Smiles & Sidewalk Chalk

Not only do I decorate my front porch with Crayola Sidewalk Chalk on a regular basis, I also used the box to prop my phone up when making my hoop videos. Yesterday I had a moment of what I now call 'sidewalk chalk serendipity' when the box fell apart after accidentally being left in the rain. I couldn't help but notice the beauty of the colorful mess. After I gathered all the pieces, I had an unsurprising urge to use them; and for some reason this is what I felt inspired to draw/write:

I posted the photo on my Instagram and Facebook Page and received quite a bit of feedback. From heartfelt to hilarious, the comments were all unique and wonderful. Each and every one made ME smile--both yesterday and today. Sometimes we forget the little things that can turn our whole day around. I went from a broken box of chalk to a list the length of Santa's full of reasons people smiled. Does it get much better than that? When you're only thinking of reasons you're angry or upset with the world, just ask yourself this tiny little question--or ask the person sitting next to you. Their smile could wind up creating yours.

What made you smile today?

Say Something, I Wont Give Up My Hoops.

For many people, music is the super glue that permanently connects all the tiny pieces of life and holds them together in a place where everything will always make sense. I am one of these people, and hula hooping is one of the few places where I can both lose and find myself within the music. When the music plays and I have my hoop in hand, I twirl away into another universe that is completely my own. This is one of many reasons hula hoops are referred to as 'sacred circles'. I may stumble, drop it, and at times go for a nice little jog to catch it, but it's not about being perfect. It's about everything aside from perfection. Hoop Dancing is a meditative state of mind where worries and reality don't have to matter.

Say Something by A Great Big World is one of the saddest songs I've ever heard in my life, but it is undeniably beautiful. I don't believe in giving up on the people I love or walking away from broken things that still have room for mending. That song holds such a heartbreaking tone filled with so much love and desperation. Every time I hear it I'm inspired to pick up a hula hoop and disappear within the lyrics. Maybe it's because I never want to feel that way and I'm trying to fight against it, or maybe it's because I have felt that way and I don't want to feel as though I'm going through it all over again. (Music tends to have a very serious and personal effect on me.) The video I uploaded is imperfect in many ways. Sure, I dropped my hoop at the beginning and got a little tangled here and there, but in my mind there was never an absent moment where I didn't feel a sense of comfort and therapy. I am eternally grateful that I have found such a wonderful outlet in life, and unlike the song lyrics, I will never give up on it.

My Nocturnal Mind

Just my final thoughts before I fell asleep last night combined with my favorite photo I've ever taken. Music makes me feel free and capable of anything. There's a sense of magic that takes me to another level. The photo was taken at Ghostland Observatory's 2009 concert at The Valarium in Knoxville, TN. I thought it was a perfect fit from a perfect evening.

Flow Down Fest 2014!

Flow Down Fire Festival is MORE than just a fire festival. It is everything that encompasses the lifestyle of flow arts. This amazing and unique festival will take place October 17-19, 2014 at The Original Sugar Creek Campground in Bloomingdale, IN. 


Event hosts Allie Starfox and Jake Vaupel are still collaborating a wide variety of live music, workshops, beautiful scenery, good vibes, good people, flow art performances, and all the love that comes along with it! Instructors from all over the United States will be teaching and performing Fire Spinning, Poi, Hooping, Dance, Staff, Acro Yoga, and more! Whether or not you're a professional flow artist, this is the place for you to be! Even professionals will inevitably learn from one another. The beauty of these performing arts is the fact that no two performers are the same, and it's a never-ending journey. There will always be something new to learn. This festival is full of endless opportunities to do so. Don't miss out on a beautiful unity of people sharing their passions, great music, and the nature surrounding. It's bound to be a magical experience. 

Allie Starfox

Here's their most recent list of confirmed Instructors and live Music: 
(Artists are still being added! Keep checking back for more!)

Instructors:
Allie Starfox- Hoops 
Jake Vaupel- Poi 
Tony Law- Slackline and Acro Yoga
Hobbes- Contact staff and dance
Bethany Byrnes- Dance and Double staff
Brandon Joe Rutten -Acro yoga
Michael Bly-Partner poi and poi tosses
Ryan Shadis- Partner poi an Flow Center
Jonah Digirolamo- fire walk, laughter yoga and double staff
Andrew Knight 
Micha Moon -Beginner hoop
Sylvi - aerial hoop
Jessica Marlo- hoops

Music:
DJ WoBBle
DJ Bird 
Renegades of Bass 
Blue Fruit Snacks

Check out their website and Facebook Page for more info on these performers! There are short bios definitely worth reading!
Flow Down 2014
Flow Down Fest on Facebook

Jake Vaupel

Not only am I ridiculously pumped for this experience, I was lucky enough to win a ticket to their festival! I wanted to take the time to spread the good word to everyone who wants expand their flow journeys and learn about others'. I am so excited and so grateful to be a part of this amazing experience!! I can't wait to learn all the things I never thought I'd have an opportunity to try! I don't even have anyone to go with but that's not stopping me!! I'm ready for the flow down!! Are you??? 

(And just for fun, I thought I'd add my submission video. This is the first submission video I've ever made! Thanks for the inspiration, Flow Down!)

Hozier 'Take Me To Church'

The Veiled Hooper

There's something so mysterious and enthralling about wearing a mask. We are taught not to judge based on physical appearances, yet when we can't see someone's, an automatic question mark arises. People wear masks for countless reasons. Dating all the way back to Aristotle in Ancient Greece, masks have played a huge role in the world of Performing Arts. They were first used as costumes and an easy way for men to disguise themselves as women. Nowadays, equality and the use of makeup have put masks somewhat on the back burner; which is why coming across a masked performer holds such a heightened level of interest. Unless one plans on attending a circus or another performance that requires masks, they are more than likely unprepared to encounter one. This happened to me yesterday. 

I am not making a comparison between the artists themselves, but does anyone remember the Jabbawockeez on MTV's America's Best Dance Crew? Well, I do. I didn't necessarily care nor wonder what they looked like behind their masks, but I think I found them to be even greater performers because they had the creative mindset to hide their facial expressions. It was about their movement and presence, and wearing masks added to all of that. The latest master of masked performances I discovered was @veiled_hoops on Instagram.

@veiled_hoops's bio ceases to divulge any personal information, and her true identity is kept completely anonymous through an entire profile of videos and images hooping behind a mask. The Veiled Hooper pioneered an aspect of hooping that proves it is in fact a performing art. She has talent, creativity, and a mind of her own. When I saw her profile, inspiration overwhelmed me. I found myself more than caught off guard. I wanted to know who she was, where she got the idea--I wanted to know everything. But within moments, I realized that was irrelevant. I'm not supposed to know who she is or any of the details. The point is to appreciate the lack thereof. The details shine outside the veil, and the mask itself holds its own aesthetic appeal. Whoever you are, @veiled_hoops, don't ever leave 'em without guessing. Your mystery is flawless, and the beauty in your talent radiates beyond concealment. 

If you're looking for entertainment or evidence that hula hooping is an art form, check her out!!

@veiled_hoops

Visions Are Seldom All They Seem...

Lana Del Rey 
'Once Upon A Dream'

Considering Instagram only allows one link in your profile, I've decided to start uploading all of my YouTube videos on here for easier access. Therefore, any followers who are interested will have a direct link to both my videos and blog. It seems best to put it all in one place. And now I think my blog will have a much more personal feel to it aside from writing about general topics. I want to share my own experiences that coincide with my blogs theme; which is why it's been under construction for so long. I still plan to write about general topics and feature inspiring people/artists, but I also want people to know more about who I am. I haven't put much of myself out there in these entries, and I want people to know more than just what I like writing about. I wasn't sure how to put everything together. So here is just a simple start to my new blogging journey. A video and a heads up! 

Coming Soon: 

The Real @twirlingcircus :) 

Virtual Hoop Classes!

Hey Hoopers! GUESS WHAT!? Thanks to the fact I live in the middle of nowhere, I'm unemployed, and I have no clientele nor a location to hold hoop classes, I thought perhaps using Skype would be a great way to work with fellow hoopers! I have many followers who request a lot of tutorials, and I intend on getting those started in the very near future on my YouTube. I'm currently open to suggestions and willing to negotiate costs for virtual classes based on what each prospective student is interested in learning. 

Though it's not an actual hoop class, I will have my own classroom at home where I can interact live with students. I think this is an important aspect because other tutorials and instructional videos do not allow room for discussion and critique. With this method, I can instruct hoopers face to face and answer questions the moment they arise. 

I plan to teach beginner--intermediate hoop fitness and flow classes. Hoop fitness is extremely important to me and I would love to share the different ways I use my heavier hoops to stretch and stay in shape. As far as flow goes, I feel that the sky is the limit. For beginners, I can start with the basics of body hooping flow and then progress into transitions and tricks. For intermediate hoopers, I plan on focusing more on transitions and tricks and perfecting techniques. 

I would love to have students who already have things they want to learn; therefore, I am offering a pay as you go series of sessions as well as single sessions. My classes will range anywhere from 30 minutes to 1 hour. I believe this is a perfect way to interact one-on-one in social media's hooping community, and I look forward to getting some feedback. I will feature hoopers I've worked with on my blog, and I also plan to use this site as an outlet for my own development and growth as an instructor. 

If anyone has honest suggestions for price ranges, please let me know! I need your help to make this happen! I'm super excited about this idea and I hope other people are, too! Please don't hesitate to contact me! For more info or ideas, please comment here, email me at twirlingcircus@gmail.com, or leave me something on my Instagram! If anyone is interested in setting up a session or being my guinea pig, come on down!! While getting everything started and running smooth, I would like to offer FREE FIRST SESSIONS for a limited time as a sign of my appreciation for anyone helping me build my clientele. Hope to hear from some hoopers soon!! Thanks for all your love and support! I wouldn't have come this far without all of you crazy hoopers!



Best ways to contact me: 

Email: twirlingcircus@gmail.com
Instagram: @twirlingcircus
Facebook: Twirling Circus

#STOPDROPANDSPIN!.... NOW!!

Hoopers had quite an exciting week in social media! On Tuesday afternoon I received notifications from several people ordering me to '#stopdropandspin'. It was pretty self-explanatory. I stopped and dropped whatever it was that I was doing, grabbed a hoop, made and uploaded a Bassnectar video to my Instagram, then tagged 3 more hoopers with the same instructions. 

This ingenious idea spread faster than chain emails, and as long as hoopers keep posting their videos I don't see it stopping anytime soon. People (myself included) are being tagged over and over again, and I don't think they have a problem participating more than once. I mean, if someone's way of intruding on my day involves telling me to stop whatever it is I'm doing and grab a hula hoop, be my guest--and favorite person ever. The second day of #stopdropandspin, I woke up to several demands. Being that I was still in bed, I turned my video camera on and started filming this little excursion. Starting with the view of my ceiling, I moved on to my alarm clock showing it was only 8:03 a.m., grabbed a hoop, got back in bed, and spun it around my foot. In my opinion, this was a hilarious and great start to my day. 

No matter what time it is, I think it's a great addition to anyone's day. Considering most Instagram hoopers don't know each other personally, it's amazing that we are comfortable passing this chain around to random people because we know they share our passion. 

One of the greatest things about #stopdropandspin is that it is bringing new faces into the realms of social media's hula hoopers. Hashtags are the primary requisite for networking and finding people who share your interests. Hoopers who dedicate a lot of time to social media and connecting with others usually have several preferred hashtags that they will check regularly and/or more often than others. When #stopdropandspin busted loose, I noticed many people I had never seen before, and there were a lot of hoopers I see regularly that had yet to catch the buzz. When they did, familiar faces came flowing into the circle as quickly as the new. Even if people stop following directions when they #stopdropandspin, they still pass on the vibes hoopers will continue looking for. Tagging someone in a hoop video isn't necessary when it comes to inspiration. People can watch hoop videos on any link, website, or hashtag and still feel the inspiration and urge to stop what they're doing and hula hoop. However, it is pretty fun when you're really in the middle of something and you receive a notification from a stranger summoning you to hula hoop. It's kind of an addiction--but that's another story for another kind of day. So, bottom line, if you're reading this and have a hoop, I suggest that you go grab it, because you have just been ordered to #stopdropandspin!

Let Your Dreams Grow.

Social norms have a very dangerous potential when it comes to our creativity and big dreams. All over the world, people are born into different societies with their own set of rules and/or expectations. Where these countless ideals of normalcy come from, I'm not sure, but they form a vision in our minds telling us who we are supposed to be. Many people grow up finding themselves displaced and at times rejected because they don’t behave or see things the same as the rest of their peers. When children dream of growing up to become famous performers, artists, writers, athletes, etc. more often than not, people will tell them that they can’t. Why not? These dreams exist and came true for others, so why can’t they be just as real for anyone else? The way I see it, normalcy is the ideal that doesn't exist. No two people are exactly the same. Therefore, no one should live a life believing that they are wrong for being themselves and expressing ideas that the majority finds strange or unacceptable.

As difficult as it may seem, the most important thing to remember is to ignore anyone who doesn't believe in, appreciate, or understand you and your dreams. It is impossible to avoid these people, but it is up to the dreamer to keep their negativity at bay. Only you can keep your dreams alive, and we are solely responsible for killing them as well. We can’t blame other people or circumstances for holding us back. Those are the tools that we must use to build upon. No matter how small wishes and dreams may seem, they are not pointless. They form in our minds for a reason, and it is up to us to create and project them. Taking on a career like a Lawyer or an Office Executive may seem like a more reasonable route, but that doesn't mean we have to take it. You’re not wrong for being different, but it’s wrong to ignore what makes us different. Our individuality is composed of tiny seeds helping us grow into someone beautiful and unique. Ignoring your imagination and dreams is ignoring who you truly are.  

2014 Photo Challenge!

Last night I discovered this list among many others for January Photo Challenges. What a great new way to start off a new year! Simply tag #JanuaryPhotoChallenge to your photos everyday and join the photo fun! It's only day 3, so it's not too late to catch up! There are quite a few options to choose from. Find your favorite and CHALLENGE YOURSELF! Start your year with a simple and self-gratifying accomplishment!