Hello everyone. The name is Aly - I'm a Makeup Artist and Photographer currently located in Viva Las Vegas.

I'm very passionate about Hoopdance and bellydance, even if I'm not the best at either. They've opened a whole new world up for me though. I was one of those girls who couldn't walk a straight line and could never imagine myself dancing.

I'm happy to be a part of this community and hope to make a few new friends here.

How old are you? 20

When did you first start hooping? January 2008

Would you call yourself a beginner, intermediate or advanced hooper? Intermediate

How often do you hoop? It really depends - my mood, the weather, how much school work I have, if my iPod is actually working, ect. - I try to hoop for at least 30 minutes a day. Some weeks I'll hoop for an hour 5 days, and other weeks I'll only make it out once a week for maybe 30 minutes.

Do you have an indoor hoop space? No - if I did I know I'd hoop a whole lot more.

Is there a hoop group where you live? Not yet - there are a few people in the area. No real get togethers yet, besides World Hoop Day, which I was living in Cali at the time.

Did you start it? Well.. I started a Myspace and Livejournal for Vegas! So does that count?
http://groups.myspace.com/VegasHoopers
http://community.livejournal.com/vegashoopers/

Would you say that you are obsessed with or addicted to hooping? Slightly - I'd probably be moreso if I had someone to enjoy it with.

Have you posted hooping videos? How many? No, not yet! Don't feel like I'm to te skill level yet to make an impressive video! :x

Do you have friends nearby to hoop with? No. :/

Do you teach hooping? If so, how many people have you taught? Not yet! I've been considering getting Hoopnotica certified.

What kind of songs do you listen to while hooping? All types! From hard rock to pop to industrial to techno! If it's upbeat I can dance to it!

What is your favorite song right now? Toy Soilder by I:Scintilla

Do you buy hoops or make your own? Buy. I've only purchased two hoops though the entire time I've been hooping - my starter from hoopnotica and my LED.

Have you lost weight since starting to hoop? Yes! In addition to the bellydancing. Kinda put it back on lately though. ;]

What size is your favorite hoop? That... One... Size.. not something I really am too knowledgable of yet.

Are you comfortable hooping by yourself in a public place? If it's not too crowded. I kinda have to hoop in public if I want to. I hoop outside in the alley because I don't ahve abig enough backyard. So I'm kinda out in the open with cars driving by and people walk by. But I'm not sure it's really a "public place"...

How did you learn the majority of the tricks you know today? Youtube! I feel like I don't know too many though.

Who is your favorite hoop teacher? Rayna, Safire

What advice would you give to to beginner hoopers? Don't give up! Something that makes no sense or may be terrible confusing can be done! I've had so many things that I couldn't do, and just one day it *clicked* and I could do it as if I'd known it since birth, it's so strange.

Do you fire hoop? If not, do you want to? No - hopefully I'll pop that cherry this year though! It's the reason I originally got into hooping!!

Yep! My family bought it for me for christmas. It was the cheapy from Superhooper.

How much time do you spend on safiredance.ning? I at least check it daily!

What was the first trick you learned (besides waist hooping)? Either hip hooping or lifting off the body.

What is the last trick you mastered? A behind the back toss from one of Safire's videos.

What trick so far was the hardest for you to learn? Shoulder hooping was pretty hard to get! Finally got it down though!

Which one are you finding is almost impossible to get? Currently I'm trying to learn the step-through in all directions. Also I can't seem to get the knack of knee hooping.

How many hoopers would you say live in your town/city? Very few, that I'm aware of. I can't seem to find anyone!

Have you performed hooping in front of an audience? Not yet.

Has anyone told you you were too old to be playing with a hula hoop? Nope!

What’s the worst injury you’ve acquired from the hoop? I almost sprained my ankle. And recently hit myself in the face as it was spinning and got a burn on my lip. But mainly, I'm gotten some of the most god-awful bruises I've ever gotten in my life! Litterally black! I never thought I could hurt myself so bad with a piece of plastic!

Have you ever hooped naked? Hehe! Nah~

Have you been to a hoop camp/retreat? Which one? Nope.