FAQ / FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: What is a Hoop? What is Hooping? What is Hoop Dance? What is a Hula Hoop?
Hoop dancing isn't the little Whammo brand tiny kid's hula hoop you might have tried as a child. Now it's an an all-age, multi-level activity. There's on-body and off body "tricks" that are fun to learn and try.
• What is a hula hoop? It's a circular tubing generally made out of plastic used in fitness, play and dance. Many people use the term "hula" with the word hoop, though "Hula" is actually a Polynesian style of dance.
• What is Hooping / Hoop Dance / Hoop Dancing? Hooping is a movement or dance using one or more hoops as an integrated prop(s). Also known as flow dance, flow arts, circus dance and considered a circus art.
• What is a Hooper / Hoop Dancer? Hoopers and Hoop Dancers are people who move or dance with one or more hoop(s) often performing hoop tricks and dance movements.
Hula Hoop FUN FACTS:
- Did you know that Hooping has made a huge comeback?! It's not just a craze from the 50's.
- Hooping is more than just around the waist! Hoop dance includes "On-Body Hooping" where the hoop rotates on a body part, and "Off-Body Hooping" where Hoop Tricks can move around more in space (like "hoop toss" or hoop toss combo).
- Hoops have been around for thousands of years. They're even depicted in ancient Greek art!
- Hula Hooping is a bit of a misnomer, as "Hula Dancing" is it's own specialized type of Polynesian Dance which focuses attention of the hip rotation (not necessary in hoop dance) and beautiful hand gestures that tell a story. "Hooping" and "Hoop Dance" are more accurate descriptions of dancing with the plastic circle we simply call a "Hoop."
- The people who do hooping and hoop dance are often called "Hoopers" and "Hoop Dancers." You may even hear us called "Flow Dancers," "Flow Artists," and even "Circus Artists."
- Hoop dance is considered a "Circus Art". It's a performance art that has elements of dance and "Prop Manipulation." (A prop can be almost any object that you can move around, manipulate or dance with like juggling clubs, poi, staff, etc.)
- Hooping can burn a lot of calories: 400-800 calories an hour--depending on your tempo, range of movement, hoop size and type of hooping. Plus: adding Laughter Yoga into the mix can really boost your cell oxygenation, metabolism, and endorphins, too!
- Almost anyone with a desire to have fun, can hoop: Kids, adults, folks with issues to work out...the list goes on and on. So many people have found healing with hooping-the stories and testimonials are endless.
- There are many sizes and weights of hoops, depending on your goals and needs. A good instructor* can help you determine what to start with easily, and move into, as your skill level increases. (*CONTACT Hip The Hoopla for a Hoop Consultation.)
- Generally, hoops are objects that are round and made of plastic. But some really creative folks make them out of metal, wood, rope, etc. Sometimes the "hoop" is a different shape than a circle (square, triangle, and heart-shaped!) There's even fire hooping--which you need to have fire spinning safety training in first, as it can be very dangerous--especially if you don't know what you are doing. (Having a dedicated "fire safety" person there is just one of the essential steps if you want to try this!)
- I can have most folks hooping within 5-10 minutes (Check out this VIDEO!! The rest is practice, learning, and having fun. What you'll gain with Hip the Hoopla is a variety of new skills, how to incorporate dance movement and developing your own personal style, to move beyond the basics!
- The trick to successful hooping: having fun and laughing while you learn. You will drop it. You will smile, giggle and laugh. And you'll learn more when you do!
- Enjoy and come out and play with us www.HipTheHoopla.com!
