Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Gabriela Camargo on December 4, 2010 at 9:56pm

I agree with a lot of what you said, regarding dance training being considered the official "dancer card". I have taken classes since I was about 11 (jazz, contemporary, ballet), and being inserted in that enviroment I find it very conservative and oppressive.

I discovered hoopdance a couple of months ago, and even having had a certain amount of training in "official dance", only now I feel confortable about my body and my dancing. It took me a "plastic circle" and the whole idea of a community of people who welcome everybody else to be part of an artistic and embracing style to feel more confident about myself.

Now, I decided I want to become a hoopdance teacher because I really believe in the idea that it is good for your body, your soul and your self-esteem, and that everybody is welcome to become happy hoopdancers. Unlike other techniques in which if you have a certain body type, or a unique way to move, your are jugded 'incovenient'.

Dance for me, right now, is a gateway to self-expression. I'm not against technique, like ballet, I think it has a milenar cultural value, but I believe everybody should be given the opportunity to express themselves and to enjoy the privilege of using their body the way they like best, and be recognized as dancers as well.

Permalink Reply by Traci "CircularPraise" Bonney on December 5, 2010 at 7:31am

I agree with everything you said. Dance is a way to worship our Creator, to express what's in our hearts at a given moment, to work out the stresses and celebrate the joyous moments in our lives, to interact physically in a way that's neither sexual (depending on how you're dancing) nor combative (again, depending on how you're dancing), to socialize without having to talk about taboo or uncomfortable topics, to be kids regardless of our chronological ages.

I wish we did it more freely in our western culture. And by freely, I mean more often, more publicly, and without charging admission for the privilege. It aggravates me that the same people who will jump up and down and scream like maniacs when their favorite sports team scores will come into church on a Sunday morning and stand like posts in cement during "praise and worship." If we can't get excited about the God who made us, what does that say about us?

Sorry - going to church in about half an hour, and just once I'd love to see someone other than the pastor and me at least swaying to the beat. Okay, rant ended. Y'all have a blessed day. ;)

Permalink Reply by Tammy Klassen on November 13, 2012 at 9:27pm

Well said Traci! I'm new here - just tonight. I have not actually started hooping I'm looking for a hoop currently and some classes :-) I dance in church every Sunday and it's my form of Worship. I use all kinds of Pageantry tools ie flags, banners, streamers etc. It's glorious! I saw hooping and thought, hey I could do that, it looks like a blast. So I'm just starting my hooping journey. Any thoughts or recommendations would be appreciated!

Permalink Reply by Traci "CircularPraise" Bonney on November 13, 2012 at 9:35pm

Welcome to the group! I'm glad you're with us. :)

As for the right hoop to start with, it's going to depend on your height, build, fitness level and experience. Are there any hoopers in your area? Are there any hoop makers? They would be your best resource for both guidance and a starter hoop.

If there aren't and you're confident in your DIY skills, there's the option of making your own hoops. We have some great tutorials for that in the site's Making Hoops forum.  The important thing to remember if you make your own is that you want your first hoop to be large enough and heavy enough for you to keep it going until you find your rhythm and style of hooping.

If you don't want to DIY, there are a lot of great hoop vendors here who I'm sure would love to help a first-timer out.

Permalink Reply by Tammy Klassen on November 13, 2012 at 10:10pm

Thanks Traci, I've been gathering info from a couple of local gals. So hopefully I can get started soon :-) Would love to attend a class and try out a few before I buy... so we'll see. Thanks for the welcome, I'm glad to have a place to connect!

Permalink Reply by Sarah Bellum on December 6, 2010 at 8:20am

What a great discussion lulu :)

I find everything that you all have said to be true, because I believe dance is all of those things. Dance is exactly what you want it to be and how you want it to be. Sure, there are different techniques, forms, and traditions associated with dance, but dance is movement and the absence of movement. Whoever said that sitting still isn't a form of dance, huh? Dance is the intent we manifest through our bodies to convey something....anything really.

Dance is the original art form in my eyes. It is the first natural art we do as a human, babies do it when they hear a beat come out, they shake, bounce, jiggle around. They do it before they sing. They smile and laugh.... reveling in the feeling they have that manifests itself through physical movement. Dance requires NOTHING but your body. Your fingers, your toes, your arms, your legs, your head. These are the things dancers use, there is no need for another object or thing to create their art.

Dance incorporates other people and other objects to create a fuller visual image. BUT it that does not define what dance is.

Dance is pure expression. It can say anything you want it to. It even says things you don't expect it to. You can tell when a dancer is feeling self-conscious, when they're immersed in their art, or when they're fighting something internally. It's a mirror to our souls. We worship the divine (whatever the divine is to you), we perform for others, we move for ourselves, sometimes we don't know why we need to dance but we do.

Dance is everything.... or at least it can be. I find it beautiful and honest and couldn't imagine life without it. Indeed, there could be no life without it. Dance is in our every day movements.... even without intention our movement dances it's own song.... the choreography of life..... OK I'm getting a little carried away....but you get my point?

StudentPermalink Reply by Paul Lightning on December 7, 2010 at 4:41pm

I'm pressing the "like" button on this!

StudentPermalink Reply by Shelley "HoopyChick" Gilbertson on December 6, 2010 at 7:08pm

Really great thoughts here, guys! Luluperuse, I think the second to the last sentence in your post sums it up perfectly. Dance is whatever the dancer makes it to be - it doesn't matter if it's technically "correct" in any way, it doesn't matter if you're dancing with a partner, a hoop, or anything else. It's expressing yourself through movement.

Permalink Reply by Christina Brittain on December 7, 2010 at 6:09am

dance is the overwhelming feeling of vibrations taking over my five senses and releasing my sixth. dance the energy of music. feel the beat sweat rythm.

StudentPermalink Reply by luluperuse on December 7, 2010 at 12:17pm

Like!

StudentPermalink Reply by Tangled Macrame on December 25, 2010 at 8:51pm

My perpetual inspiration: Martha Graham describes the dancer as "An Athlete of God"  http://thisibelieve.org/essay/16583/

Permalink Reply by Sarah Bellum on December 29, 2010 at 9:21am

ah... martha.... she's awesome.

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