Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Denaya on July 17, 2010 at 2:30am

Though I enjoy hooping with multiple hoops, I usually feel WAY more connected and into it when I'm only using one. It's less busy, there's only one focal point. I can concentrate more on what I'm trying to do with the hoop and flow with it much more naturally. I don't think there's anything wrong with having a preference. Just don't completely forget about multi-hooping. ;)

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Permalink Reply by Jane "Electric Blue" on July 17, 2010 at 2:45am

No that is just silly to think that.

It really depends who you are talking too.
are they a hooper?

Usually if you are talking to somebody who is interested but is not a hooper they think about the last time they saw somebody with hoops generally at the circus. They don't mean any harm by what they are saying they are just excited and want to say something about the hoops and the easiest thing to remember about seeing hoops is how many there were. They may have actually enjoyed the 1 hoop stuff they have seen but not being a hooper they probably wont say i saw somebody do an isolation ext..

I have this same problem with juggling as well as my hoops. I even if i am doing multiple hoop splits 5+ people bring up that they once saw someone do twenty around the waist and can i do that, even though we all know that is actually easier than splits but it is usually just the number that people remember.

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Permalink Reply by Lisa Sparks on July 17, 2010 at 6:36am

they just don't know what they are talking about....they are comparing you to circusy type acts. Two different worlds. I prefer one as well. Although sometimes just for fun i mess around with two.

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Permalink Reply by Gabriel-Nichole on July 17, 2010 at 6:49am

I think dancing with one hoop is beautiful, and dancing with two or more is pretty cosmic aswell. Seems like the people who are making the comments are a little uneducated about your individual flow, they seem to want to be astounded by a more circus type performance where juggling and spinning that amount of hoops is probably required.. I say go with your flow :o)! Its where you feel natural and its where your heart is don't let anyone get you down! just do what YOU do,I'm sure its beautiful :o)! -Happy hooping lovely!

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Permalink Reply by SWisH on July 17, 2010 at 7:15am

I agree with everyone else who has replied. Whenever I speak to non-hoopers about hooping, or even when running workshops, I strongly emphasise that I am a hoopDANCER and not a CIRCUS hooper. Yes I can do a lot of similar tricks, yes I can hoop with 2 hoops, but I definitely don't dance as well with 2 hoops (I'm still working on getting that flow), and I definitely PREFER dancing with one hoop, if I actually want to dance. Then I explain that hoopdance is about flow and artistic expression instead of tricks and impressing people. I want people to watch and think, 'How beautiful,' as opposed to, 'Look at what she can do!' Emphasising how hoopdance has an entirely different purpose to circus hooping helps people understand and appreciate what I do a bit more.

And I definitely would NOT say you're less of a hooper. What I'd say is (like me) you're more of a hoopdancer and less of a circus hooper.

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Permalink Reply by circularlogic on July 17, 2010 at 7:18am

Of course not!!!

People just don't get the subtleties of hooping-- in their minds it's reduced to something quantifiable. Though it undoubtedly takes considerable skill to maintain multiple hoops, with every hoop you add (certainly once you get over 2) there is less dance possible, as your motions are more & more limited. It's a different, more athletic or circus approach. And as with any art, each artist needs to find his or her own true voice.

I'm a painter & my works are fairly small, highly detailed, usually subtle in color, & generally surreal. I certainly appreciate artists whose works are huge, loose, brightly colored, & abstract (just to take one example) but I have no inclination to do that myself. It's not that I think one is better than the other, it's the way the muse speaks to each artist, & it would just be silly for me to feel I should do someone else's art.

Also, I really wonder sometimes about people's comments. Your critics probably can't hoop at all, yet they feel qualified to judge & belittle your abilities? Unless you are specifically asking for their commentary, that just feels rude!

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