table to sign people in with waivers, but in between attendees, I was able to get some hooping in, being beside the music and all. I had a great time. I think everyone, performers and attendees alike, did, too.
People came in off the streets, people came in from the dog park, and people came because they saw it on Facebook. I believe when performance time rolled around, there were probably about forty people their in attendance.
Ringmaster and organizer Chris Tamburro was ecstatic over the success of this event, which was the first of its type that helped organize. He’s the one in the foreground of the top photo in the red wig and jacket. Well done, Chris!
I think people had a fantastic time playing with hoops, learning to juggle, discovering poi and contact staff, as well as giving acro yoga a try.
I hope this happens again next year.
Here are some more photos of the day that I got on my GoPro. I didn’t get too many, as I was quite busy!
Rebekah of A Joyful Canvas was on hand to paint faces.Hoops for play!One participant tries out acro yoga.
Oh, and here’s some video of parachute play that Jenny Hill of Acts of Jennius brought.
Thank you to everyone who had a part in this, and thank you for letting me help out. The day flew by, and it was evident that a great time was had by all.
Every hooper has found at least a few photos of them doing the scrunchy hooper face, like it the photo above here. It’s either done from concentration, blinding sunlight, being caught off guard by the camera, or a combination of any of those things.
Even my early YouTube video have some great examples of me doing this.
I also find it funny that both the photo and the video are from the Outer Banks. Huh.
Hoopers, we’ve all done the concentration face thing. I would love it if you’d linked me some of your best examples in the comments! Let’s poke some fun at ourselves this April Fool’s Day. Have a good one!
Win or lose, I just like making hooping videos. Really. Oh, and this is also the first time I’ve allowed comments and thumbs up/down on my YouTube videos. So far, so good.
Learn more about the Curvy Hoopers Video Challenge here and learn about what it means and hopes to do for curvy hoopers out there. I think it’s great!
For me, being a curvy hooper means that I quite feel right in my skin. I’m self-conscious all the time. I’m getting less self-conscious when I hoop, but it’s been a slow process. I’m learning not care what other people think of what I’m doing how I look. That’s what I was trying to convey in the video.
So, no matter who you are, there is only one YOU out there and you are special no matter your size.
Here’s one of the videos I took in my parking lot on Monday after it was plowed. The song is “Pompeii” by Bastille. I shot it on my GoPro Hero4 Silver.
I’m quite proud of this one! To me, I’m dancing with pure joy because I’m outside and doing something I love after a few days of being cooped up inside.
Did you see the new Star Wars movie yet? If so, get thee to a movie theater.
I saw it Sunday. As you probably can tell, I loved it. J.J. Abrams did a great job directing, as did the cast did with acting. Woo hoo!
So, in honor of the Star Wars franchise, I did a quick hoop dance after the movie celebrating my favorite piece of music from all the movies. I present to you “Cantina Hooping.”
My friend and teacher Jenny Hill was recently featured in a wonderful short documentary by Monelli Films. I really recommend taking a look! It shows you some insight into the life of a professional hoop performer.
My review? It’s fantastic! The content is well-done, and Alexander Monelli, who filmed and produced the documentary, really knows his film techniques by engaging the viewer with interesting shots, excellent use of focus, and smart juxtaposition.
Jenny is portrayed in the film as, well, Jenny. She engaging, smart, and emotive, in other words, a wonderful subject.
Jennabee Hoops 