Archive for the ‘PODCAST!’ Category

• Episode 8 – The Tease, featuring Valentina

  Date: 2013.11.17 | Category: PODCAST! | Response: 0

  Hello hoopers, hoopers in the making and hooper lovers!

  I’m a lucky, lucky hooper!  I love doing this podcast but it has been become difficult to put together due to the old age of my computer.  But out of the blue, a brand new computer arrived on my doorstep a few weeks back.  A gift from the wonderful man in my life.  *happy sigh*

  So what does that mean?!!!  Well, I’ve had 4 interviews in limbo and it’s been driving me crazy!  I want to share these with you so badly.

  I’ve been a hooper officially since April 2009 and I feel I’m immersed in the hooping culture enough to be wonderfully geeky about the hoops, the performers, the instructors, the clothes, the retreats, all of it!  And I want to share it as experienced by other hoopers.

  This episode is the “tease” episode.  I started an interview with Valentina of Unity Hoops and Twisted Orbit in February in San Francisco…so long ago!!  She was THEE reason I started taking Burlesque classes which in itself is the art of teasing.  I wish I could take all of her classes in San Diego and be in her hoop troupe, The Hoop Unit!  So, during our interview – which was AMAZING! – I did not hit the record button twice and didn’t get any of the main interview.  So sad.  But I did get a little taster, a tease if you will, before and after.

  

  Me and Valentina

  In addition, I sat down to interview two of my friends in Washington State, successfully recorded one interview in which we discussed, in length, how to hoop on rollerblades – I’m still hoping for either a video or a picture as proof!  – and hooping blindfolded with Baxter. As we were about to start the second interview with my friend Annie, my batteries died.  What we were about to talk about is her 50th birthday party celebration.  I got to hoop with fire for the very first time.  My hoop mama, Merilieu, felt I was ready, loaned me her hoop so I could practice and I performed for Annie using the same music that my hoop mama did for her fire hoop debut. And it was a total surprise for Annie.  Yay!   I’ll be interviewing Annie again to talk about that night and her life after finding the hoop.  Yet another tease!!!!

  

  Andreas and Annie

  Stay tuned for a follow up interview with Valentina. Her life has really taken off.  She’s teamed up with UK Hooper Steve Bags and together they’ve created Twisted Orbit.  Also her troupe, the Hoop Unit, went to the Burlesque Hall of Fame in Vegas this year!

  Tease, tease, tease!  The glove is off, people!  You know you want more! Well, I’m gonna give it to ya!

  After I put out this episode and Episode 9 with Beth Lavinder and Antonio Gomez for Episode 10 – because the Bay Area Hoopers (BAH) celebrated their 10th anniversary this year! – I want to make this podcast legit.  I’ll be looking for advertisers, sponsors, interviewees, web designers and musicians to make this a hooper’s resource of hoop geekery and love!

  Till then, thanks for listening and happy hooping!

  Facebook Goodness
  Valentina Unity
  Unity Hoops
  The Hoop Unit
  Twisted Orbit

  Website Delights
  Unity Hoops

  My First Fire Performance at Annie’s Birthday Party
  http://youtu.be/DrJ3EMebcKI

   

   

  

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• Episode 7 – Dustin Hubel, A Dude of Hooping

  Date: 2013.01.30 | Category: PODCAST! | Response: 0

  Hello hoopers, hoopers in the making and hooper lovers!

  Ooops! I was hoping to have this up before New Year’s Eve. Oh well…

  Long time no podcast! Sorry about that. I have an 8-year-old computer and it was full of photos, music and other podcasts. It’s not like I haven’t been doing hoop stuff…quite the contrary.

  I had this interview sitting on the recording device that I’m still borrowing from my friend, Joel. Thank you, Joel!

  Anyway, I interviewed Dustin Hubel and his lovely wife, Kay, on their honeymoon tour back in May – MAY!!! – of 2012. How embarrassing. His workshop on isolations and hooping with twins/doubles was amazing and so challenging. My brain definitely shorted out a few times! Despite that, he was a delight.  

  Listen for yourselves!

  Thank you, Dustin & Kay!

  Dustin Hubel
  

  Dustin’s Facebook Page
  Revolva Hoopdance Article about Dustin & Kay’s Wedding
  Dudes of Hooping Calendar

   

  

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• Episode 6 – Ann Humphreys, Giving Yourself Permission to Dance & Photo of the Day

  Date: 2012.04.18 | Category: PODCAST! | Response: 0

  Hello hoopers, hoopers in the making and hooper lovers!

  In this episode, I talk with the incredible Ann Humphreys! She was in Portland in March with her Two-Day Infinite Sphere Workshop. I just can’t gush enough about this lady! Not only is she beautiful and graceful (OK, she’s fucking hot!!!), she is so talented, sweet, generous, gracious, funny and one smart cookie! 😉

  She’s been traveling extensively since last summer and I know I want to be her when I grow up!

  

  Post Infinite Sphere Workshop - PDX Hoopers Love Ann!

  My favorite quote from our interview referring to the first time she saw Baxter:

  “Hot guy, dancing in public, hula hoop…these three things don’t go together at all. But they’re all together suddenly, right now, in this soul dance, somehow.”

  Now, as Ann recommends, give yourself permission to dance!!!

  

  The Spinnerettes Debut

  

  Photo of the Day

  And speaking of dance…The Spinnerettes picked up a few gigs and were blessed with working with two very sweet and generous photographers. Scott Gerke & Pete Springer. We were honored with Hooping.org’s Photo of the Day on March 21st.

  And stay tuned for a video from The Spinnerettes.

  Ann Humphreys
  http://lineandcircle.bigcartel.com
  http://annhumphreys.wordpress.com/
  http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=hushpuppymix2

  Hoopless:
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JZmWFEk5tQ&list=UU65qt9LfkVhJXGxZI_hBTHQ&index=9&feature=plcp

  Inner Space:
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Givne8OzgUA

  Latest hoop vid, shot at Bax’s, with lots of fun stuff:
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2rfR3niDNE&list=UU65qt9LfkVhJXGxZI_hBTHQ&index=1&feature=plcp

  And of course, Nooping! Yooping is Next!
  http://youtu.be/2r9oNVODLhM

  The Spinnerettes
  Photo of the Day, March 21, 2012
  http://www.hooping.org/2012/03/the-spinnerettes/

  Pete Springer Photography
  https://www.facebook.com/PeteSpringerPhotography
  http://www.petespringer.com/

  

  The Spinnerettes: Pete Springer Photography

   

  Scott Gerke Photography
  http://scottgerke.com/

  The Hoop Path
  http://www.hooppath.com/cms/

  Jaguar Mary’s YouTube Channel:
  http://www.youtube.com/user/jaguarmaryone

  The Art of Possibility – Benjamin Zander
  http://www.ted.com/speakers/benjamin_zander.html
  http://benjaminzander.com/

  Stay updated:
  http://hulahoopla.com/
  http://hoopanista.com/
  https://www.facebook.com/HulaHoopla
  https://www.facebook.com/TheSpinnerettes
  http://www.meetup.com/HulaHoopla-PDX-Hoop-Group/

  Subscribe to my podcast!
  http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/hulahoopla-a-podcast-for-hoopers/id478629640

  

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• Episode 5 – I Heart Annie Land, Hooping for Zen & The Spinnerettes

  Date: 2012.03.07 | Category: PODCAST! | Response: 0

  Holy crap! 

  It’s amazing how fast time flies when you’re looking for work and rebuilding an engine.  Wait, is that just me?  I’ve been looking for work since August and it’s getting pretty scary.  I know I’m not the only one and hooping has really helped me keep a positive attitude.  I’d like to think that I’ve been very Zen about the whole brink of financial disaster thing but I actually had a panic attack.  I thought my heart was going to burst through my sternum and splatter on the inside of my mom’s car (I had to borrow hers while mine was in pieces).  No job, running out of money, going way over budget on an engine rebuild, low hoop class attendance.

  So about this rebuild…I drive a 1977 VW Bus.  Love her!!!

  But as with all older vehicles, the engine was getting tired and run down.  Rather than buying a new car or a new engine, I decided to do a rebuild myself.  A friend found an engine in a pick-n-pull this summer and by October I got the guts to start tearing it apart.

  

  Beloved Hoop Hauler

  Long story short, a couple of back-breaking months, a few meltdowns, one or two mechanical snafus and a couple thousand dollars later, I have my glorious camper and hoop wagon running again.  I missed her so much.  This rig hauls all my hoops and can carry everything I need to do a street fair.  And for those of you who sell hoops, you know that size DOES matter.

  Now that it is March, I think I can honestly say that just a taste of sunshine does turn things around.  Interest in my classes has really gone up and I’m starting to sell hoops again.  AND I’m getting more wonderful opportunities to hoop in front of audiences.

  My friend and fellow VW bus owner John Shepski of Fluff and Gravy Records  asked me to perform at the Secret Society in between sets for the Drunken Prayer record release party.  I heard that the Ukeladies were one of the opening bands and got it in my head that I would learn how to play a song on the ukulele and perform it in homage.  Then I was asked to bring a couple more hoopers and come up with a name.  My hoop troupe, The Spinnerettes, were born!!

  There are so many amazing hoopers in Portland and I wanted an opportunity to perform with them.  So my thought with The Spinnerettes was to have several members who could be in several places at once, all representing the hooper community.  Finding an affordable place to practice on a regular basis is in the works.

  In addition to the Secret Society debut, we’ve performed pre and post-play “Circle Mirror Transformation” at the Artists Repertory Theatre.  One of the characters is a hooper and the actress took one of my classes.  Circle indeed!  This is such a gorgeous space and we filled it with swirly light up and down the stairs, on the glass partitioned balconies and spilled into the lobby, giving audience and cast members hoops lessons after the show.

  The following night we performed with our LED hoops on top of the bar at the Kenton Station for their 4th Annual Flaming Dr. Pepper World Record Bash.  The before the indoor flamage began, we performed with fire out in front of the pub.  Gorgeous night for it, too.

  And speaking of gorgeous…(nice segue, right?) Episode 5’s guest is Annie Weinert, also known as Annie Land.  I spoke with Annie at the end of November just before she moved to Utah for the winter.  We met in 2010 at the Hoop Convergence in Carrboro, North Carolina. I was definitely star struck because she was a HoopGirl Allstar.  Her sweet, smiling face can be seen in Christabel Zamor’s “Hooping: A Revolutionary Fitness Program” book and in the HoopGirl “Hoopdance Evolution: Intermediate Volume 1” fitness DVD.  And her talent goes way beyond that.  She also designed many of the HoopGirl Allstar costumes.

  Well, she ended up being my neighbor here in Portland and it was such a treat to get to know her.  There was always something creative and fun going on at her house.  We’d chat about our lives and sip wine or a creative cocktail while she added feathers to my hair, her dog Pickles barking with excitement before cozying up on my lap. Annie created a burlesque costume for my Chica Vroom persona and a sexy pair of ruffled shorts. I’m the proud owner of an Annie Land romper which incidentally, makes my ass look great!  She does aerial silks and makes fun accessories and just fills everyone around her with love and light.  She embarking on another creative adventure so keep an eye on her!

  Find AnnieLand!
  Facebook
  Esty
  Blog
  Annie Performing at a Roller Derby Bout in SF
  Annie Performing at Ruby Skye in SF
  Learn more about all the good stuff mentioned in the Podcast:
  The Spinnerettes
  Fluff and Gravy Records
  Ukeladies PDX
  Artists Repertory Theatre
  Kenton Station

  And this is the televised hoop jam I mentioned in the podcast (better audio):
  HulaHoopla on MORE Good Day Oregon

  Episode 5:

  

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• A Promise

  Date: 2012.02.20 | Category: HulaHoopla, Performance, PODCAST!, The Spinnerettes | Response: 0

  I swear I will put episode 5 of the podcast with Annie Land up soon.  I promise!

  So here’s what’s been going on with me…finished rebuilding a 1977 VW bus engine; learned how to play a song on the ukulele for a performance; put together a new hoop troupe called The Spinnerettes (more on that to come!); performed with said ukulele and hoop troupe with the new Atomic Pro; decided to declutter my life of belongings and create a living space in my basement.

  So as lame as my promise may seem, my intent is still there!!  I PROMISE.

• Episode 4 – Jennaluna

  Date: 2011.12.13 | Category: PODCAST! | Response: 0

  Hoopy Holidaze!

  This year I wanted to make a Christmas hoop for my yard.  Hooper Bonnie MacDougall posted a picture of hers in her front yard in North Carolina and I just thought it was the coolest!!  Well, intentions are always good, right?  I made hoops and I put lights out in my backyard for the first time ever but the two didn’t mingle.  Maybe I can find Bonnie’s picture and post it on the blog for some hoopy joy and inspiration to others.

  I teach hoopdance classes in a ballroom near my home and right now there is a giant Christmas tree filling one corner of the room.  I love it!!!  It has such a festive glow.  I feel like my students are dancing around a Winter Solstice tree. I’m a sucker for the lights this time of year.  I don’t need the gifts or the pressures, just the lights.

  OK, bear with me for a couple more episodes.  I’ve got the microphone figured out NOW but not before I recorded this interview with my friend, Jennaluna.

  

  The Hoopanista & Jennaluna at SpartQuake '94

  She and I go waaaaaay back, the early 90s I think.  I played bass in a band called Gravy back in those days and one of my bandmates taught at her high school.  She sang backup as one of the “Biscuits” (get it???) during our outdoor performance at the end of the school year.

  As I got into hooping, I heard names of these mythical hoopers like Hoopalicious and Spiral and Safire but didn’t know their real names.  One of my favorites names was Jennaluna but I had no idea who this person was.  And during the same time, my friend (Gravy bandmate) kept mentioning that one of his students had really gotten into hooping down in L.A. and San Francisco.  Hmmmm.  I never put it together.

  Then one day, out of the blue, a little email came my way via Twitter from Jennaluna!!!  We connect the dots, made plans to have breakfast together (she moved back to Portland) to meet face-to-face and have been friends ever since. Happy hoopy ending!

  And don’t forget to support local businesses this time of year – that includes your community hoopers!  Buy hoops and t-shirts and other hoop-related goodies to spread the hoop love this holiday season.

  HulaHoopla Hoops for the Holidays!
  And don’t forget the HulaHoopla shirts!
  Jennaluna HoopGirl Allstar Performance
  Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes

  

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• Episode 3 – Meet My Hoop Mama, Merilieu!

  Date: 2011.11.28 | Category: PODCAST! | Response: 0

  What a weekend!!

  Zipped up to Seattle on Black Friday to spend some quality time with friends over the holiday weekend. Checked out the EMP’s exhibit on Nirvana. I spent a lot of time driving to Seattle during that era in the late 80s and early 90s and went to hundreds of shows both in Seattle and Portland. For me, it was really moving to see the old photos and band posters mentioning places and dates of shows I had attended. Amazing time in my life. And now I’m smack dab in the middle of another amazing time in my life – my hooping life!
  In this episode, I sit down with my original hooping mentor – my hoop mama, if you will – Merilieu. This woman is the reason I started hooping. She talks about her first hooping experience and where the hoop has taken her. From picking up the hoop for the first time to making hoops, creating playlists for hoop jams, performing at Burning Man and bringing the Hooping Life to Seattle are just a few of the topics we cover.

  The Hooping Family Tree Project
  Burning Man
  The Hooping Life
  The Northwest Hoop Gathering

  

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• Episode 2 – GroovinMeGzz, Inspirational Students and the Male Perpective

  Date: 2011.11.15 | Category: PODCAST! | Response: 0

  Welcome to Episode 2 

  It’s World Hoop Day 11.11.11!  Well, it was when I recorded this anyway.
  We had a great turnout for our fund raising hoop jam.  In this episode, I pull a handful of hoopers out of the studio during the event for a little one-on-one.

  Meet hooper extraordinaire, GroovinMeGzz, a few of my very enthusiastic students and get a male perspective on hooping.  Our goal was to raise $500 for WorldHoopDay.org and we made it to $200…that’s still great!

  Subscribe on iTunes!

  World Hoop Day
  The Hooping Body
  Hoopcamp
  HulaHoopla
  Center Space

   

  

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• HulaHoopla: A Podcast for Hoopers is on iTunes!

  Date: 2011.11.13 | Category: PODCAST! | Response: 0

  Pretty frickin’ cool!  You can now subscribe to the podcast on iTunes!
  Click here>>>>> HulaHoopla: A Podcast for Hoopers

  woo hoo(p)!
  

   

• New Site Name

  Date: 2011.11.05 | Category: HulaHoopla, PODCAST! | Response: 0

  As I learn how to podcast I will be making adjustments with this site.  Today I had to change the name from from Hoopanista to HulaHoopla: A Podcast for Hoopers to it is picked up on my RSS feed to iTunes.  But the title is too long for the generic title section of the Home page so it just reads HulaHoopla: A Podcast for.  I guess it builds anticipation!  Well, if anyone out there is reading this and understands how to manipulate WordPress I sure could use a hand! 

  I can be reached at hoopanista (at) hulahoopla (dot) com.