Hoop Dance can be a solitary practice that brings stillness to your mind, energy to your body and flow to your dance style. Having a hoop certainly gives you a reason to stand in a park and dance, you have a partner you are never really alone. The thing is it is so much more fun and inspiring to get together with a group of hoopers and share the joy of a hoop journey.
In the beginning of my hoop dance journey I would hoop alone in a park every day. When I started teaching hoop dance classes in Tokyo I wondered how many other lone hoopers where spinning around the city and so CIRCLE was born.
As the Hoop Lovers site will tell you CIRCLE is a community of playful, positive and spirited movers and dancers. CIRCLE is a time when we come together to share and enjoy free movement, play, hoop tricks, poi moves, contact play, music, rhythm, dance, beats, release and fun!
CIRCLE was created as a space to move, groove and engage in dance, liberating your body and your mind.
CIRCLE began as a randomly scheduled event but is now run two times a week in Tokyo, every Monday night in Inokashira Park and every Wednesday night in Yoyogi Park. It has become a sacred time for the hoop crew to release, share, get together, invite friends and of course just hoop, hoop, hoop.
I highly recommend starting a CIRCLE of your own, in a central location or in your neighborhood.
Here are my tips for starting your own hoop CIRCLE;
* Pick a location that suits you and other hoopers. Be mindful that equipment such as hoops, mats, speaker systems and other materials need to be transported there each time. An outdoor location, that is safe and accessible is best.
* Pick a regular time e.g every Tuesday sunset, the 1st Thursday night of the month etc This will stop confusion. If you plan to have your hoop group CIRCLE in an outdoor location (suggested) having a regular time will also help passers by to know when you will be there.
* Always bring extra hoops, it is all about sharing, you want to invite as many people as possible to enjoy the hoop fun.
* Have an online presence, start a facebook group, a forum, mailing list or have a space somewhere dedicated to your CIRCLE hoop meet up so that you can communicate details online.
* Be prepared. I have a CIRCLE bag, mats, hoops, ipod with funky playlist and speaker all charged up and ready to go. It makes it easy when heading to CIRCLE two times a week.
* Invite anyone and everyone, chances are they will have a great time and the more hoopers the merrier.
* Don’t worry if people don’t turn up every time. It takes time to build community. Sometimes you may have more people than hoops and other times it may just be you and another hooping buddy. Remember the reason why you started the CIRCLE, so you would have some one to hoop with, but if it is just you then don’t be discouraged you still have your sparkling hoop as a partner. Don’t give up. If you hoop it, they will come.
* Be prepared to socialise, organise, meet greet and share as well as hoop.
* Check in with your local council for permit requirements, insurance needs etc
* Share the hoop love in your local area.
Affirmation: I see life with love. I am safe and free.
Inspiration: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead
