Barbara Latkowski
Caledonia Courier
It’s time to get your hula on.
Hoop dancing has come to Fort St. James and all are invited to partake in these high energy yet unique classes being offered every Monday evening in Fort St. James.
“It’s a fun, energetic and progressive class and regular attendance will aid in advancement,” said class instructor, Mel McCutcheon.
“The great thing about hoop dancing is you can do it anywhere, you can take it at your own pace and most of all, it’s a lot of fun.”
According to McCutcheon, hoop dancing is helpful for realignment, strength, toning and overall fitness.
“It’s not just your waist. We do on/off body moves including your neck, arms, legs and all over,” McCutcheon said.
A few examples include breaks, isolations, leg hooping, and double hooping.
Many tribal groups across North America used the hoop in story-telling and traditional healing ceremonies.
The hoop dance soon became a crowd please in American Indian and First Nations dance performances as the modern multi-hoop dance allowing dancers to weave stories of how life is connected with changes and transitions.
Hula hoops gained international popularity in the late 1950s, when a plastic version was successfully marketed by California's Wham-o toy company in 1957.
Carlon Products Corporation was one of the first manufacturers of the hula hoop. During the 1950s, when the hula hoop craze swept the country, Carlon was producing more than 50,000 hula hoops per day.
The hula hoop craze swept the world, dying out again in the 1980s, but not in China and Russia, where hula hooping and hoop manipulation were adopted by traditional circuses and rhythmic gymnasts.
Recently, there has been a re-emergence of hula hooping.
Hoop dancing continues to evolve while incorporating multiple creative designs, intricate body and foot work and ever-changing routines.
For more information or to register, contact: (250) 996- 8163.
Hoop dancing takes place every Monday from 6:30 – 7:30 at the Music Makers Hall in Fort St. James.