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StudentPermalink Reply by Nicole Colindres on September 17, 2012 at 9:37pm

Good for you!! Performing is so much fun...do it out in front of strangers a few times to get over that initial anxiety! Your going to do great!

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Permalink Reply by Aryanah Rivera on September 25, 2012 at 4:10pm

Thanks! <3

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StudentPermalink Reply by Tink in Tokyo on September 17, 2012 at 11:18pm

There are a lot of ways to create a performance. Here is one you might try:

1. Pick a song you really like - you will have to listen to is a lot while you plan and practice. Any kind of music can be hooped to, so don't feel restricted by what is popular or expected. As long as you like it, it's fine.

2. Invent a character for yourself. It is a lot easier to perform if you are not "you" when you are on stage, but a persona. Your persona might be a lot like you or might be a total fantasy. Woodland fairy, brainy scientist, wallflower at the prom, circus clown. Whatever you choose, the character in mind as you go. 

3. Video yourself dancing in character to the song you picked. You'll see some moments of brilliance and some things that need to be changed. Expand the good stuff, adjust or remove what doesn't work. Repeat, repeat, repeat until you have  dance you like.

Hope this gives you some ideas for how to get started. It's not the only way, of course.

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Permalink Reply by Aryanah Rivera on September 25, 2012 at 4:17pm

Thanks! This is really helpful! :D

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StudentPermalink Reply by Tilly Whirls on September 18, 2012 at 12:08am

I don't usually choreograph. That said... when I've done performances I needed to rehearse for I picked a song and listened to it relentlessly. Pick a song that's about 3-3:30 minutes long. No more than four minutes at the most (unless you can edit it down). 

Next I would listen to the song and match up specific parts of the song with something I thought would fit well with the tempo/melody/percussion/etc. I figure out a sequence to begin, figure out where I want to end, I pick a few big things that I want to pull off throughout the song and then I let myself improv the parts in between. If you know doubles, minis or multiples, you can always add some of that in and that can help you break up the time more.

This was an open mike performance I rehearsed for (for about a week): 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbwWgDolkas

To me, the biggest things you need to keep in mind when it comes down to it are: 
• It's likely that since this is in your school no one has seen hooping before (or not much of it) so everyone will be impressed even if all you do is simple things like waist hooping, vortex, halo, passing, etc. They'll still be way impressed. 
• Think about your hands/arms. Try to avoid T-Rex arms. (This video was a result of two focuses while I was practicing—I was trying to think about my arms, arms, arms and take the hoop from vertical to horizontal as much as possible: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CS0TplJ2Rlc)
• Keep your facial expression in mind. Smile, or if it's more fitting for your song keep a neutral face, or something that matches your music. 

At this point when I perform I like to layer my performances. If I have one song I try to find one I can incorporate multiple things into (single hoop, double hoop, back to single). If my performance is longer and I have a few songs I'll start with one regular hoop for one song, do one song with doubles/multiples, and do one song with LEDs or something. This is the idea:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_Jmy1vqt6g

And just for fun. The first time I performed I'd only been hooping a couple months and didn't know much and was really anxious. My practice videos of me trying to rehearse went from "meh" to "not bad" and then when I actually went to do the performance I hardly remembered any of it so I ended up just doing improv for much of it—which is fine. But it always helps to prepare and have a plan. Here's the videos: 

• First practice: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6ax64g0z4I
• More practice: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBG4EsFZgxY
• What actually happened: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TF-WuMffjc

That's probably information overload, but I just kept thinking of more to add. Most of all, have fun with it. Pick a song you love (or at least really like) and rock out in your hoop.

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Permalink Reply by Aryanah Rivera on September 25, 2012 at 4:20pm

Wow! Thanks so much! This has given me a lot to think about and consider <3 

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StudentPermalink Reply by Splynk on September 18, 2012 at 10:02am

Yep pick a song you love and hoop to it till you think you can't hoop to it any more then go at it a few more times just for good measure! And have fun! that's the main thing if you up on stage having fun and looking like you own it! then nothing else matters you will look good and people will enjoy watching you :) 

For my first show this past spring  I picked my song and had it choreographed a little bit, but I was way to nervous to remember a full choreographed routine.  When it came to show time I was really really nervouse but I went out had fun.  I even droped my hoop once but owned it some jazz hands and a bow! and it seemed like the audiance really didn't care! so go out and have fun.

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StudentPermalink Reply by Tilly Whirls on September 18, 2012 at 1:26pm

Yes! Good points. :)

When I drop a hoop I use it as an excuse to do a kickstart. When you do mess up and have to recover smile through it, act like it's part of the game and keep pushing. It happens to the best of us. 

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Permalink Reply by Aryanah Rivera on September 25, 2012 at 4:21pm

That's a cute way to handle dropping the hoop! I'll keep that in mind if I drop it or lose it by accident! thanks!

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