We’re happy to be getting this first look at the new Spirit Hoop Troupe and they are inviting all of us to be a part of their movement! In their debut video, produced by Jenna Blakeslee and Daniel Wind, we find Spirit Hoop Troupe members Rivka, Mary, Jackie and Natalia ready to show us what they’re all about. They’re from Massachusetts, USA, and the soundtracks for this are “Shuck” by Purity Ring, which is availableon iTunes, and “Midnight City” by M83 – which is available on iTunes as well.

http://www.hooping.org/2013/05/spirit-hoop-troupe/

Tatiana Koval is a beautiful cross between a circus hooper and a rhythmic gymnast. In fact, she began her career as a rhythmic gymnast for the former Soviet Union, winning the Russian, Belarussian and European championships. After she retired from being a professional athlete, she toured the world as a soloist in Dimitri Begak’s dance company. Following that, she trained with the Moscow Circus. Her unique combination of training has resulted in what you see here – a mesmerizing blend of flexibility, hoop skills and dance. Be sure to watch her hands early on. She currently lives in Belarus and the soundtrack is by Mikhail Ekimian.

http://www.hooping.org/2013/05/tatiana-koval-performs/

Sarah Lotus of Hula Hoopology delivers an incredible demo video that takes us to stunning landscapes in incredible costumes while sporting and spinning up hoops of all sizes. Filmed by Croshane and Tilghman Wendel in and around the great state of Utah over the past year, the final result of all of their hard work is quite impressive. Sarah lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, and the soundtrack for this is the very popular “Crystallize” by Lindsey Sterling and you can download a copy of it for your very own on iTunes.

http://www.hooping.org/2013/05/sarah-lotus/

Stacie Naumann and her boyfriend light up the sandbar at Grayton Beach State Park in this amazing LED hooping photo. Stacie lives in San Jose, California, USA. Photo by Tom Optiz.

http://www.hooping.org/2013/05/lighting-up-grayton-beach/

Each month, National Geographic magazine features breathtaking photographs in Visions of Earth. One of the visions this month is a rainbow of hula hoops swirling around Russian hoop performer Svetlana Pavlova, a dancer in a traveling circus troupe of short-statured performers who call themselves the Light of the Little Stars.

http://www.hooping.org/2013/05/svetlana-pavlova-in-national-geographic/

by Clair Ching

One year and 30 pounds ago, I picked up my first hoop from Hoopaholic Cebu. Thanks to watching a hoop performance and reading an article about how hooping could be good exercise, I became a hooper. I weighed almost 200 pounds then and I only started hooping after I had lost 10 pounds. Going from 196 lbs to 186 lbs took 3 months. Then, with hooping regularly and being more conscious of my food intake the weight disappeared. I now weigh around 156.

The first week it was a struggle for me to keep the hoop up. Thankfully I was able to attend Tempest’s hooping workshop early on. It was there that I learned some really basic passes and turns and she gave me tips on how to keep my hoop from falling. That workshop encouraged me to keep going. A month later I began learning more about the hooping community here in the Philippines. I first met a bunch of them at the Fete dela Musique festival. I was a total newbie who was clueless and yet they welcomed me despite my knowing so little.

Throughout the year so many things happened: Read more:

http://www.hooping.org/2013/05/what-a-difference-a-year-of-hooping-makes/

Ashley Dean Stabl jumps for joy in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, USA. She lives in Spokane, Washington, USA. Photo by Sweetgrass Studios.

http://www.hooping.org/2013/05/ashley-dean-stabl/

Gail O’Brien of HoopSpin put her own unique spin on things at The Spin Summit, where she was teaching last weekend in Black Forest, Colorado, USA. She lives in Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK. A really great shot by Don Searle Photography.

While there are moments in this that left us feeling a bit like a voyeur, the new video from Miss Fly Hips is captivating with a great storyline, romance, awkward silences and a solid demonstration of her hooping talents. Miss Fly Hips, aka Karlie Dean, teaches hooping classes and lives in Peekskill, New York, USA. She’s also a member of the Hudson Valley Hoop Dancers. Video by Stephen Hakanson with two soundtracks, “Infinity” by The XX, which you can get on iTunes, and “As The Rush Comes” by Motorcycle, also on iTunes.

Are you feeling a little down because you’re having a bit of trouble making a hoop? Don’t know where to start, what to buy or where to get the materials? The kids of Barnett School will show you! With style and flair, they lead you through everything you need to know about hoop making materials, construction, where to get your tape, including which is wrinkly tape and which isn’t. Most important of all, we learn how to have fun with friends in the hoops you’ve made. Thanks, Barnet School, we couldn’t of done it without you!

http://www.hooping.org/2013/05/how-to-make-a-hula-hoop-2/