It’s in progress, a good resources and headed toward a great future. It’s the DC Hoop Collective and a great site to visit if you’re looking for all things hooping in the DC-MD-VA area.

From Noelle’s site:

Lots of new hoop events, classes, and performances. Check out the local hoop calendar. Good stuff on Hooping Powers’ site, too.

From Katie Desmond:

DanceAFire and Contradiction Dance are excited to present a special workshop with local Hoopdance legend Michele Clark next Sunday, March 8. The class will be during the normal open level Hoop Class time, but will be extended to a two-hour block from 3:30 – 5:00 to give more time to absorb the new and fun techniques. Creative Movement Play and Hoop Dance Expand your movement vocabulary and learn how to integrate tricks and dance into your hoop flow. We will explore a variety of techniques to help you develop your own signature tricks and free up your body giving you more room for expression and increase your musicality. About Michele: Michele has been in love with hooping for 7 years. She mixes dance, acrobatic elements and her love for all things improv into her understanding of hoopdance. Her classes are informed by a love of play, her yoga studies and her experience of discovering body awareness as a self taught hoopdancer.

Check out her incredible hooping skills:

When: Sunday, March 8 3:30-5:30pm

Where: Contradiction Dance 7014 Westmoreland Ave, Ste A Takoma Park, MD 20912

Cost: $25 Drop-in fee (but no extra charge for those already registered in the ongoing class, you may still register for the class!)

Please RSVP to preregister ASAP. Due to space limitations we are capping registration at 10 hoopers. This class will sell out. Register at www.contradictiondance.com

Putting my money where my mouth is. I just created a Google map of local hoop activity. You can also get to this site by going to http://maps.google.com/ and searching on “Hula Hooping in DC” If all goes well, you should have a voila experience.

Hey, I’m teaching a hula hoop class today – Feb 1, and next Sunday, Feb 8th, at Contradiction Dance in Takoma Park. Not sure how much the class is: probably in the $12-$15 range. Love to see you there!

From their website, which is a bit clunky:

Hoop Dance
Sundays
Teen & Adult
3:30-5pm – Open Level
Materials: Your own hoop, Hoops are for sale at class!
Hoop dance is a fun and transformative way to move your body and get in touch with your inner child. Intended for hoopers of all abilities, each session will combine instruction, drills, and exercises designed to improve your hoop technique and help you to discover your own unique hoop dance. These days, hoopers come in all ages, shapes, sizes and genders (I seriously can’t think of anything hotter than a boy hooper!) The class will also help students develop performance skills and may focus on specific techniques needed to fire hoop depending on interest.

The First Lady and her girls like to hula hoop. Washington Post article here.

Well, I’ve been working on a public Google calendar to post local hooping events, classes, jams and parties in the DC-MD-VA area. I’m hoping this will catch on with the other regional hoopers. Sure would be nice. Personally, I find the “Agenda” view the easiest way to scan the calendar options. It’s one of the tabs in the upper right corner of the page once the calendar is open.

If you offer regional hoop classes/jams/workshops and want to add your events to this calendar, I’d be delighted to help you do just that. Email me to take it to the next step.

Not familiar with Google calendars and how to share them? Watch this short video:

At Contradiction Dance in Takoma Park, Md. Surprise! is the teacher, and she’s a great — and enthusiastic — hooper.

Hoop Dance Classes

Teen & Adult
Sundays 3:30-5pm, and/or
Mondays, 6:30-7:30 pm

Materials: Your own hoop, Hoops are for sale at class!
Hoop dance is a fun and transformative way to move your body and get in touch with your inner child. Intended for hoopers of all abilities, each session will combine instruction, drills, and exercises designed to improve your hoop technique and help you to discover your own unique hoop dance. These days, hoopers come in all ages, shapes, sizes and genders (I seriously can’t think of anything hotter than a boy hooper!) The class will also help students develop performance skills and may focus on specific techniques needed to fire hoop depending on interest.

From Noelle:

Below are two fun-filled events coming up this week/end in B’more not to be missed: