in hooping news ... and the Northcote festival!

Well I have been regularly doing hooping twice a week. Spending a good 2 hours or so and really cutting loose, experimenting, playing. It's been great. Combined with yoga 3 times a week I am finding myself exhausted at the end of each day yet happy to be finally committing to the 2 things that I love. I hope to get strong, svelt and calm from both practices, with the goal of being a hula hoop teacher next year and a yoga instructor the year after. This journey I find myself on is full of so many suprises about myself. It is liberating.
Well not stopping - Circus Oz have a short hula hoop class on for the next 2 wednesdays so I'm off to check it out. I'm hoping to start making some splits with hoops from this short intensive. Circus Oz are also offering a longer hula hoop course for a whole term, but unfortunately it clashes with my Japanese language class.
I've also been reading a book - "The true History of The Hula Hoop - a novel" By Judith Lanigan. It's a good read - 2 stories told concurrently about circus performance, peppered with facts about the hula hoop.


In party news - had a great time as always at the High Vibes Festival that happens annually in Northcote. I always have such a great day there. Northcote is about 20 mins out of the city of Melbourne and has a funky community vibe going on as well as being a hub of the indy music scene in melbs. HIgh Vibes is full of great music, beautiful, funky people, heaps of gorgeous dogs and cool kids. Of course we mainly spent our time at the dance stage to watch some of our friends play - but as it was attached to the Northcote Social Club I caught a couple of bands. First was an electronic dub band with a big double bass and live singer called Miso. The 2nd was so fun - they're called the Woo Hoo Review - gypsy, balkan, twenties jazz type music. Infectious and so tight. Loved them.

Here's some pics from the day - if you're ever around when it's on - it's so worthwhile to check out.

Hooping at Crittenden

Well I've been away on hols for a bit - but more on that later. Let's catch up on the hooping that's happened. Eric Powelland Carl Cox get together every February towards the end of the month and put on their mobile disco at their friends winery on the Mornington Peninsula called Crittenden. It's always a fun day - really casual and the guys just play great old skool tunes from the 70's, 80's and 90's, club, funk and soul classics. This year Eric asked me to bring my hoops to add to the fun and they were a total hit. I even had Danni Minogue who was there, hooping! But no one took a photo as it was quite early on in the piece. I think she's been doing some music with Carl Cox.
The kids, Mum's and even Eric got into the hoop. They were going all day. I love the joy they bring to people. It was a heap of fun - though I lost quite a few hoops. Oh well - I hope they're loved wherever they are.



That's me hooping

Eric Powell hooping it up - he was great!



Here is my friend Scotty getting his photo taken with Danni Minogue!



Karly showing how it's done.

classes around for Melbourne & Ozzie hoopers

If you are in Melbourne and can get to Blackburn on Saturday's, a graduate of NICA - Addy - will be doing a casual hula hoop class at the Australian School of Defence 77-79 Whitehorse rd, Blackburn 3.30-5pm for $8.

 I work on Saturday's so will not be able to make it unfortunately. But i have signed up to Safire's online intermediate course! Safire just won a hoopie for best hoop teacher this year. She has developed a whole range of on line and ipod downloadable hoop courses. I love having the option of being able to go to the park with a tute on my ipod. 

And finally if you are in or can get to Sydney - this is the lady to check out. I hope to do some intermediate training with her in April this year - Bunny Hoop Star has a range of course going this summer. 

Me and my LED - Barbarella in the bush

Rainbow Serpent Festival Hoop Jam 09

Rainbow wrap up

Well back from another Rainbow Serpent Festival dusty but proud that I took it easy and had fun. 

Best moments 1. - having Roo make up fresh Capriniah's on the hillside carpeted in purple flowers. It was like a meadow dream.  Every time he shook the cocktail mixer full of ice we had a new visitor to the blanket. Perched in the setting sun on a hillside of purple flowers we listened to Bluetech work his musical magic. Purrrfect.

The other highlight - 2. the hula hoop workshop hosted by moi of course! So many people hooping. I looked up at one stage and there were just people hooping everywhere! I especially loved the Irish girl who was hooping for 30 mins non stop who couldn't believe she had a hoop up. "It's a mistake" she'd cry! "It just happened and now I can't stop!"   She was so dissapointed when I had to take the hoop.  Another mention to the other lovely ladies I met - Jo the Canadian girl - a new convert and Katie from Brisbane who I am sure I have met before or will meet again. A connection was felt. Happy hoop dreams to you both.  

A big thanks to the friends who supported as well - To Simon the juggernaut of hooping. He loves it! Rock on Si.  Jo who started that day in her 80's outfit and was juggling hand and waist by the end of the hour.  To Sandy who tried and tried and then got it. Determined is your new call sign. And to all my other compadre's who have hooped it up and have supported this new passion of mine. Nice work Ninja's!

 On a personal note it was an interesting journey. I think I definitely love to teach and facilitate hooping rather than perform. I felt to much on display when hooping and couldn't relax with it on the dance floor. I prefer my own space and music with the hoop I guess. 

A few of the stalls had hoops for sale. Some were really big & thick and wrapped in actual fabric with basic coloured electrical tape. I think mine are certainly more colourful and better gripped with the range of vinyl colours and gaffer tape from identi-tape. But then I will always love my own babies more! I'll do a post soon on how to make your own hoops in Oz. I find it's a bit different than the USA or UK. 

Hope everyone had a great time at Rainbow - thank goodness the weather was kind and not this 40 deg celcius week we've got now. Much love to all the new and old friends found on the floor.