Lake Worth, Florida

After 3 days of the Florida Flow Festival and a day of beach time and recuperation, I return home to Carrboro. Body tired, heart full. I am grateful to have shared this time with new and old friends. The weekend was full of workshops and events. But more importantly, it was filled with opportunity to meet new friends and deepen already existing relationships.

Having gone to a variety of hoop & multi-prop retreats over the past few years, I find myself increasingly invested in the realm of community and relationship nurtured in these gatherings. As I've circled with some of the same individuals year after year, I cherish the time to meet people as individuals walking a similar life path, learn with them about career and life, sharing stories, dreams and experiences. A few years ago, we mostly geeked out about about all things hoop related, I find that we now share aspects of our lives, both struggles and celebration, the silly and the sad, love and heartbreak..and endless laughs. Each night held its own bit of magic and fun as we descended upon Lake Worth, Fl.

Organized by Casandra Tannenbaum of Hoops So Fly, this festival was held in downtown Lake Worth, Fl. The venue was a beautiful, flat & grassy public park sprinkled with palms and banyon trees along the inter-coastal waterway. The venue was only a 15 minute walk from the ocean and 5 minute walk to downtown bars, restaurants and shops. However, this weekend left little time for the beach with back-to-back workshops running morning 'til night offering a wide variety of flow arts including hoop, poi, partner poi, contact juggling, double staff, contact staff as well as dance arts such as W. African, belly dance, breakdance, capoeira. This festival was packed with opportunity to expand your movement boundaries, gain new perspectives on your favorite flow practice and try out new tools.

Workshops were offered by many Florida-based flow artists as well as by master instructors flown in from California, Colorado, Oregon and North Carolina. Locals such as Jodi Jainchill, Abby Albaum, Bonnie Brown, Jeremiah Collins, Heather Phoi, Debby Carrigan and all the volunteers were radiant and hospitable like the Florida sunshine.

Among the other master teachers were:

Rainbow Michael (Colorado): Full of love and inspiration for laughter, Rainbow is one of my brilliant partners in Synergy Firehoops. He taught mini hoop manipulation & poi yoga fusion and offered a mini hoop performance that continues to unfold new geometrical magic with precision & grace.

Zan & Aurora (Oregon): This duet is something to behold. Recently married, this couple taught both partner poi technique and a workshop focused on the abandon from technique into full body expression and play with poi.. This couple are so beautifully in sync with their movement styles. Their choreographed partner fire poi piece was stunning. You can visit this dynamic couple at their own retreat in Oregon, Pacific Fire Gathering.

Anah “Hoopalicious” Reichenbach (California): Hoop elder and goddess. Anah opened the weekend with “Transformation in hoop dance”. We were able to catch glimpse a bit of Anah's raw, graceful dance at a teacher's appreciation dinner inspired by some old school hip hop. Her flow reminded me of the inspiration she offered me the last time we danced in Florida, 8 years ago when I first met her. While Anah didn't perform, she accessed a new role in this festival as the MC of the showcase. I love witnessing Anah's continued growth and maturity as an elder within the community.

Brecken Rivara (California): Often referred to as a tsunami, Brecken has really grown into herself as a hooper and an instructor. It was fabulous to witness the evolution of her teaching since her first workshop at a retreat at Hoop Con 2009. Her class, Body Conscious Barrel Rolls & Figure 8 Navigation and general movement are as inspiring as ever.

Nick Guzzardo (Colorado): Hoop athlete. When I watch Nick hoop, I feel full of excitement and giddiness. His flow is powerful, refined, delightful to witness. And even as a hooper new to teaching, he was absolutely natural in the teaching role. His workshop on Head hooping and the Flow of Currents pushed my boundaries of movement into new, exciting territory. If Nick hits a town near you, check him out!

Lester Mooney (California): While I've spent time with his sisters and partners Hannah & Kamala, this was the first time I've met Lester Mooney of Fire Groove. His poi class helped me break through some sticky spots that should surely deepen my flow experience and his double staff performance was epic! Lester brought powerful flow, 8 years of experience and loads of laughs to the festival.

Richard Hartnell (California): Recently introduced to the larger hoop community for his video about Flow for FlowToys in Berkeley. Richard is a absolutely mesmerizing contact juggler. He lead an intriguing roundtable discussion on Flow, offered a workshop and a flawless performance.

Tammy Firefly (California): Absolutely beautiful and rounded in her skills, Tammy offered a workshop on tools that crossed disciplines and added insight for poi, hoop & double staff spinners. She kicked off the weekend with aerial silks workshops and performed with Lester Mooney.  It was a delight to break through some techniques together!

Veronika “Kit” Petra (California): While Kit didn't teach, she did blow me away with her performance this weekend. She combines fine tuned musicality, technical skill and an amazing stage presence.  It was fabulous to connect with her. Look for her on our artists' page soon!

I (Julia) went to this festival as a teacher, student, performer and vendor. It is always an honor to be asked to share my current practice, twin hoop revelations as well as our Synergy creations. It is also a blessing to receive new insight while in my own class space. I was inspired by my students and am excited to go deeper into the techniques we explored as well as the art of teaching advanced workshops. It just goes to show that releasing and sharing comes back multi-fold.

The Synergy crew found many to be intrigued with our newest creations about to hit our website. Rainbow Michael and I were excited to preview our new removable spine firehoops, double staffs and our hot off the press, custom-crafted colored polypro tubing. It was awesome to see the bright colored tubing flying high in the Florida blue skies.

Thanks for the fabulous time Florida!  Your community is hospitable and inspiring.  The fish tacos delicious.  I'm grateful for the opportunity to witness so many artists in their element, in the flow state. As we bounce ideas and energy between us, we create infinite possibilities in all realms.

 There are two kinds of Polypropylene tubing (at least). These main 2 kinds are "homopolymer" and then random "co-polymers".

McMaster has homopolymer. it is more rigid. We use homopolymer PP at Synergy. U.S. plastics, Hudson and bunch of other vendors sell co-polymer and its way less rigid.

We are having a batch of mixed 50/50 homopolyer w/ co-polymer made to get a tubing that is still stiff & rigid but less prone to cracking (which homopolymer has been known to do on occasion, especially in colder climates). We will also be getting all kinds of colored polypro tubing varieties at Synergy so keep an eye out to our facebook page where we'll probably make the first announcements about anything.

Also keep an eye out for the new mind-blowing Removable-Spine firehoop design coming out in a matter of weeks. ...and another thing... for anyone who is considering getting some polypro hoops or tubing, its WORTH the little bit of extra cash to get your hoops made by Synergy. The craftsmanship is unparallelled, ditto for the sanding styles, and the push-button disconnect is badass, especially when you've got twins (they can be connected together & coiled down to 3 loops making it way-easier to travel with). Sorry for ranting, but that also reminds me that we do not use polypro or PE as connectors in any of our hoops because I do not believe they are rigid enough to stand up in the long-haul. A little heat here, a little hooping there, and your hoop becomes an egg (or tear-drop shaped). This hasn't been everyone's reality across the board, but I've seen it enough to know that its better to just roll with a regular 1/2" connector for black PE tubing (which actually has an ID of 5/8", not 1/2" as printed on the tubing). You may want to nip-the-tips of those plastic connectors; just cut a couple barbs off each end, depending on the size of the hoop (generally good for ~35" OD & smaller). OR...if you get your hoops from Synergy, they come with aluminum "dis"-connectors already installed. And of course, you can always get push-button aluminum connectors by themselves for your 5/8" ID tubing from Synergy Firehoops. in fact, sha-zzamm, I just cut all our prices in HALF for aluminum connectors at synergyfirehoops.com for a limited time, so get em while they're hot :) CHEERS!

~scott

p.s. while I'm at it, I just have to make a plug for the Zferral system we've got up & running at Synergy. It doesn't get any easier to earn 5% on all referrals you provide through clickable links from your website, blog, emails, etc. its free. what are you waiting for?

Ladies and gentleman, introducing the incredibly talented, multi-facited, hilarious Revolva of Revolva Hoop Dance!

Stunning audiences in all settings and scenarios with her courageous and jaw-dropping multiple firehoop routines, this Oakland-based original caught our eye! She's witty, she's skilled, she's daring and she does it all with a smile and an open heart. So when it came down to choosing a new face for Synergy Firehoops for 2011, the choice was simple.

As an art, firehooping has evolved in rapid, and incredible ways. Three years ago at the first Hoop Convergence, there were very few people who dared to rock doubles. Now ladies like Revolva step up to the stage to push the boundaries of multiples. One on each limb, the dancers weave and wobble their way in gymnastically-inclined positions with a fluidity and grace never seen before on fire. We don't know how this fire idol does it, but she gives us some clues into her sassy world in this interview hot off the press. 

Enjoy, and may this inspire and delight you in firey flow!

How did you get into firehooping? When was your first time?

I’m originally from Detroit. A lot of people have seen the recent Detroit Fire Guild video, featuring so many talented spinners. Back in the day, though, there was only one Detroit fire troupe, Fire Fabulon, with maybe 10 people in it. This amazing ninja TimTv was the head honcho, and he hosted a circus night (also for non-fire tools) at a dojo that he ran. I started going to Fire Fabulon practices with my regular hoops around 2004, and sometime shortly thereafter, KC from Chicago built a fire hoop for me. I spun it for the first time outside TimTv’s dojo. The size of the flames was so shocking that I just held it around my waist for a moment, frozen. Someone yelled, “Revolva, spin it or you’ll catch your shirt on fire!” So basically, that’s how I got my start: trying not to catch my shirt on fire. 

What was your first tool like?

It was around 38” and made out of metal tubing. The spokes were roughly 6” long. It was heavy as hell (as fire hoops were back in those days). I loved it! In fact, I still have it. I’ve often thought about selling it, but no one wants a hoop that heavy anymore, and it feels like an important artifact from my past. 

How do you connect with the fire element?

I find fire transformative. If I’m struggling with something, I’ll often write about it – and then burn the paper. It can bring such a release watching solid thoughts shift into smoke and rise into the air. The fire hoop (as opposed to other fire spinning prop) is a really special tool because the hooper can be completely encircled by flames. The center of a fire tornado is a magic, empowering place to be. I’ve had transcendent experiences with fire. 

Tell us a crazy firehooping story.

I was hooping at an event called Last Thursday in Portland. Let me preface this by saying it’s not common for a prop to get so far away from me, but I accidentally lost grip on one of my hoops, and it rolled for a ridiculous distance, right into the crowd. Specifically, it rolled right into two small children. I’m imagining this now, and I feel like it all happened in slow motion. I was running after it, and they were wide-eyed and screaming. I grabbed it just as it got to them and stopped my act, to make sure they were okay. When I walked back out to the center, I thought, “Geeze, I don’t want them to go home feeling traumatized.”  So I wound up playing to those two kids for the rest of the act. I was saluting them, and pointing their way, and I dedicated my multiple hoop finale to them. When I finished, I ran over and gave them both high fives – and they were cheering, laughing and totally ecstatic. I hope they went to school the next day and said, “A fire hoop rolled into us. It was AWESOME!”

What are your current firehoop specs?

I have four 25” fire hoops made out of ½” irrigation tubing. They are covered in black gaffer’s tape and silver sparkly tape, and they have 1” wicks. I got them from Cosmic Fire Hoops (one half of what is now Synergy). I also had two non-taped 34” polypros, for single and multiple moves that require larger hoops. As a note to fire hoopers, I’ve found that polypro tubing requires more care, especially if it’s not taped. My four smaller hoops have been through the wringer. Due to the tubing and the fact that they’re covered with tape, they have survived the mega-flame that results from holding them all together for a moment as I place them on each body part. 

At Fire Drums this year, I also borrowed 6 quick wicks from Emma Kerr (they actually belonged to Steve Bags – thanks Bags!) and made two extra 25” hoops. So I was able to pull off SIX at once.  Picture holding SIX fire hoops together briefly and how much flame that would create. They STILL survived. I like the lightness of the 34” naked polypro for core moves and less-flame-intensive off-body work, but I think I’ll always want the multiple minis to be taped.

What was your favorite firehooping moment?

This year, on a lark, I entered “Fire Idol” at Burning Man. And I won. That’s the first time a hooper won, and I did it with Synergy Fire hoops.  (True story.) I also found out later that I was the first woman to win. I was sitting at the Spin Cycle Camp earlier in the night, talking to Spiral and Rich. I had never seen “Fire Idol” before, and they were saying, “The judges and the crowd heckle the contestants, and you have to spin to totally weird music, like 80s and death metal. And this year, it’s being held in the Thunderdome!” They were saying it as if it were a turn-off, but I thought, “That sounds insane – and possibly right up my alley!”

The contest doesn’t just hinge on technical skill. You have to have some performance mojo to survive the silly conditions. But it was definitely a favorite moment to win because I sometimes don’t feel that hoopers are taken seriously enough in the larger “tech” spinning community. I was happy to survive the contest past all the other props – and to have at least one year of Fire Idolitry belong to the hoop community!

And finally, what's the edge you're working with right now?

I’m trying to up the ante with more hoops (like mastering the 6 hoop arabesque on fire). But I’m also just trying to keep a little hilariousness alive out there. I concentrate on theatrics and character a lot in my non-fire numbers, and I want to continue doing more of that on fire. 

www.RevolvaHoopDance.com

Photos by Taymar LaRue

Join Our Referral Program and Receive 5% on Every Sale You Help Us Make.

Facebook. We're addicted, we admit it, but what better way to stay in touch with all our networks of friends, family and fellow-hobbiests? The Synergy team has been hard at work crafting a page that will work to YOUR advantage, where the goods - such as promotional events, photos, and customer feedback - take the spotlight.

This month we've decided to reward our facebookie friends by entering all who 'like' Synergy Firehoops in a drawing to win a $150 credit to our store. We 'like' you too, promise. 

The drawing will take place when we hit 1500 peeps so spread the word!!!

Click on the Image below to enter!

As a team, we are stoked that several of our members have been nominated for awards this year.  We sincerely appreciate the love from the hoop community and want to take this opportunity to honor our crew.

Drum roll please...

Shakti Sunfire and Julia Hartsell are nominated for FireHooper of the year!  (Since Shakti already holds Hoopie in this category from 2009, her name was removed from this year's ballot.  We were still psyched to see her up there:-)  Also nomianted for this award are:  Shredder, our featured FireHooper;  Kari "Revolva" Jones & Safire (who rock their fire groove with our hoops); Olive Oyl and Kandice Korves-Kaus. 

Hoopdrum is nominated for Hoop Performance Group of the Year.

Rainbow Michael Haynes is nominated for Male Hooper of the Year.

We are grateful to be honored & recognized among such talented hoopers.   Thank you so much for the love and support!

If you haven't already voted, you still can!  Vote by Jan 21 at 9 pm (EST).  

2010 Hoopie Award Ballot