Last year on the 8th of August (08/08/08) a small group of generous and playful hoopers got together in Yoyogi Park for World Hoop Day. A little gathering was planned. I had grand plans for the event and had hoped to raise enough money to purchase 100 hoops to share with children in Japan.
The evening was gorgeous. Supportive and enthusiastic hoopers came to show their love and generosity. Fun was had, hoops were spun and money was collected. About 30 hoops were purchased.
The original plan to give the hoops to Second Harvest did not eventuate and for a while I was left with amazing hoops on my balcony waiting for some children to play with them. This was not the dream.
Then I met Yumi. A vibrant, energetic and forever smiling student came to a Hoop Lovers class and we got to talking about her adventures on the Peace Boat. Desire was sparked, ideas were talked about and in no time I was dropping off the colorful plastic rings to Yumi just days before the 64th voyage of the Peace Boat.
Yumi is about to embark on another 3 month journey aboard the Peace Boat and so before leaving she kindly sent a package that included a report of her hoop sharing adventures and photos of the hoop love being spread throughout the world.
The Peace Boat participants hoop in Antarctica.
Intense gratitude and love goes to Yumi and the Peace Boat crew for their energy and thoughtful sharing. A huge thank you to all of the hoopers in Tokyo that made this possible, I am really looking forward to this year’s World Hoop Day (keep Sunday September 6 free!!) Gratitude to Hoopin Annie, World Hoop Day founder for sharing her dreams and love with the world!
Yumi (with her pink, black and red hoop) hooping on the Peace Boat in Antarctica.
Here is what Yumi wrote. Click on the titles to see all the photos in each area.
Dear Deanne,
I am finally getting around to send you the photos from the 64th voyage that I went on this last Winter- Spring. It was such a great opportunity to share the joy of hooping, thanks to you, with children (and adults!) around the world!!
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!
I am also happy and honored to be able to deliver your passion and love HOOPS to the children. Please see the report.
I am going back on board this Summer again. I still have those two shiny hoops, so I will be able to share the <3 with more people! I am planning "poi meets hoop" performance with my friend.
I really hope to see you before I go!!
Much love,
Yumi
Onboard Peace Boat
Organised “jishukikaku” (self organised event) to practice with girls, boys and many obachans (old ladies – because it was so popular when they were young)
I got some of them to take the hoops to different programs in ports.
Kenya
Masai Mara & Kibera Slum
I took a group of participants on a 10 day program to learn about Kenya. We first visited Masai Mara “base camp” where local Masai people run a sustainable tourism program. We had so much fun becasue Masai people have so much jewelery, they had to take it off one by one to be able to hoop! They were a lot better at spinning with their neck!
After that we visited a community that is part of a forestation program called “Green Belt Movement” (won Nobel Peace Prize) and had fun with children.
Yumi showing her hoop skills at a school in Kenya.
Finally we went to Kibera Slum where participants performed (!?) …uh…spinning, then donated 8 hoops. Children as well as teachers were having fun…you can see that in pictures. This is one of the biggest slums where children hardly eat other than in school…so the priority always goes to food, not toys and sports equipment…but they needed it!! 
Antarctica w/Peace Boat Participants
During the cruise in Antarctica, I held an event “Hula Hoop in Antarctica”. Literally hooping in Antarctica in a freezing climate!
Rapa Nui – Chile, Easter Island
We took 6 hoops to the land of Moais…children always need sports equipment as the island is 5000km away from other land/islands! The photos are from and exchange program at a school. The children are really active and they dance their traditional dance (whose movements are very similar to hooping) so every child could do it right away!
Another exchange program with villages in Rabaul. Rabaul is really beautiful with nature…at the same time we cannot (or shouldn’t) bring in any disposable toys, such as balloons, 100 yen shop toys etc. They had to be sturdy…like hoops!!!They will use them forever, I am sure!!! They liked throwing hoops too!!!
Thank you to all the hoopers that helped make these amazing events happen! Please join us this year for World Hoop Day celebrations in Tokyo. 99 HOOPERS NEEDED!
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ABOUT HOOPLOVERS
Hoop Lovers was created out of a love for a life filled with joy, strength and passion. Inspired by hoopers worldwide and individuals in search of greater awareness and body consciousness, Hoop Lovers provides the inspiration to move more, laugh longer and love the life that you live.
Hoop Lovers is a hoop dance community that offers hoop dance classes, interactive entertainment, hoop performances, hoops and dance accessories. Hoop Lovers is a space in which we share life experiences, celebration of spirit, hoop dance resources and dance like the Universe is watching (because it totally is and loves every funky move we make!)-
ABOUT DEANNE
Tokyo-based hooper Deanne fell in love with the art of Hoop Dance many moons ago and has not spent a day without her hoops since.
Early in 2008 she took her hoops on a magical journey down under to meet with mentor and hoop idol Bunny Hoop Star. Together in Sydney they shared the Hoop Love, Bunny imparted her wealth of circus hoop and hoop dance knowledge culminating the teacher training with a divine LED and Fire Hoop jam on the shores of Bondi Beach. Deanne soaked up all the hoop juju and returned to Tokyo to share the love and passion for hoop dance with the movers and groovers of the illuminated city.
Now a qualified Hoop Dance instructor Deanne can be seen lighting up dance floors in Tokyo clubs with her LED hoop light shows. When she is not burning up the dance floor she can be spotted sharing the tricks of the hoop trade in parks and dance studios across Tokyo, teaching young hoopers in after school clubs and helping new hoopers explore their limitless bodies and get their groove on.
Deanne recently returned from California where she spent two weeks hooping, connecting, dancing and sharing with other hoopers from around the world at Hoop Camp and Harbin Hoop Jam. Filled with new hoop passion and inspiration Deanne continues to connect the Tokyo hoop scene with the global hoop community.
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July 17, 2009 at 5:03 am
What a great way to share hoops around the world. Makes me want to go on the Peace Boat, too.
July 17, 2009 at 5:21 am
Yes! Me too, writing this my inner chat was something like this “I am SO going on the Peace Boat, yes next year, defintiely next year, oh wait when does it leave? 3 months? Yes, I am going. It would be so amazing, I think I have found my next adventure. Oh wait, what will I do with all my stuff. hhhm No, yes, yes, no, yes”
So it is a definite possibility, but for now I will concentrate on collecting more hoops for the next voyage.
July 17, 2009 at 10:29 am
Thank you for posting this update. It is great to see how far around the world our meager contributions made it.
Masai hooping with our donated hoops!! That just made my year!!
August 10, 2009 at 3:22 pm
That is incredible Deanne! Wow, the pictures just radiate with World Hoop Day spirit! Love from L.A.