Hooping

Hooping generally refers to artistic manipulations of a metal, wooden or plastic hoop with various parts of the body in a rhythmic fashion, usually accompanied by music. Hooping also refers to the subculture of hoop dancers who practice this art, also known as Hoopers. In contrast to the classic toy hula hoop, modern hoopers a) use heavier and larger diameter hoops, and b) frequently rotate the hoop around parts of the body other than the waist, including the hips, chest, neck, shoulders, thighs, knees, arms, hands, thumbs, feet and toes. All spaces both within and outside of the hoop can be freely explored. Modern hooping has taken cues from such diverse art forms as rhythmic gymnastics, hip-hop, freestyle dance, fire dance and twirling.

Hooping is part of the greater spectrum of Flow Arts, which are arts involving skill toys which remain in a constant state of physical flow around and about the performer / artist. Generally, either the hoop or the hooper is kept in constant rotational movement; this movement and the related mind/body state is referred to as "flow". Technically, hooping is a form of object manipulation and in as much shares some lineage with classical juggling.

In its modern incarnation as an art form, dance form, and exercise regimen, the art is referred to either as Hoopdance or simple "Hooping". Hoop dance artists commonly refer to themselves, and the greater hoopdance community, as Hoopers.

The Hoop

Hoopers generally use hand-made hoops from polyethylene (HDPE) piping, wrapped with colorful tape which serves the dual purpose of decoration and grip... this is as opposed to the water-filled cheap plastic toys commonly available. The heavier weight allows for more controlled movement around the body; the larger diameter allows for both slower rotation and "portal" tricks, where the hooper steps through the hoop while it is still rotating.

Circus hoopers such as Elena Lev (of Cirque Du Soleil fame) typically use lightweight hoops made of aluminum, or, in older days, wood.

A lighter hoop allows for faster revolutions but also takes more skill on the part of the performer.

Fire Hoops can be lit on fire (see Fire Hooping, below).

LED hoops have internal batteries and lighting and make mesmerizing patterns when spun at night outdoors or in low light environments. These hoops take advantage of the "persistence of vision" phenomenon which occurs when bright lights are moved at high speeds within the observers field of vision.

History of Hooping

The history of hooping can generally be broken into four distinct phases: ancient, old world, 20th century, and modern.

Ancient

The earliest known incidence of hooping was in ancient Egypt as early as 1000 BC, where children used large hoops made of grape vines, which they rolled along the ground propelled by sticks, or swung around their waists a la the modern hoop. In other parts of the ancient world, hoops were made of stiff grasses as opposed to vine. Richard P. Knerr and Arthur K. Melin. " [http://www.ideafinder.com/history/inventions/hulahoop.htm Fascinating facts about the invention of the Hula Hoop] ." "The Great Idea Finder." November 22, 2006. Retrieved on December 23, 2007.]

Old World

In the 14th century, recreational hooping swept across England. The records of doctors at the time attribute numerous dislocated backs and heart attacks to "hooping." The word "hula" became associated with the toy in the early 19th century when British sailors visited the Hawaiian Islands and noted the similarity between "hooping" and traditional hula dancing.

Independently, Native Americans developed their own traditions surrounding the Hoop Dance. Native American Hoop dance focuses on very rapid moves, and the construction of hoop formations around and about the body. Using between 1 and, in recent times, up to 30 hoops simultaneously, shapes are formed in storytelling ritual such as the butterfly, the eagle, the snake, and the coyote. Native American hoops are typically of very small diameter (1-2.5 feet).

20th Century

In 1957, an Australian company began manufacturing bamboo hoops for sale in retail stores. This caught the attention of a new California-based toy company by the name of Wham-O, founded by Richard P. Knerr and Arthur K. Melin. In 1958, Knerr and Melin travelled to playgrounds across Southern California, where they gave away free hula hoops and performed hooping demonstrations for the children. From this humble beginning, over 25 million hula-hoops were sold in a 4 month period.

Over the ensuing years, hula hoop contests were organized across the United States of America, and over 100 million hoops were sold in total.

Modern

In the mid-1990s, the jam band The String Cheese Incident began tossing hoops from the stage into the audience and encouraging participants to groove, thus contributing to the modern hooping movement. The annual Burning Man festival has also served as a melting pot and fertile ground for hoopers from all around the world to share their tricks, techniques, and energy. Ubiquitous grassroots "hoop jams" and "convergences" happen throughout the world almost every month of the year. These meet-ups are the genuine foundations of the underground Hooping subculture.

Native American Hoop Dance has been recognized as a cultural heritage. The most popular Native Hoop Dance competition occurs annually at the Heard Museum in Phoenix, Arizona. Recent competitions have drawn as many as 10,000 spectators.

Most recently, hooping has been promoted into the mass consciousness through various dance studios and videos which promote it as a fun, practical path to whole-body fitness and wellness.

Hooping and Costuming

Costuming has become an important part of the hooping phenomenon.

Fire Hooping

Some hoopers use custom hoops constructed with spokes extending outward, terminating in kevlar wicks which can be lit on fire. This is called "Fire Hooping", and is often done in collaboration with other fire dance artists.

The construction and weight of the fire hoop, combined with the fact that it is on fire, limits the possible moves, or tricks, to a much smaller gamut than those possible with a standard hoop. Some modern fire hoops have been designed to be much lighter, with smaller diameter tubing and with flexible wick spokes; these tools have begun to close the gap between fire hooping and general hooping trick vocabularies.

Hooping and Fitness

In recent years, hooping has become popularized as a fitness regimen, alongside such other esoteric arts as kickboxing, breakdancing, and bellydancing. A popular combination is hooping and yoga, both of which build both balance and flexibility.

See also

* Burning Man
* Carrboro, NC
* Hula Hoop
* Native American Hoop Dance
* Rhythmic Gymnastics
* fire dance

External links

* [http://www.hooping.org/ Hooping.org Magazine] is a hooping-oriented magazine website.
* [http://www.hoopaholic.org/ Hoopaholics Australia] Australia's comprehensive hooping resource.

References

* [http://www.thehoopinglife.com/ The Hooping Life] a feature documentary
* [http://www.hoopnotica.com/index.php?main_page=hooping_faq FAQ about hooping from Hoopnotica]