Hooping Tips and Tricks for Beginners (from a newbie)

In honor of the YM's hoop dancing classes starting this summer, I'm resurrecting this blog post from my SparkPeople blog from Thursday, December 17, 2009.

1. I once read people in a regular hoop class cheer new and continuing hoopers when their hoop falls to the ground. This is to keep them from feeling ashamed, embarrassed, discouraged. I incorporated this into my own practice. If my hoop falls, I cheer the time it stayed up rather than focusing on the fact in fell.

2. Remember YOU do not need to rotate for your hoop to rotate. :o)

3. Keep in mind your hoop only needs to hit two spots on your body to continue rotating. So you can push it forward and back with your abs or side to side with your um sides. You don't need to make circular movements with your waist/hips. In fact, if you do make circular movements the hoop will fall.

4. I found when I first started I would "wind up" my hoop really fast and really far to get it started. Then I wasn't able to keep the momentum so it would immediately fall to the ground. You'll want to experiment and find the "wind up" that's right for you. Try fast and slow and you'll likely end up adjusting to somewhere in the middle.

5. "Pumping" fast will make your hoop travel up your body. "Pumping" slow will cause the hoop to travel down.

6. If you hoop starts to fall, pump faster. If it's gotten farther down, bend your knees and then pump faster. Keep pumping faster with your knees bent until it pops back onto your waist. Then return to "normal" pumping.

7. Try to relax your neck and shoulders. Think about keeping your shoulders AWAY from your ears and squeezing your shoulder blades back. (This is a new thing I'm working on so I thought I'd add if for you as well. *smiles*)

8. Be sure to stretch before and after.

- Neck: drop neck to right shoulder. Hold. Roll down through the center and come up on the left side. Hold. Roll down through the center and come up on the right side. Hold. Repeat.

- Shoulders: Roll shoulders back a few times. Then roll forwards a few times. End with a few to the back.

- Sides: Reach right arm out to right side of body. Bring right arm up by ear. Bend at waist over to the left side. You should feel the stretch go through your side and into your hip area. To deepen the stretch...breathe and reach your right arm out further to the left side. Slowly come back up to starting position. Repeat on left.

- Quads/Thighs: Stand with feet comfortably spaced between your shoulder width. Bend both knees. Keeping left knee softly bent, bring your right leg up behind you. Hold at foot and try to have right knee pointed to the floor. You can hold your left ear with your left hand to help with balance (or grab a chair, or even use your hoop!). Hold. Release foot slowly to floor. Repeat on left.

MOST IMPORTANT: Enjoy and have fun!!!!

Creative Combos - YWCA - 05/31/2012

This fun combination was created by students in class on May 31, 2012 (YWCA).  We began with each student drawing a movement from a basket.  Then students were paired up to create a short combo using each move.  Finally, all combos were strung together to create the following choreography.

Works with: Fantasy by Oojami

Start with two lines across the stage (front line, back line).  Feet together with weight centered.

 

Combo A

Created By: Kayla and Tina

Front Line 1-4    Choo Choo to the right. 5-8    R Pivot Bump (CW). 1-2    Shoulder Shrug-Shrug (use both R&L). 3-4    Roll R shoulder front, L shoulder front. 5-6    Roll R shoulder back, L shoulder back. 7-8    Shoulder Shrug-Shrug (use both R&L). 1-4    L Pivot Bump (CCW). 5-8    Choo Choo to the left.

Back Line 1-4    Choo Choo to the left. 5-8    L Pivot Bump (CCW). 1-2    Shoulder Shrug-Shrug (use both R&L). 3-4    Roll L shoulder front, R shoulder front. 5-6    Roll L shoulder back, R shoulder back. 7-8    Shoulder Shrug-Shrug (use both R&L). 1-4    R Pivot Bump (CW). 5-8    Choo Choo to the right.

 

Combo B

Created By: Danielle, Karen, and Kim

Front Line 1-8    Backward Walking ¾ Shimmy (L-R-L-R). 1-4    Maintain R foot front, L foot back.  Alternate single heel drops (L-R-L-R). 5-8    Forward Walking ¾ Shimmy (L-R). 1-4    Angle to front R corner while continuing Forward Walking ¾ Shimmy (L-R). 5-8    L Hip Drop (x4).

Back Line 1-8    Forward Walking ¾ Shimmy (R-L-R-L). 1-4    Maintain L foot front, R foot back.  Alternate single heel drops (R-L-R-L). 5-8    Backward Walking ¾ Shimmy (R-L). 1-4    Angle to front L corner while continuing Backward Walking ¾ Shimmy (R-L). 5-8    R Hip Drop (x4).

Combo C

Created By: Krista F and Robin

Front Line 1-8    Facing front R diagonal, Up/Down Shimmy with Lotus Blossom opening straight up and then R arm lowering to “L Arms” focus R. 1-4    Pelvic Drop-Drop.  On 4, turn body to front L diagonal and switch to “L Arms” focus L. 5-8    Pelvic Drop-Drop.  On last drop, raise L arm up to V Arms. 1-8    Up/Down Shimmy with Reverse Lotus Blossom (from V down to Temple at Ribs) and turn body to face audience straight on.

Back Line 1-8    Facing front L diagonal, Up/Down Shimmy with Lotus Blossom opening straight up and then L arm lowering to “L Arms” focus L. 1-4    Pelvic Drop-Drop.  On 4, turn body to front R diagonal and switch to “L Arms” focus R. 5-8    Pelvic Drop-Drop.  On last drop, raise R arm up to V Arms. 1-8    Up/Down Shimmy with Reverse Lotus Blossom (from V down to Temple at Ribs) and turn body to face audience straight on.

Creative Combos - YM Weston - 05/23/2012

This fun combination was created by students in class on May 23, 2012 (YMCA).  We began with each student drawing a movement from a basket.  Then students were paired up to create a short combo using each move.  Finally, all combos were strung together to create the following choreography.

Start with weight on the L, R foot ready; facing audience.

Combo A

Created By: Dana and Jenny

1-4:   R Double Rock (R rock forward, R rock back).

5-8:   Roll R shoulder forward, roll L shoulder forward, roll both back, roll both front.

1-4:   R Crossing Double Rock (r rock forward across left, R rock back).

5-8:   Tick Tock Shoulders (R 5&6, L 7&8).

Combo B

Created By: Natalie and Sharon

1-8:   R Hip Drop x4 (or x8 fast).

1-8:   Forward Walking ¾ Shimmy (R-L-R-L).

1-4:   R Grapevine (R-behind-R-touch).

5-8:   L Hip Lift Ronde de Jambe.

1-8:   L Hip Drop x4 (or x8 fast).

1-8:   Forward Walking ¾ Shimmy (L-R-L-R).

1-4:   L Grapevine (L-behind-L-touch).

5-8:   R Hip Lift Ronde de Jambe.

Combo C

Created By: Erin and Jamie

1-2:   R Hip Lift-Lift (to audience).

3-4:   ¼ Turn L (so R hip is to audience) and R Hip Lift-Lift.

5-8:   R Bicycle Hip Back.

1-4:   R Bicycle Hip Back.

5-8:   R arm trace up stomach, around back of head (L ear, back of head, R ear), throw R hand to R side (which is the side facing the audience).

1-8:   R Maya Walk (traveling toward audience).

1-2:   R Hip Lift-Lift (to audience).

3-4:   ¼ Turn L (so facing away from audience) and R Hip Lift-Lift.

5-8:   R Bicycle Hip Back.

*Repeat from beginning.

Creative Combos - YWCA - 05/17/2012

This fun combination was created by students in class on May 17, 2012 (YWCA).  We began with each student drawing a movement from a basket.  Then students were paired up to create a short combo using each move.  Finally, all combos were strung together to create the following choreography.

Works with: Fantasy by Oojami

Start with two lines across the stage (front line, back line).  Feet together with weight centered.

Combo A

Created By: Denise, Kayla, Robin

Front Line 1-8    Hip Slide R-L-R-L with Arm Sway at hips. 1-2    Floreo with hands in front of bellybutton. 3-4    Raise arms up.  Floreo overhead. 5-6    Lower arms down.  Floreo both on R side. 7-8    Lower arms down to frame R hip and R Hip Drop-Drop.

Back Line 1-8    Hip Slide L-R-L-R with Arm Sway at hips. 1-2    Flower with hands in front of bellybutton. 3-4    Raise arms up.  Floreo overhead. 5-6    Lower arms down.  Floreo both on L side. 7-8    Lower arms down to frame L hip and L Hip Drop-Drop.

Combo B

Created By: Brynna and Krista

Front Line 1-4    R Hip Tunisian Twist (x2) to front with Reverse Push Hand at hip level, accenting R hip. 5-8    R Hip Pivot Bump CCW. 1-2    Arms Round Framing Hips. Floreo at hips and step R foot to R side. 3-4    Start sliding L foot to meet while raising arms up and then Floreo at ribs. 5-6    Finish sliding L foot together while raising arms up and then Floreo overhead. 7-8    Head Slide R-L.

Back Line 1-4    L Hip Tunisian Twist (x2) to front with Reverse Push Hand at hip level, accenting L hip. 5-8    L Hip Pivot Bump CW. 1-2    Arms Round Framing Hips. Floreo at hips and step L foot to L side. 3-4    Start sliding R foot to meet while raising arms up and then Floreo at ribs. 5-6    Finish sliding R foot together while raising arms up and then Floreo overhead. 7-8    Head Slide L-R.

Front and Back Lines

1-4    Shoulder Shimmy while lowering arms to shoulder level.

5-8    Hip Twist Shimmy while lower arms to Rounded Framing Hips.

Creative Combos - YWCA - 05/10/2012

This fun combination was created by students in class on May 10, 2012 (YWCA).  We began with each student drawing a movement from a basket.  Then students were paired up to create a short combo using each move.  Finally, all combos were strung together to create the following choreography.

Works with: Fantasy by Oojami

Start with two lines across the stage (front line, back line).  Feet together with weight centered.

Combo A

Created By: Robin and Tina

1-8    CW Hip Circle with Heel Drops (R2-back4-L6-center8).

1-8    CCW Hip Circle with Heel Drops (L2-back4-R6-center8).

1-4    R Arm Sweep.

5-8    L Arm Sweep.

1-4    CW Hip Circle with Heel Drops (R-back-L-center).

5-8    CCW Hip Circle with Heel Drops (L-back-R-center).

1-6    Deep Breath In Arms (out from sides, up to overhead, back down through center to rib level).

7-8    Lotus Rocket (aka Firework) Arms up.

Combo B

Created By: Denise and Karen

Front Line 1-4    Lotus Blossom straight up. 5-8    Open R arm down to L Arms. 1-8    Choo Choo to the right. 1-8    Change arms and Choo Choo to the left.

Back Line 1-4    Lotus Blossom straight up. 5-8    Open L arm down to L Arms. 1-8    Choo Choo to the left. 1-8    Change arms and Choo Choo to the right.

Combo C

Created By: Kayla and Kim

Front Line 1-4    Walk to L front diagonal w/ painting arms. 5-6    Oomi Oomi 7-8    Pelvic Lift-Lift

Back Line 1-4    Walk to R front diagonal w/ painting arms. 5-6    Oomi Oomi 7-8    Pelvic Lift-Lift

Front and Back Lines

1-4    Start on R foot, walk back with painting arms.

5-8    Oomi Oomi.  Pelvic Lift-Lift

1-4    R Ronde de Jambe step back.  Pelvic Lift-Lift.

5-8    L Ronde de Jambe step back.  Pelvic Lift-Lift.

1-4    R Ronde de Jambe step back.  Pelvic Lift-Lift.

5-8    L Ronde de Jambe step back.  Pelvic Lift-Lift.

*Repeat from beginning.