Curricula Menu

HOOP SKILLS

Intro to Hoop Foundations – This class is an introduction to hooping and hoopdance, both on body and off-body. We will explore things that help and hinder our learning, the physics of hooping, and the wide range of hoop movements that exist to be explored. We will also experience how integrating simple dance concepts change hula hooping into hoopdance.

Hooping Below the Waist – This class will explore six methods of hooping on the thighs and shins, one-legged hooping, ways to rescue the hoop while leg hooping, hooping on the foot (both while standing up and while lying on the back), hooping on the thigh to the side or behind you, ways to lift and start the hoop from the ground, and hooping in shoulder stand with roll-overs. Wear form fitting cotton shorts to maximize your learning experience.

Hooping Above the Waist – This class includes chest and shoulder hooping, neck hooping, arm lift outs, shoulder duck outs, lifts and tosses, vertical hooping facing the earth, the sky or to the side, elbow hooping and passes, face, head and nose hooping, chest stalls and much more!

Body Rocking, Core Hooping and Barrel Rolls – This class is about exploring the core, from neck to knees, standing upright, facing the earth, facing the sky, and traveling while hooping in all these various areas. We will also explore how integrating some simple dance concepts can make these moves look more interesting.

Off-Body Hooping – This class is about using the hoop on the hand or hands, in front of, behind and to either (or both) sides of the body, as well as above and below the body. It includes contact moves, tosses, transitions, elbow hooping, around the body passes of all sorts, z-spins, and poses, including poses for when you know someone is trying to take your picture! We will explore hooping on the hand, fingers, thumb, and elbows and introduce tosses, tracing, flowers, contact moves, orbitals, orbital wraps, and hand hooping in every plane.

Flow vs. Building Transitions – This class will explore both the “Flow State” and learning to flow between transitions. We will learn to direct energized focus but we will also explore grips and grip changes, variation in moves, speed, levels, planes, expansion, contraction, and other dance concepts. We will explore fun drills and games that help us grow our transition skills and release ourselves from stagnation and constraining habits we may not even realize we have.

Training Techniques and Drills for Skill-Building – In this class we will use repetition and alternation to learn a series of moves but we will also study how these concepts can be used to create solo and group choreographies. We will also explore adding flair to moves we already know to make them more flashy, fun and interesting.

Contact Rolls and Tosses – The only difference between a roll and a toss is if the hoop catches air. In this class, we will move between a variety of contact rolls on the hands, arms, chest and back but also move off the body to explore a variety of creative and unusual tosses from both on and off the body.We will also learn to pair these rolls
and tosses with other movement, such as traveling and turns, to make them more interesting and fun. We will also play with balances.

Circus Tricks for Hoops – There are just some tricks that make people gasp. In this class, we will explore those tricks. These tricks will include hooping on the feet, some interesting tosses, step-throughs and jump throughs, and a few surprises you have to see to believe. Many of these moves come straight from the hoop performers with
Ringling Brothers Circus.

Hoop Isolations and Variations – This class will explore a variety of isolations from inside and outside the hoop, vertically and horizontally, and will introduce the theory behind iso-pops, cat-eyes, tracing, ghosting, and folds.

Folds, Breaks and Paddling – This class explores breaking (both on and off the body) and reversing the hoop, stalls, pushes and paddling, and some very interesting folds, flips and tosses. We will also explore Beat Punctuation and the art of making breaks on beats.

Hooping Behind the Body – Behind the Body is the unexplored plane in hooping and yet there are dozens of moves, tosses, rolls and poses hoopdancers can use to add flourish to our hoopdances while also opening our hearts and shoulders. Hooping behind the back makes for great photographs and is also great fun. These moves are part Bob
Fosse jazz dance, part Vegas showgirl, part ninja. Please bring a yoga strap (or the belt to your bathrobe) because we are going to begin with a series of warm-up stretches to increase our range of motion and flexibility in both our shoulders and arms. These stretches are good for healing and preventing injuries and great for our posture.

Partner and Group Hooping – This class will explore how to hoopdance with another person or with groups. We will touch on tandem hooping, two people sharing one hoop, two people utilizing two hoops, a tricks and moves for groups of three and/or four. These can also be combined to shape dances with large groups of people.

Twin Hooping – This class will explore a wide variety of moves for twin hoops. These moves also translate to minis but, for this class, we integrate core twin moves as well, including pizza tosses for twins. Other moves include an exploration of thread-the-needles (including variations, turns and tosses), continuous contact rolls on the chest and back, double contact rolls and tuck tosses, three-beat-weaves, z-spins, tosses, and much more.

HOOPDANCE-SPECIFIC

Integrating Dance into Hoopdance – Dance is about story-telling with the body. In this class, we will explore dance concepts such a hand work, armwork, fingerwork, gestures, footwork, traveling steps, pirouettes, turns, spins and leaps, poses, characterization, directed gaze and expression, beat punctuation and musicality. The idea is to give you tools that you can add to your hoopdance to grow your improvisational dance over time.

Fancy Footwork for Hoopdancers – This class explores dance-related footwork, including stationary foot patterns, traveling steps, spins, turns and pirouettes, leaps, and a variety of step-throughs. It’s not all footwork though–it’s barrel rolls, vertical hooping and much more…WITH footwork. This class has a lot of information. It’s great for dancers and non-dancers, gives new and experienced hoopers new tricks and tools for their toolbox, and it’s also really fun.

Armwork for Hoopdancers – This class explores pretty resting positions and ways of moving the shoulders, arms, hands, and fingers, including range of motion for arm extensions, framing, and transitions and gestures. We will learn wrist and finger exercises to build flexible and finger extensions, We will also draw upon specific movements from a variety of different types of dance, including flamenco, jazz, modern, bollywood, vogue, hip hop, and bellydance.

BollyHoop – BollyHoop is integrating Bollywood, Indian Classical Dance and Bhangra into hooping. This class explores mudras, handwork, armwork, and a variety of dance concepts from India as well as beautiful hoop moves that allow for flowing improvisation in this happy and evocative dance style.

FlamencHoop – FlamencHoop is integrating Flamenco and Spanish Dance into hooping. This class explores the fierce armwork, turns and spins and traveling steps that characterize this improvisational dance that is found throughout the cafes and clubs of Andalusia Spain. Flamenco is characterizes by flowing skirts that create beautiful effects with sustained spinning and can also be utilized in skirtwork but it is not just for women. Men sport black, tight fitting pants and create fierce macho dances as well. It is a very different way than most people utilize their hoops and that’s one of the reasons I love it.

Fire Hoopdance – This class explores the moves, transitions, beat punctuation, musicality and drills one can use to shape an impressive fire hoop number. We trouble shoot a series of accommodations for moves that seem challenging or impossible because of the wicks. We explore integrating dance and elements of theater, including footwork,
handwork, ta-da endings, and much more. We also discuss the unique considerations of choreographing for individuals as well as groups and choosing the right fuel for the venue and number.

Hoopdance Composition – This class is about finding your hook and crafting a choreographed dance. This class is perfect for performers or people who want to learn to perform.

OTHER: HOOP-RELATED

Hoop Yoga – This is yoga for hoopers that utilizes the hoop while helping hoopers understand how gaining flexibility and mobility in our entire range of motion frees us up to do amazing moves, including hooping on the foot in shoulder stand while rolling over backward. It also includes a short practice warm-up to do before our regular hoop practice.

Team Building – These are exercises for hoopers and non-hoopers that bring people together, create a shared group experience, encourage people to work as a team, and promote problem-solving. These games are perfect for corporate retreats, summer camps, and people who cannot actually hoop yet.

Fire Safety, Fuels and First Aid – This is an intro to all elements of fire safety for fire dancers. We utilize a variety of tools and fuels and participants go home with a 15 page reference manual and are eligible for a License to Burn.

OTHER PROPS

Fans and Fan Dancing – Fan Dancing is the ancient art of dancing with fans. It is embraced by both men and women, and is found in almost every culture on the planet. In this class, we will draw from many cultures — the flamenco fans of Spain and Portugal, the kung fu fighting fans of China and Korea, Japanese geisha fans, Vietnamese silk fans (both long and short), cabaret feather fans, Native American feather fans, modern dance and the moves and poses that best suit dancing with fire fans.

Intro to Poi for Hoopers – Many poi moves also work with two hoops, two staff or two fans (and vice versa). In this class we will introduce poi spinning to hoopers, including the qualities of various kinds of poi and the history of poi spinning, and we will build a foundation of poi moves that also transfer to hoop. If you have two matching hoops, bring them!

Integrating Dance into Poi Spinning – This class is an exploration of integrating footwork, body movement, characterization, expansion and contraction, and varying our use of space, speeds, levels and energy. We will also learn about composing dances and creating both improvisational dances and choreographies.