How old are you? 29 - the big 3-0 soon - cant wait - massive party excuse

When did you first start hooping? Feb 2008

Would you call yourself a beginner, intermediate or advanced hooper? Depends on who you're comparing to - can do plenty of tricks but feel more of a beginner when it comes to performing and general dancing.

How often do you hoop? Daily

Do you have an indoor hoop space? Yes - I have a dedicated hoop room which is amazing - not big enough for much moving around or full extension but it's an indoor space and I love it 

Is there a hoop group where you live? Yes, several actually

Did you start it? I can take responsibility for my class mob but there was a pretty solid circus hoop community in bristol way before me.

Would you say that you are obsessed with or addicted to hooping? U-huh

Have you posted hooping videos? How many? A few

Do you have friends nearby to hoop with? Yep - lucky enough to have some AWESOME hoopers in brizzle that I dont play with enough

Do you teach hooping? If so, how many people have you taught? Yep 120 students per week at the mo and rising - my favourite thing in the world is getting people involved!

What kind of songs do you listen to while hooping? Love a bit of dylan, if i'm feeling bouncy psytrance is always a winner, any sort of blues when I'm feeling more chilled and drumming of any tribal sort especially for fire - nothing quite like the sound of drums and the sound of fire together.

What is your favorite song right now? hmmm no idea - had killer queen in my head since a performance at the weekend - Queen rocks.

Do you buy hoops or make your own? Make the normal ones, buy the leds and fire but working on a fire hoop design.

Have you lost weight since starting to hoop? At first lost quite a bit - maybe stone and a half and my body changed shape completely for the better - Since taking on loads more classes I'm continuing to shrink/strengthen in the right places but the flat stomach of my dreams is still a while off!

What size is your favorite hoop? I jump between a a 37" 20mm MDPE and 36" polypro and  2 x 36" polypros for twins.

Are you comfortable hooping by yourself in a public place? Sometimes - I get self conscious easily and as I've got better people watch more which kinda puts me off my flow. I'm bizarrely ok in clubs/parties/festivals with glow or fire but struggle in parks when I'm just practicing.

How did you learn the majority of the tricks you know today? Youtube.

Who is your favorite hoop teacher? I think from what I've seen second hand it's gotta be baxter - it's just a completely different approach which I love. Also online - vids from safire and caroleena helped me a lot at first. Always clear and useful tutorials. Sharna is my constant inspiration - what a legend - I could never learn enough from her. Gail O'Brien is also always onhand with a ridiculous trick I'll never be able to do. Elise is great at getting me to embrace the floaty side a bit more. And my students are all awesome and I learn a ton from them - each and every one of them!

What advice would you give to to beginner hoopers? Stick some music on and muck about. Dont worry about the number of tricks you know - it doesn't matter. Learn at your pace and be happy with it. Just because someone picks up the tricks quicker than you that doesn't make them a 'better hooper'.

Do you fire hoop? If not, do you want to? Yes, yes yes - all about the fire

Do own an LED hoop? Where did you get it? Yes. - got 3 psihoops 1 standard and a set of twins- the twins are he most amazing things in the world.  Also have a couple of "Rainbow hoops" LEDs as well.

How much time do you spend on safiredance.ning? um until today no time at all but seem to have been on here about an hour adding classes and watching vids - if it's anything like I am with facebook then prob be on here about 30min/ day - hooping is my job (woo!) so it's kinda like i'm working (awesome!)

What was the first trick you learned (besides waist hooping)? bringing it down to my hips then wiggling up - spent about 3 days doing this before trying anything else

What trick so far was the hardest for you to learn? I have a bizarre complete mental block on the chest roll. I know how to do and teach it to all my students but for some reason it eludes me - can sometimes do it now - think i just need to spend an hour repeatedly trying it - yawn! - i keep hoping it'll sort itself out magically without me doing anything - you never know!

Which one are you finding is almost impossible to get? See above! Grrr to the chest roll nemesis!

How many hoopers would you say live in your town/city? 300+ i'd say

Have you performed hooping in front of an audience? Yes.

Has anyone told you you were too old to be playing with a hula hoop? No actually - surprising.

What’s the worst injury you’ve acquired from the hoop? BRUISES like only other hoopers would believe - been working loads on knee breaks and reversals/one leg stuff and my legs look ridiculous - kinda blue and green spotty - niiiiice!

Have you ever hooped naked? Nope - It's cold in the UK and I'm a wimp!

Have you been to a hoop camp/retreat? Which one? Yep. UKHG 2009 was the first UK gathering and was AWESOME - Manchester Hoop Congress earlier 2010 was wicked fun -then went to 2 of the 3 UKHGs last summer.  Ran SWhoop in November which was amazing. Hoping to get over to the US this year for hoop con - gotta be done!!