Solo hooping on a Monday afternoon!

I am feeling grateful that my schedule allowed me today to take advantage of the beautiful sunny day with a solo hoop session at the park by my house. It has been far too long since I had a hoop practice session by myself, just for the joy of hooping. I set my little ipod speakers and went at it. Feeling myself becoming more relexive and graceful with every beat and delighting myself by landing tricks that I have been working on for some time, but haven't practiced for a while. It was a good reminder that while classes and group hoop jams can be fun, solo practice is essential. Feeling blessed to enjoy such a beautiful day with myself.

Feeling lots of Gratitude for My Hoop Students!

(I recently filmed this demo for Arlington Independent Media.)

Tuesday evening was the last class of the Summer session at Contradiction Dance. I am truly grateful for the fun loving women that comprised my first SOLD OUT class session. It was a really nice experience to grow with a class of consistent students and be witness to their growth over eight weeks. Each week I looked forward to coming into class and put a lot of thought into both the principle and the body part focus for each class and how I could connect with the students and inspire them to find their own unique hoopdance. Each week I left the class blessed for their earnest willingness to try something new and for their constant feedback!

I have a couple weeks off before the new session begins. I am excited to be offering two weekly classes in the fall and one brand new class at a new dance studio Joe's Movement Emporium! (I am subbing my dear friend Noelle Powers regular class while she goes traveling).

Here is the Fall Schedule:

HoopGirl Workout Level 1
Wednesdays 7:00-8:00pm Starting September 9!
Joe's Movement Emporium
3309 Bunker Hill Road
Mt. Ranier, MD

Hoopdance Level 2
Thursdays 7:00 - 8:00 pm starting September 17!
Click HERE to register
Contradiction Dance @ Echo Park
7014 Westmoreland Ave, A
Takoma Park, 20912

Come see me perform at the Vixen Variety Show this Friday!

Ladies & Gentlemen

may I have your attention Please? Vixen variety is brining you our 1st birthday, one Year Anniversary Show... not Thursday, but Friday August 7th, 2009! This Retroactive Rarities Show will take us on a journey to re-visit some of our favorite performances form the Vixen Show over the last 12 months. Join Ginger Leigh the Burlesque Beauty, Private Tails the Tap dancing Tassel Turner, Andy Roginous as the Cat in the Hat, Suprise as Fox in Sox, Ken Vegas the Mad Hatter, Jayson as the White Rabbit, Poppy La Rouge as Eve, Moira Lee our aerialist and your host the Fire Dancing Belladonna! You don't want to miss this once in a life time opportunity to see these unique and entertaining performances all in one show. As Vixen Variety brings you Retroactive Rarities!

Come celebrate our Anniversary with us!

Palace of Wonders

1210 H st NE WDC

www.PalaceofWonders.com

$10

9:00 (show starts at 10, arrive early to get a good seat)

Festival Fun

I am finally catching my breath after three straight weeks of out of town festivals and performances. July has been an incredible and exciting time of sharing my love of the hoop with the masses. The first festival I was delighted to be asked to perform at was the All Good festival. I was asked my one of my best friends and one of the most talented hoopers I know, Michele Clark to come and hoop and help out as she taught workshops during this fun festival with many of my favorite bands. We were joined by Brecken Rivera and Julia Hartsell (HoopDrum and Hoop Convergence). I was beyond honored to share hoop time with these insanely talented and fun loving hoopers. (Search for them on Youtube if you want to see some amazing hoopers!)

This past weekend, I went to FloydFest with my Fire Performance Troupe DanceAFire where we performed our piece "Nacho Fuego" each night and facilitated a safe fire performance area for other fire dancers. The festival was incredibly well run and we were treated exceptionally well and once again it was an honor to perform with Michele Clark and Julia Hartsell. I also managed to catch several AWE INSPIRING hoop performances by Spiral who performed with Blues Traveler, the Yard Dogs Road Show and many other fantastic bands.

I also discovered a new FAVORITE BAND. . . EOTO. Their music totally rocks, and at the end of their set the band sent out some beers to a few of us hooping at the side of the stage. "These are from the band, thanks for hooping" we were told as we were handed an ice cold beer.

New Class Session Starting June 30!

Starting Tuesday, June 30 6:30-7:30pm I will be offering the Hoopgirl Beginner Workout at Contradiction Dance. This class is suitable for all ages! The class will be 8 weeks long and will cost $104. You can register here: http://summeradult.eventbrite.com/

WHAT IS THE HOOPGIRL® WORKOUT?
The HoopGirl® Workout is feel-good fitness! Learn to hoop on your torso, arms, legs, and off body in elaborate arcs, spins and jumps. Hoopdance can help you feel full of confidence, inner radiance, power and poise. Explore pleasure as your primary motivation for movement. You learn how to navigate using feeling instead of sight or thought -- becoming responsive, breathing deeply, and creating fluid transitions. Special attention is given to micromovements of the body, working with the downbeat, freeing the head, unleashing your own style. Guidance for performance given throughout class. Free yourself in ecstatic undulation, experiment with vocal release, and express attitude and spunk! Team-building activities build a sense of community and create laughter. Performance opportunities allow us each to shine and feel appreciation and joy. A variety of music -- from electronic house music, R&B to classical and world music will provide a rich tapestry of sound for your dance.

What is covered in the HoopGirl® Workout for Beginners?
No experience neccessary! The extended class time in this series allows for lots of one-on-one attention and detailed instruction. You will explore dancing while hooping, with ample time to master moves. Each day is devoted to increasing awareness in a different part of the body while working with a specific principle of hoopdance.

Bring your Hoop Day at Artomatic!

I just received some bad news about our planned fire performance at Artomatic. . . the powers that be have deemed that there will be no fire at Artomatic tonight. While this is disappointing, it does not derail our plans for an awesome performance, especially since the cornerstone of the act tonight involved a 10-person hoop routine featuring many awesome people from our community (including a few that may surprise you). We had also planned to pepper the fire performances with LED and regular hoop performance anyway. To fill the other time in our two hour performance slot, I am declaring tonight BRING your HOOP to Artomatic day. After our planned performances we can have a good ol' fashioned hoop jam in front of Artomatic.

We will be hooping from 9-11. Hope to see you there!

PS If you are dying for fire dance, I would go to the Tilted Torch at the Palace of Wonders tonight. Awesome performers lined up!
PPS I will post tomorrow an update about fire for tomorrow. But you shouldn't miss Artomatic tomorrow. . . Flush Gordon vs. The Criminal Union of Nefarious Treachery at 10:30 and more hoops and hopefully fire from 8-10.
PPS Final hoop classes at Contradiction Dance until June 29 Sunday at 3:30pm and a special class on Tuesday at 6:30pm

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.