Comment

Comment by Traci "CircularPraise" Bonney on January 27, 2013 at 7:15pm

No problem, Missina. I knew you weren't saying it's wrong to hoop in church. I took a lot of heat in the past for dancing in a church I used to attend even though both the church leaders and I knew God wanted me to do it. Because of my weight and build, there were some who said (never to me directly, mind you) that I shouldn't be dancing. Even though the leadership at that church defended me and the leaders at another church a few years later expressly requested that I dance during church services, I still have a tender spot in my spirit when it comes to that subject, and I tend to come on strong when the topic comes up.

Student Comment by Missina Lee on January 27, 2013 at 7:07pm

Oh yes, I hope you don't think I was saying it's *wrong* to hoop in church. I know I saw a video of you doing it and thought it was great! We all have our preferences for worship "style". I have been to so many churches over my life from conservative to wild, and I just feel more at home in the conservative. I dance in my own house for worship, just don't like it at church :)

Comment by Traci "CircularPraise" Bonney on January 27, 2013 at 6:55pm

Oh, I totally agree about the need for modest clothing when hooping in public regardless of the venue. And I understand what you mean about how hooping should and shouldn't be done in a church setting. Some churches make more use of pageantry, dance, mime, drama and other such arts in their worship on a weekly basis, and other churches do those things only on certain occasions, like a Christmas or Resurrection Day (Easter) program. Other churches don't do such things at all. I wouldn't advocate crashing a Catholic Mass with a hoop, for instance - although when I was a kid trying to stay awake on a Sunday morning, I might have enjoyed seeing something like that.

However, if you're in a church where most of the people are worshiping demonstratively - dancing, raising/waving hands, using flags and other props - then there's a place for hoops if they're used as worship tools. For those of us whose worship includes interpretive styles of dance, a hoop is simply another tool, like a flag or streamer.

It's all a matter of preference, really, and we're blessed to have a God who accepts both reverent hymn singing and exuberant dancing as reasonable acts of worship. What matters in God's eyes is why we're doing what we're doing. Is it a way to express our joy and gratitude for God's mercy and blessings, or is it an attempt to attract the attention of people? That's what we must ask ourselves, and if the answer is the second one, we need to stop what we're doing and ask God's forgiveness. But if we have the assurance in our spirits that He wants us to dance, we'd be sinning not to. After all, it's all about what He wants, not what we feel least uncomfortable doing. :)

Student Comment by Missina Lee on January 26, 2013 at 12:50pm

Hmmm, interesting topic. I think I would be okay with hoopers at a Christian concert, moreso than I would be having them in an actual church service. For church I like more conservative, reverent, hymn singing, not drawing attention to any one person. But a concert is more of an activity and actual "show". I'm all for having fun and dancing there, and as long as the hoopers could still be dressed "modestly" under all those hot lights, go for it. I could probably see that being the largest issue. Most hoopers wear little clothing because it gets so hot at their gigs. I can't imagine booty shorts and a bikini top flying at a Christian concert ;)

Comment by Traci "CircularPraise" Bonney on January 26, 2013 at 12:18pm

I know what you mean about the potential for dancers to be seen in the wrong light at a Christian concert. But I've seen them used in perfectly appropriate ways at least once that I recall. It was a Carmen concert, and there was nothing sexy about their moves. They were well choreographed and high energy, but if anyone saw something seductive in the dance routines, that was the viewer's issue, not a choreography or dance issue.

I know people who have a harder time dealing with hoop dancing than regular dancing. It's because of their perception of hooping. All they know about is waist hooping and that brings to mind visions of gyrating hips. I tried to get one of the older guys in church to try one of my hoops just to see if he could keep it spinning, and he balked at the idea - said it would be obscene for him to be moving that way in public. When I finally got a hoop around him, it was more clunky than anything because he couldn't catch the rhythm of the hoop, but because of how he thought he looked, he wouldn't relax enough to try.

Simple fact is, most of what people have problems with when it comes to dancing - with or without a hoop - is their own inhibitions and prejudices. God told us to praise Him in the dance - it's right in Psalm 150 - so if someone has a problem with it, they need to get their own head and heart straight with God on the matter.

Okay - rant finished. ;)

Comment by Jeci on January 25, 2013 at 11:16am

:) I do go to alot. There usually isn't "dancers"-- cuz that would be pretty seductive. But, hoop dancing would be COOL!

Comment by Traci "CircularPraise" Bonney on January 24, 2013 at 5:22pm

I've wondered about that too, Jeci. I think it could happen with some groups. If they're open to having dancers on stage, they might be open to having hoop dancers. I don't go to a lot of Christian concerts, so I don't know what's done these days.

Comment by Jeci on January 23, 2013 at 7:49am

I’ve been thinking about this for a while: most of my hooping friends perform at clubs and concerts. Do you think hooping will ever get on stage at a Christian concert?? I want to do that :)

Comment by Traci "CircularPraise" Bonney on January 12, 2013 at 4:00pm

Welcome, Angela! I love how our little group is growing. :)

I haven't been hooping lately - my foot has been bothering me for a while (think it's a stress fracture) so I'm waiting for it to heal before I get back to it, but I love getting the notices from Hoop City and communicating with my sisters in the hoop and in Christ.

Student Comment by Angela O'Keefe on January 11, 2013 at 3:05pm

Hi, am new too but I just joined last night and would love to connect with others as well. I love the idea of having both hooping and Jesus in common. God bless, hope your all having a great new year so far :-)

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