a reminder to me

[swingchickie]

i've been pretty pissed off lately at the whole hooping thing, to the point where i posted a mini-rant on the hooping tribe at tribe.org. i'm just not feeling the joy that i should be feeling when i hoop. i think it's mostly because i'm learning in my living room, instead of with other people... there's no social aspect of it, i don't get to see anyone dance in person to make me feel inspired, and i have no teacher or peer feedback to tell me how/why i'm doing a move wrong, so that i learn faster. (it's taking me a LONG time to learn any more moves, and i'm still a rank beginner.)

so, in response to my post, a number of people wrote really supportive helpful hints, but which all amounted to "it'll take a long time, you just have to practice a ton". one person in particular let me know about a hooping retreat weekend taking place in NC in a few weeks, and i think i'm going to go. it seems a bit new-age-y, the group is all about the spiritual connection with your hoop and the cosmic joy you get from the dance... but darnit, i could use some cosmic joy, and could stand to finally do this live with other people who seem really nice to boot.

in the meantime, i took a step back today and assessed what i've learned so far. and you know what, for only doing this a couple of hours a week, what i've learned in 2 months ain't half bad. from having never hooped before, in 2 months i've learned:

waist hooping in my dominant direction, very well
waist hooping in my secondary direction, not too badly
turning around along with the hoop while waist hooping
floating the hoop around me
"halos"
"swish" (spinning the hoop off-body)
the "booty bump"
lifting the hoop overhead from hooping on the waist - both from a front scoop and a rear pickup
bringing the hoop down to my waist from an overhead spin

so, dammit, i'm not going to beat myself up. sure, i want to learn more, and my frustration comes partly from wanting to explore all i can with this form of dance but knowing i'm physically limited in what i can do right now. but it'll come, with time and practice. it'll come.

Comments

[xtingu]

Yo, I ain't no hooping expert¹, but I know what looks cool and what looks lame. And you hooping on Memorial Day was not only cool, but hot as hell. Seriously. Super-fabulous!



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¹or a grammarian, obviously

[bohemianrapsody.livejournal.com]

I don't practice nearly as much as I should (I'm a rank beginner as well..but looking at your list, those are the same things I can do- so we've both really come a long way) I hope you still find it fun though. I'd hate for it to be something you get so frustrated in that you don't find it enjoyable anymore.
I was just hooping the other night outside around a firepit. Can you practice outside more often? As you know, the right music really helps also.
I think I may take a vacation day for world hooping day (7/7/07) to be around other hoopers. There is that rather "hippie dippy" vibe amongst some hoopers (and my former hooping teacher as well) but that's ok..I can get that way myself..but yea, some take it a bit extreme and it's a bit much. I think I'm just too cynical in the long run for that vibe.
BUT KEEP HOOPING! I just tell myself what good excercise it is. (Must lose some stomach weight and hooping makes me really aware of that area of my body so I can focus on losing the weight..ack..that's that hippie talk coming through!)

[swingchickie.livejournal.com]

yeah, i've used all different kinds of music, which certainly helps. i *could* practice outside, but i'd feel a bit awkward... my whole backyard is in full view of my neighbor's front yard, and she's 1. always outside and 2. very interested in my goings-on. so i haven't done that.

i do still find it fun, just not the way i know i COULD. it's the same way someone feels when they learn to swing dance or salsa or any kind of partner dance... you only learn a move or two a week, and doing the same few moves on the dance floor gets old quickly... and you look out on the dance floor and see all these amazing dancers, and get pissed that you're not at that level yet. i'll get there, i know. :)

[mattstratton.livejournal.com]

This was the best I could come up with, since everything I know about hooping is from this LJ post:

Hey, yeah - I wanna hoop, baby

(Oooo, how you doin', baby?
No, not you...
You, the round-hipped one, (ha-ha) yeah
What's your name?
Damn, that sounds sexy)

Here I go, here I go, here I go for loops
Girls, what's my weakness? (Hoops!)
Ok then, chillin', chillin', mindin' my swish-swish
Yo, tribe, I looked around, and I couldn't believe this
I swear, I stared, my LJ my witness
The hooper had it goin' on with somethin' kinda...uh
Wicked, wicked (oooo) - had to grin
bringing the hoop down to my waist from an overhead spin
Halo? No, that don't make me
See what I want float slide to it swishy
Felt it in my hips so I dipped back to my bag of tricks
Then I scooped from the front, did a few little kicks
Turned around with my hoop for a little mix
Bump on the booty, then I chilled for a bit
Don't know how you hoop with no group or a troupe
So well take a chance, dance, makes me wanna hoop hoop hoop

[swingchickie.livejournal.com]

okay, seriously, you ROCK my WORLD. BWAhahahaaaa!!!yes, i will be posting this on the hoop boards, giving you full credit. hee!

[derbyhat.livejournal.com]

The fact that you can execute keep a hoop aloft in both your dominant and non-dominant directions makes you a hooping goddess in my book. It never crossed my mind that a person would have a dominant and non-dominant direction for hooping until this post. And you have to tell me what a "rear pickup" is.

Enjoy you hippy hooping seminar.

Are you coming to Summer Hummer? Do you want to play for the Dancing Feats team for their summer sports? I'll buy you onion rings.

[swingchickie.livejournal.com]

hooping in your non-dominant direction feels really freaky... it's like swing dancing as a follower if you're used to being a leader, and vice versa. but i'm getting the hang of it. :)

a rear pickup (there are a million names for it) is shown here: http://www.hooping.org/archives/000249.html it's the first thing she shows on the video.

alas, i can't make it to summer hummer this year. but i'm going to try my darndest to come to the cape in november... perhaps i'll even bring the hoop. :)