Helpful Hints to get Leg Hooping
-
It took me a year of many try to explain it to me and trying to get “leg” hooping (some do call it “knee” hooping*–but I want to name things in the most positive, safest & most accurate light–according to my own style of teaching, extensive dance training, and opinion)…Here you go with some great tips from myself & a compilation of great teachers I’ve studied with to help you get it faster, better & safer:
- *Important Safety Note: in Hip The Hoopla class, I have hoopers hoop either above or below the knees, not actually on them–because many hoops, especially the bigger heavier beginner adult hoops, can really hurt tendons in that area and increase knee problems.
-
1. To heck with the right to bear arms…Bare Legs!
Wear shorts–sticky is better so skin works best. Otherwise have gaffer tape on your hoop…or at least sanding, if your hoop is plain. -
2. In a multi-hoops workshop, Luna Breeze finally brought it home in my thought process: use both legs & pulse them TOGETHER really fast. FYI: Get the fast pulse/beat going WITHOUT the hoop first. Your movement beat must be very steady (rhythmic tempo) and fast. Rule of thumb: waist hoop is a nice pace, hip hooping is a little faster, and thigh hooping is really moving.
-
3. When you do the leg beat together, you can move with the hoop–ie turn more easily.
-
4. It takes a lot of practice. I actually got one leg hooping way before two. (I manually started the hoop on one leg and just kept a beat.)
-
And Now….to get it back up…you’ve got to get your hips to bump up & up & up like a staccato shimmy (a useful belly dance move) so the hoop crawls back up the outside your legs & hips like rungs on a ladder. Now that is really helpful to do while Turning! (Remember turning in the rotational direction of your hoop is an exellent recovery method and helpful when learning new tricks…ie. the hoops rotations slow down, so you can catch up with it!)
Happy Hooping Everyone~ From Ché Rippinger of Hip The Hoopla. Many years of dance experience, learning, teaching and growing. Helping you break down the hard stuff, step by step, with a sense of humor, Laughter Yoga, child-like play and hopefully having a wonderful learning experience.
For more class information, private lessons, coaching, custom hoops, specials, news, events & booking performances, please contact 303-980-6295 or e-mail Che@HipTheHoopla.com. www.HipTheHoopla.com
Please find, follow and “like” us on Facebook.
Hip The Hoopla is also on Pinterest, Twitter, YouTube, Yelp, LinkedIn, etc!