Final Weirdo Show at the Palace of Wonders

(Photo from May 2 Tilted Torch Show at Palace)

It is a great honor to be sharing the stage at the Palace of Wonders tomorrow with so many amazing DC performers, including the amazing Malibu (who I will be doing a fun choreographed number with). I also participate with something of a heavy heart since I am sad that the Weirdo Show will be ending. Professor Sprocket has been hugely supportive of my performance endeavors since I arrived in DC and I look forward to seeing his new projects develop.

So come one and all to the FINAL Weirdo Show and check out Malibu and Surprise! with our special show closer number.

Converging at the Hoop Convergence

Wow, what an awesome weekend! It is very rare where I can go to a movement class and learn something new in every single class. I can't wait to share tons of new tricks. Also, I have a new obsession. . . MINI HOOPS.

Connecting with hoopers from all over the place was amazing, but connecting more deeply with our local hoop crew was a definite highlight for me. My friends Michele and Brecken are quickly turning into international hoop celebrities. It has been a true honor to watch them progress and grow into their mind blowing and unique hoop styles and recieve the recognition that they deserve. It was also a pleasure to see local hoop teacher Jocelyn Gordon play a key role in grounding out the conference with her peaceful and loving meditation and yoga, I deeply admire her energy and have deep gratitude towards this energy (it recently got me through a successful film shooting). It was also awesome to share space with local hoopstars Noelle, Shanna, Beth, Max, Jaguer Mary, and Tina B. were just plain fun to hang out with and hoop with and I was so proud to know such an amazing crew and consider them my peeps.

The best part is that we all left the Convergence, with a renewed excitement to hoop more together and to collaborate more deeply.

This weekend there are two fun opportunities to hoop together. On Saturday a group is meeting at the Tidal Basin at 5:00pm and on Sunday a group is meeting at Malcolm X Park at 5ish to rock out the drum circle. I will be at Malcolm X and I hope to see you there!

Going blind

Yesterday morning I listened to a Dharma Talk Podcast by Tara Brach, a Buddhist meditation teacher here in DC that I have recently been turned on to. In the talk she was discussing how frequently our intentions are narrowly focused and self serving and the importance of being more expansive in our intention setting. I started thinking about how this applied to the practice of hooping, so frequently in class we are focused on learning new tricks and we are also very concerned about how we look and how we are performing.

Hoopdance can be an incredible connective and performance oriented experience, but it can also be an internal and meditative experience.

I am mentally gearing up for the Hoop Convergence a meet-up of some of the most incredible hoopers from across the country this weekend. In this setting, it is easy to be awed by the grace and talents of others. And I must admit that surrounded by such gorgeous and talented beings, sometimes I struggle with insecurities about my own skill, or appearance, or grace.

Reflecting on this, I decided that it was a good class to explore blindfolded hooping in my class to encourage my students to deepen their internal practice. Blindfolded hooping was first introduced to me by my hooping "guru" Jonathan Baxter.

Whenever I go blind, at first I feel a little tentative, but then slowly the world starts to dissolve and I am left with the sensation of the hoop making contact with my body and the feeling of the motion, velocity and gravity of the dance. I no longer care how I look, I get lost in the motion and the feeling of sincerely experiencing the NOW.

In my class, I took extra time to set intention for the practice and then I provided a safe space for students to go blind and then served as a guide to facilitate stretching, breathing, and releasing into the flow of the hoop. It was beautiful to watch as the dance went from tentative to full on release into the darkness and the moving meditation. The whole experience was beautiful and I am going to work on integrating this approach even more into my teaching style.

The Film Shoot

I recently filmed a Hoop Class for Arlington Independent Media with my friends Max and Jocelyn. It was a bit of a grueling afternoon, with several retakes. I kept fumbling a little bit with the lines, but everyone was so patient and kind to me! I can't believe that the whole operation was run by volunteers. The camera operators were so sweet and helpful. One of the camera operators, Dan Rosenstein even took some great pictures so that I could add them to my blog and website.

I am not sure yet what the air date will be, hopefully we can have a viewing party.