Posts Tagged ‘hoopdance instruction’

• Crossroads of Energy

  Date: 2011.04.26 | Category: Exploring The Path, HulaHoopla | Response: 0

  Well, I actually got a part-time job doing what I used to do. Floor directing for a live show.  I love it!  Right now I can teach my morning and night classes and still work at the job.  The income will go down because of more driving, downtown parking, montyly fees associated with my job. I still have unemployment for a while longer and I will receive some benefits to sort of make up the difference between what I make at my new job and what I used to make.  whew!  Good thing I worked crazy hours all those years!

  Of course, with new things, come new challenges.  Balancing a mid-day job with morning and night classes, the commute, trying to drive less yet haul hoops and being away from home and keeping up with hoop biz related emails, web things, updating classes, etc.  And right now my VW Bus is having major issues and I am hemorrhaging money between fixing her, paying rent on studios, etc.

  I’m at this crossroad – where to I put my energy?  I had a complete meltdown as I was trying to leave to teach a class.  Couldn’t find the keys that I just had in my hands not two minutes before.  I was going to be late for class.  Totally lost it, yelled, kicked over my cute little black leather foot stool (no damage!), heaved a cookie sheet out the door (that felt good!) but I must’ve sounded like a crazed screech owl to my neighbors and I certainly scared my cats.  WTF?  That isn’t how I want to be as a person.  But I just lost it!  It seems like my energy is so closely tied to money – probably because I’m always on the verge of not quite being able to pay my bills.  I’m forgoing many of the hooping events that I attended last year because of the lack of funds and knowing I need to rebuild my engine.  But those are choices I had to make and it’s not like I can’t go next year.  Maybe not being among all the other hoopers is what’s making me so unnerved.

  OK, so I love teaching, I love my students and want to keep doing it.  Problem is that I don’t have enough students to cover the expense of running the classes.  I assume that is typical when you’re starting out.  I’m sort of paying money to teach.  I know spring is coming and I can see that it is bringing out more hoop students.  I feel I need to keep going until at least June.  Maybe take a break over the summer (last summer was very slow for students) then push again in the fall.  Not sure.  I feel my personal practice has suffered tremendously because, frankly, I don’t make time for it.  I’m teaching 5 classes a week and host a hoop jam.  That’s a lot of being responsible for someone else’s hooping.

  Now back to the money.  I barely make rent on the studios.  I do teach two classes that pay well per hour and I don’t have to rent the space but they are very unreliable.  I feel like I should step away from one because of poor communication within the community center (where I teach) and it reflects bad on my hoop biz.  And the two spaces I rent for evening classes are not attracting students like I had hoped.  But if I drop them, I will likely lose those spaces at those times indefinitely.  So the question is here, who am I renting them for?  Do I keep plugging along and hope that all my flyer passing, web postings, twittering, marketing (such as it is) will eventually get to my audience?   What key element am I missing?  If I give up my studio space only because of money, what would that say about me?  That I’m a smart business woman who knows when to cut her losses? or a quitter?  YIKES!

  So right now, I’m drowning in debt, am struggling with whether I should continue to teach, gaining weight through stress eating.  Yep, my life is not balanced.

  Gotta do some more soul searching and path exploration.

• Winter Hoop Classes

  Date: 2010.12.05 | Category: Exploring The Path, HulaHoopla | Response: 0

  Holy Crap! Lots of classes to choose from.  I got ambitious…I only have a few months left to see if I can make this fly as my main income.  Fingers crossed and COME ON STUDENTS!

  See the HulaHoopla website for full class descriptions, payment information and DISCOUNTS!!!!

  

  Happy Hoopanista

  MONDAYS

  Hula Hooping for Fitness
  Portland Community College (**you must register through PCC)
  SE Center TABOR 102, 2305 SE 82nd Avenue
  1:15pm – 2:15pm

  Two 4-week sessions:
  Jan. 3^rd – Jan 31^st (NOTE: NO CLASS JAN. 17^th)
  Feb 14^th – March 7^th

  *************************************************

  TUESDAYS

  The Bamboo Grove Salon
  134 SE Taylor (Entrance on SE 2^nd between the two potted bamboo plants)
  11:00am – 12:30pm

  Two 6-week Intensive Sessions!

  HoopGirl Workout 6-Week Intensive Beginner Series:
  Jan 4^th – Feb 8^th
  HoopGirl Workout 6-Week Intensive Intermediate Series:
  Feb 15^th – March 22^nd

  Fee: $60 for 6-week series (just $10 per class, $15 drop-in)

  >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

  The Village Ballroom

  HoopGirl Workout Beginner I & II (Take I & II in any order)
  700 NE Dekum Street
  7:00pm – 8:00pm

  Two 6-week sessions:
  Beginner I: Jan 4^th – Feb 8^th
  Beginner II:  Feb15^th – March 22^nd

  Fee: $90 for 6-week series (just $15 per class, $20 drop-in)

  ***********************************************************

  WEDNESDAYS

  Rigler SUN (Schools Uniting Neighborhoods) Community School
  5401 NE Prescott Street
  3:00pm – 4:00pm

  Hooping is Fun! Rigler Elementary School 4^th – 6^th Grade Students
  Jan. 12^th – March 2^nd

  >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
  

  Hoopdance Fitness
  Gem Studio
  1110 NE Glisan, PDX
  6:00pm-7:00pm

  Classes start January  and run through February and first week of March.
  See the Gem Studio website for details.
  Fee: TBD

  >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

  Multi-level Hoop Clinic
  NW Dance Project Studio
  833 N. Shaver @ N. Mississippi
  8:00pm-9:00pm

  4-week sessions:
  Jan. 5^th – 26^th, Feb. 2^nd – 23^rd, Mar. 2^nd – 23rd

  Fee: $80 for each 4-week session (just $20 per class, $25 drop-in)

  ***************************************************************

  THURSDAYS

  Over-the-hump-day Hooping with the LooLoo’s!
  The Bamboo Grove Salon
  134 SE Taylor Street
  (Entrance is on SE 2nd Avenue between the two potted bamboo plants)

  Every Thursday TFN
  12:00pm – 2:00pm

  Fee: $3 suggested donation

  >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

  The Village Ballroom
  HoopGirl Intermediate I & II (Take I & II in any order)
  700 NE Dekum Street
  7:00pm – 8:00pm

  Two 6-week sessions:
  Intermediate I: Jan. 6^th – Feb. 10^th
  Intermediate II: Feb.17^th – Mar. 24^th

  Fee: $90 for 6-week series (just $15 per class, $20 drop-in)

  ********************************************************

  SUNDAYS

  Hoopdance Fitness
  Northeast Community Center (NECC)
  1630 NE 38th Avenue – PDX
  (If you use the NECC parking lot, please get a parking permit at the check-in desk)

  10:30am – 11:30am

  6-Week Sessions:  January 2nd – February 6th
  $40 Non-Members
  $60 Non-Members + teens (14 & up)
  $20 Members
  $30 Members + teens (14 & up)

  Please visit the NECC Website for payments, membership information and drop-in fees.

  **************************************************

  MONTHLY COASTAL WORKSHOPS

  Newport Recreation Center
  225 Southeast Avery Street
  Newport, OR

  January:
  Friday Jan. 21^st 6:00pm-7:00pm
  Saturday Jan. 22^nd 12:30pm-2:30pm

  February:
  Friday Feb. 18^th 6:00pm-7:00pm
  Saturday Feb. 19^th 11:00am-1:00pm

  March:
  Friday March. 18^th 6:00pm-7:00pm
  Saturday March 19^th 11:00am-1:00pm

  Please register with the Newport Recreation Center for each class.

• Winter Classes – TBA SOON!

  Date: 2010.11.27 | Category: HulaHoopla | Response: 0

  I am in the midst of confirming days and dates for winter classes.  Stay tuned!

• New Space!

  Date: 2010.10.30 | Category: Exploring The Path, HulaHoopla | Response: 0

  Found, fell in love and FINALLY booked the space I was meant to be in…The Village Ballroom.

  Classes start in January 2011 – stay tuned!

  

  HulaHoopla Classes will be here starting January 2011!

• Growing

  Date: 2010.10.05 | Category: Exploring The Path | Response: 0

  Students are beginning to find me and my heart is full of joy after each class.

  I’m worried about how to make a living at doing what I love.  Bills still come in and the cash flow isn’t keeping up with the outflow.  Do I find new places to teach?  Teach more classes through Parks & Rec? Am I promoting myself the right way? What is it that I want to pursue?

  It is simultaneously exhilarating and terrifying…but that’s a good thing, right?!

• Hmmmmm….

  Date: 2010.09.21 | Category: Exploring The Path | Response: 0

  

  Wonderful hooping space in need of wonderful hoopers!

  So I felt I did the leg work but no one showed up to my first class last night. It is an incredible space, one with some sentimental attachments for sure. It’s the cafeteria/auditorium of my elementary school.

  Now I’m offering up some incentives so please spread the word!
  If you pay cash, you get $12 off a 6-series class. If you get 2 friends to sign up, I will make you a custom hoop!

• It’s Official!

  Date: 2010.09.21 | Category: HulaHoopla | Response: 0

  I can now use the registered trademark on my business name!!!

  HulaHoopla®

• Fall Classes!!!

  Date: 2010.09.20 | Category: HulaHoopla | Response: 0

  MONDAYS

  Portland Community College (**you must register through PCC)
  SE Center TABOR 102, 2305 SE 82nd Avenue
  Two 6-week sessions: Sept 20th – Oct 25th and Nov 1st – Dec 6th
  1:15pm – 2:15pm

  Chief Joseph Elementary School
  Cafeteria, 2904 N Saratoga
  Two 6-week sessions: Sept 20th – Oct 25th and Nov 1st – Dec 6th
  6:00pm – 7:15pm
  FEE: $72 for 6-class series, just $12 per class ($15 drop-in)

  TUESDAYS

  Portland Community College (**you must register through PCC)
  Jefferson High School, 5210 N Kerby, B9
  Two 6-week sessions: Sept 21st – Oct 26th and Nov 2nd – Dec 7th
  6:30- 8:00pm

  WEDNESDAYS

  Vernon Elementary School
  2044 NE Killingsworth
  Two 5-week sessions: Sept 22nd – Oct 27th and Nov 3rd – Dec 15th
  Note class location: Gymnasium: Sept 22nd – Nov 11th
  Note class location: Auditorium: Nov 17th – Dec 15th
  6:00pm – 7:15pm
  FEE: $60 for 5-class series, just $12 per class ($15 drop-in)

  HulaHoopla™ Policies

  REGISTRATION: To register, shoot me an email (click here for Contact page) and let me know which class(es) you would like to take, if you’re bringing a friend, etc.

  PAYMENT: PayPal should be up and running soon. I will also happily accept checks & cash (preferred!) on site. Woo Hoo(p)!

  REFUNDS: Class fees are non-refundable but can be transferred to another class series if space is available. Students must email HulaHoopla™ 7 days prior to the start of the class to be eligible for a transfer.

• HoopTastic!

  Date: 2010.08.18 | Category: Exploring The Path, HulaHoopla | Response: 0

  Holy smokes! Just got back from 10 days in San Francisco attending my HoopGirl Level 2 Teacher Training AND HoopGirl Performance Training.  It seems strange to be back at home and not walking to the studio every morning where I was surrounded by strong, supportive goddesses!  I feel a shift in myself…hard to explain…but this morning I am going to take my boyfriend to my studio and perform for him for his birthday. *prrrrrr*

• Holy Crap!

  Date: 2010.07.04 | Category: HulaHoopla | Response: 0

  It’s been a while, huh?

  Made hoops for Cheap Trick.  That’s right!  CHEAP TRICK!!

  

  The Cheap Trick Series

  Had a very successful run at the Alberta Art Hop on May 15th.  My friends Mary & Bill came down from Seattle and the lovely Heather came by to help with preparations.  We had a final hoop wrapping party & BBQ (Kurt played BBQ-extraordinaire) the night before to ensure the optimal number of gorgeous hoops available to the public.  Mary & I dressed up in our finest hooper regalia for the sunny weekend.  We hooped our little hineys off!

  

  HulaHoopla Hoop Booth @ Alberta Art Hop

  The next day was the Sunday Parkways kickoff in N.E. Portland and I debuted my crazy hoop cart, The HoopDeVille!  More hooping and hollerin’ for sure!

  

  HoopDeVille Debut

  Later in May, I flew to North Carolina for the Hoop Convergence.  Wow!  Intense workshops, incredibly informative forums, beautiful hooping souls all tucked into a retreat in the lush woods near Raleigh.  Made heaps of new hooper friends and just felt like I found my place on this earth.  Thank you to everyone!

  

  Maple Cabin Ready for the Hooper's Ball - Hoop Convergence 2010

  Well, let’s see…I was laid off from work on June 18th but didn’t actually work on June 18th.  Instead, I went camping in Maupin for the 5th Annual Deschutes River RendezVW with 75 fellow VW bus owners.  I set up my hoop booth, taught folks how to hoop, sold many, many hoops and I performed three times with my fire hoop two nights in a row…I think I’m getting the hang of it!  My favorite moment was stomping out the last flame to the end beat of Ted Nugent’s “Hey Baby.”  Rocker hooper…I think I’ve found my inner performer.

  

  Hoopanista Fire Performance

  Two classes are up  and running at the NW Dance Project Studio in N. Portland and I am really enjoying my students.  They make me so happy. I will be able to pay my mom back for the rent on that studio next week with the money from classes, hoops booth sales and two children’s birthday parties.  That feels great!  Now, I just need to pay back the $12K I owe to the credit card company for starting the biz and I’ll be golden! :-0