I started blogging back in 2005 (about the gardening world) but what prompted me to start my first VIDEO blog – a “vlog” – was living in Greenbelt. Yes, it was seeing the fun that people of all ages were having at the Crazy Quilt Music Festival last October that led to my trying a hula hoop (thanks to Terri Goodnow for the loan) and getting instantly HOOKED on HOOPING.

I quickly discovered many benefits of hooping (physical, mental and emotional) but it was the chance to hoop in community – with the Greenbelt Honk Situation Band – that motivated me to share my new passion on YouTube via my new video blog “Susan’s Hoop Dancing Journey.”  I’ve just published my first video about the journey and in it you’ll recognize many Greenbelt scenes, including the images above of Crazy Quilt and Krampus Fest, the Labor Day Parade, the Youth Center and the open space at 5 Ridge Road.

Wanna Hoop Together?

In modern times, the hoop was made popular in the ’50s with the launch of a plastic hula hoop by Wham-O, which also made Frisbees. More recently, hooping has emerged as a “flow art” that’s much more than waist-hooping like hula dancers in Hawaii. It’s now a global movement, with group hoop events happening in major cities and every year at Burning Man.

Sure, it’s possible to learn to hoop the way I’m learning – online – but it would be so fun and helpful to learn with other people, like they’re doing in New York, San Francisco and Charleston. My searches have uncovered a Facebook group for hoopers in the DC area but the only upcoming event is one online class for 80 bucks!

Here in Greenbelt I’ve hooped in public spaces just a few times and already have been approached by people interested in hooping with me. So how about a class or informal hoop gathering right here, either outdoors or in the Youth Center?

Sadly, event-organizing is NOT in my skill set, so I’m putting out the call for someone – or even the city’s Recreation Department – to make a hooping event happen. I’ll help with the programming part.

Until then, look for me and other dancers during upcoming performances of the Honk Situation. They’ll be playing New Orleans-style tunes at the New Deal Cafe on February 18 and will have outdoor gigs when the weather warms up.