Five years ago, I was just entering college to study Massage
Therapy. I’d been out of high school for
a few years, living on my own, working in retail and was quite frankly, pretty
unhappy about the whole thing. My return
to college and my eventual career saved me from death by boredom.
And hula hooping saved me from death by stress.
Working and going to college at the same time was, to say
the least, difficult. I can attest to
many a night pouring over anatomy flash cards, physiology flow charts and
high-lighted notes blurred by the onslaught of tears because I needed to
pass this test.
I had given up going to belly dance classes in order to go
to school, and that worked for about six months until I realized, I need
dance. Going to Dundas by HSR wasn’t gonna work for me,
however, so I found a new studio. But it
wasn’t belly dance I wound up taking.
I found hoop dance instead.
I remember the first time I watched the class thinking “what
the heck is hoop dance?” and then thinking “oh my god I’m a hoop dancer, I want one where do I get one it’s so sparkly
want want wantwantwant!” I
probably got emotional during my first class, and definitely cried when I
watched my first hoop dancing video on repeat, for about 2 weeks. Even now, just hearing the song makes my tear
ducts squeeze a little. I bought my
first hoop at my second class.
During the week before exams, I would spread my notes on the
floor, with all their multi-coloured stickies, high lighters, and very
important diagrams, and would dance them to shreds. I would spin until I learned how to
not get dizzy. This spiral
taught me a lot, but mostly it taught me to just let it happen. Everything follows everything else and no
amount of cramming two days before the big test would give me any additional
edge.
But blowing off some steam would ensure I walked into that test room cool as a cucumber. So spinning and dancing and music became my pre-test rituals. It kept me sane, level, ready.
But blowing off some steam would ensure I walked into that test room cool as a cucumber. So spinning and dancing and music became my pre-test rituals. It kept me sane, level, ready.
Hoop dance became my prayer, my centre, my source. Through hoop dance, I found balance and
confidence. It was my way and it
could not be wrong.
And now, 6 years later, everything is following everything
else. My career is happening – I’m an
RMT. And the spiral is teaching me more
about myself. I am an artist. I can say, I never saw that coming. But I am.
As I spin further and further into the spiral, I find myself building Circus Trees and performing with The Hamilton
Aerial Group. I am challenged daily,
personally and physically, by this journey and every step I get stronger.
Hoop dance has been a transformative experience. Through hoop dance I have freed myself from
the bonds of my history, freed myself from the wrong impressions I had of who
and what I am. I have released the ideas
of what I am not, and have begun to explore what I am.
I am an artist. A
woman. A dancer. I am a sensitive soul with the will to fight
and the strength to love.
I have had the notion of teaching Hoop Dance for several
years, and have cultivated what I need to fill that role. And I’m (getting) ready to take you on the
journey down the spiral. In 2014 I will
be launching Wild Women’s Circular Movement at Hamilton’s newest (as yet
un-named at the time of this article writing) yoga and movement studio on Main
St E at walnut. Keep up to date with
developments on my website and facebook page.
And look for me around town. I’m
the one with the hoops.
Jen “Hoop Weaver” Fleming is an RMT in the Hamilton
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