Hula hoop story in WaPo

The Washington Post wrote a story on World Hoop Day (8-8-08, this year) and local hoopers in the DC metro area. ‘Tis here.

Hooping at Artscape

My friend — and a really good hooper — Talia has been booked to hoop at Artscape this weekend. Here’s a direct reposting of her announcement.

Hey guys! Here are the details for the what, where, and when I will be performing at this year’s Artscape: America’s Largest, Free Public Arts Festival in Balitmore. I’m pulling together some acts in my repertoire that haven’t seen the stage in a while… glass walking, glass eating, hooping INSIDE a balloon.. the list goes on!! And I have a few new tricks up my sleeve too. It’s going to be a FUN time and the weather is looking great! I’m doing three shows on both Saturday and Sunday so there’s plenty of opportunities to catch me and/or get your hoop on this weekend! See you there!

Talia/Miss Joule

Artscape
Saturday, July 19, and Sunday, July 20, 2008–3 shows each day!!
1:00 pm Hoop Jam at the Target Family Art Park
3:00 pm Circus Sideshow at MICA Main Building
5:00 pm Circus Sideshow and Hoop Jam at Penn Station
Baltimore, MD
FREE!

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Noelle – also my friend and really good hooper — is booked to perform there, too. I don’t have as much info about her performances, but rumor has it she may be hooping on stilts!

Play Date at The Well

Date: Sat June 28th at 3:00- 5:00
Place: The Well in Historic Ellicott City.
Description: An all level and all age beginners hooping play date.
Bring your own hoop or use one of ours.
This is fun and non- judgmental atmosphere where you can learn and just
have fun!
Cost: Suggested donation of $10.00
Instructor: Kate St. John of The Well.

Fluid Movement’s Hoola-Hoop-A-Thon

Reposting verbatim:

Photo from the 2007 Hoop-a-Thon (Me on left; Strange Powers on right)

Baltimore’s super-duper hoopers will battle for coveted Master of Hoops 2008 honors at Fluid Movement’s 3^rd annual Hoola-Hoop-A-Thon, to be held on Saturday, May 17 at in Baltimore.

Come on down to cheer on your favorite hooper or start a revolution of your own! Hoopers will compete in endurance, tricks, and improv hooping for the coveted title of Master of Hoops 2008, a cash prize, and a trophy to boot. Fabulous costumes are encouraged and will be rewarded accordingly by the judges!

Participants will also enjoy refreshments, face painting, hooperformances, the musical stylings of DJ Rachel Dwiggins and a sign-up for this summer’s Fluid Movement water ballet.

Who: Fluid Movement, Baltimore’s favorite community based performance troupe

What: 3^rd annual Hoola-Hoop-A-Thon

When: Saturday, May 17, 1-4 pm

Where: St. John’s Church Community Space, 2640 St. Paul Street Baltimore, MD 21218

How: Bring your own hoop—or buy or rent a hoop of your very own. No advance ticketing: $12 to dazzle the crowd and vie for the coveted crown; $6 to watch the HOT HOOPING action.

Why: Hooping is all the rage these days and you know you love it! Come support Baltimore’s best community-arts organization, Fluid Movement, with your sweet revolutionary skills!

Hula hoop teacher for a day

I get to be teacher for a day. Well, just for a couple hours, actually. I’m filling in as a hula hoop instructor on Monday, May 5th, at Joe’s Movement Emporium in Mt. Ranier. The class is 8:30 - 9:45 p.m. at Joe’s. (Get there a little early to pay and get settled in.) Cost is $12. Drop-ins welcome. Hoops provided.

Hey, it’s Cinco de Mayo that day. Perhaps someone will bring some fun music, and we can celebrate in our own style.

Hoopnotica teaching in B’more

One of the ever-so-lovely (and absolutely sexy) Hoopnotica hoopers will be teaching in Baltimore. From an email I received:

I’m coming out to Baltimore in May to teach Hoopnotica® workshops and to lead a Teacher Training! I thought that this might interest you and other local hoopers. I am scheduled to be out May 8^th through 11^th. Here’s the schedule of events:

5/8: Open House 7:00p – 8:30p - FREE

5/9: Beginning Workshop 9:30a – 11:30a and 7:00p – 9:00p - $39 each

5/10: Teacher Training Day 1 – 9:00a – 5:00p w/ 1 hour lunch

5/11: Teacher Training Day 2 – 9:00a – 2:30p w/ 1 hour lunch, followed by Certification exams (written and practical)

The workshops are available for registration right on our website at www.hoopnotica.com/index.php?main_page=hooping_classes#, and registration for Teacher Training can be completed over the phone at 310-741-8712. There are several different ways to register for Teacher Training, all with different costs. I can be contacted by phone for any questions on Teacher Training registration and fees.

Hoop Path Warrior Child

I found this video of a young girl hooping. She has the style influence of Baxter and the Hoop Path people. She’s a lovely hooper. If you feel inspired, as I do, know there will be a HoopPath workshop in Baltimore in late May. It’s open to hoopers of all skill levels.

HoopPath coming to B’more

Glory be to the Hoop Gods: The HoopPath Peeps — Beth, Ann and Baxter — are coming to Baltimore for a two-day workshop, May 31st - June 1st. A Saturday-only option is also available. Tickets on etix.com; just do a city search on Baltimore and take it from there.

The video on their website is fabulous! If you’re at all curious about them, check it out. Here’s a vid of Baxter at one of their workshops.

I like the HoopPath hoopstyle so much that I created a YouTube video group highlighting the three main HoopPathers and some of their protegé.

Smaltimore - Hula Hoop Classes

From Noelle at Hooping Powers.

In case you have been curious, but have not yet taken the plunge, or have the hooping basics down but want to take it to the next level, I’ll share with you below the dates and locations for my current and upcoming classes. As always, I am also available for one-on-one instruction, parties, performances, and hoop sales.

Baltimore, MD:

Beginner Level 1 Hooping~ Sundays from 12 noon to 1:15pm, February 24-March 30.
Where: 2640 St.Paul Street (St. John’s Church Community Space), Baltimore 21218
How & How Much: Hoops provided for practice, and available for purchase. No experience necessary! Wear comfortable clothes; cotton=good, not too baggy, preferably no big necklaces, and bring water along to stay hydrated! $72 for the six week session. Drop-Ins okay, but full-registration recommended for optimal learning~ +$2/class for drop-in rate. Each class builds on the last over the six week session. Please email me to ensure a spot.
More location info: www.redemmas.com/2640

Beginner Level 2 Hoopdance~ Mondays from 5:30-6:45pm ***February 25-April 7, with NO CLASS the week of March 3*** Also, please note that this class session begins 15 minutes later than current Monday night class.
Where: 2640 St. Paul Street (St. John’s Church Community Space), Baltimore 21218
How & How Much: Hoops provided, but folks are welcome to bring their own if they like! Bring water & a desire to move! $72/six weeks. Drop-Ins permitted, but each class will build on the last. Fluidity and furtherance of techniques from Level 1 class emphasized, focus on travel, levels, combinations, and individual skill-building of our unique hoopdance styles. Please email me to ensure a spot.

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Noelle was recently highlighted in a Baltimore Sun article about hooping.

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Photo credit.

Hula hoop inventor swirls no more

I just got the news from local blogger and Facebook friend, DJ Asson, that –

The man who unleashed the Hula Hoop and the Frisbee on the world has died. Richard Knerr, co-founder of the Wham-O toy company, died on Monday at the age of 82. His wife, Dorothy, told the Los Angeles Times that he had suffered a stroke and died in hospital.

Knerr founded Wham-O with his childhood friend Arthur “Spud” Melin in 1948. The pair made sporting goods such as catapults, boomerangs and crossbows, before branching out into less harmful territory with products such as the Superball, the Slip ‘n’ Slide water slide, and Silly String.

Clip from The Guardian.

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Update: Oh, this is big news! A friend found yet-another news clip — this one from the New York Times, no less — about Mr. Hula Hooper’s death and sent it my way.

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Wow! Another friend just sent yet-another related news clip, this one from CNN Money.