What is Hoopdancing?
To hoopdance, one rythmically gyrates a special adult sized hoop made specifically for hooping (not kid hoops!) using your hips and torso. You'll feel each part of your body isolate as you manipulate the hoop around your body! Modern Hoopdance is a combination of belly dance, hip hop and rhythmic gymnastics. It gained popularity over time as it's visually entertaining and hypnotizing to watch. It's really popular at the underground club scene. You may also see performances at various festivals, parties or music videos. Professional hoopers may also use fire, LED's or glow in the dark hoops for more dramatic effect and to dazzle the audience.
Hoopdancing takes a 180 degrees spin to what you know as the "hula hoopin" craze in the 50's. It definitely has its roots in hula hooping and the concept is the same but they are stylistically different.
The name "Hula Hoop" was a term trademarked by Wham-O in the 1950's. Although they were the first to introduce the "craze" to the United States, the fundamentals of Hooping have been around for thousands of years. Hooping dates back to Egyptian times. Children would make their hoops out of any material including bamboo, grape vines, grass, metal and wood and spin it around their waist and play with it. That's how hooping was born. Ancient Greeks also started to use it as a weight loss tool. It also gained popularity during the 1400's in England.
Martina Modzelewska
Inspired after seeing a hoopdancer in full swing, Martina delved into the world hooping - Not only is it visually stunning but also a great workout! The benefits are far more than just physical. It's how confident she felt in her own body that motivated her to share this form of dance/fitness with others. Very soon, she started teaching classes, doing performances and workshops. That's how this site came to life. To keep you informed & updated, inspired and excited to get in the hoop!
Benefits of Hoopdance
- Burn BIG calories
- Sculpt your body
- Strengthen your Core
- Define your waistline
- Have FUN
Other Benefits
- Sensual feminine workout
- Benefits reproductive and digestive system; the constant sensation of the hoop rolling around your belly provides a gentle massage for your intestines and increases circulation to the pelvis
- Fantastic way to have a cardiovascular workout and increase endurance
- Increased body awareness
- Uplifting for the mind, stimulates feelings of joy and counteracts depression
- Low-impact, hard on the abs, kind on the joints
- Promotes proper posture and breathing
- Great for mothers to be and for post-postpartum women
- Increases spinal and pelvic flexibility
- Tool for self expression
- Energizing, keeps you feeling young!
- Self Confidence booster
- Relaxing
See our press section for what fitness experts have to say about hooping.