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Do other people ever frustrate you about hoop dancing?? Like "those" girls in the stilettos and Prada who give you glares of evil (or possibly jealousy) while you're hooping? Or the frat boys who yell, "Shake it baby, shake it!" as you're performing?
This past week has been so frustrating for me. I've performed at a few schwanky parties and shows that were just full of those people. I actually met a guy the other night who told me to my face that he 'hates hula hoopers' and that his guitarist wishes they'd all die. Grrrrr.... It makes me not even want to do my art sometimes.
Does anyone else ever feel this way???
~Ziggy
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Kansas City
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Re: Hoop discouragement....
Sat, October 10, 2009 - 4:37 PMYES! When I'm out, especially when I'm out with other hoopers and we all have our hoops, certain people can be rude sometimes. It's irritating but I just ignore because they either don't understand/don't care *or* they're jealous or both. I just do my thing.
Now, if someone were to say to me, "I hate hula hoopers," I would ask them what the hell they were doing talking to me. Said person may have some convoluted reason like a cheating ex who hooped and broke their heart but seriously, why would you tell a hooper "I hate hula hoopers?" Would they like it if someone looked at them and said "I hate your emo/pop/rap/hippie/whatever-genre music and all musicians in that genre should die?" Probably not but people like that don't think about it....
I grrr with you.
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Re: Hoop discouragement....
Sun, October 11, 2009 - 7:31 PMAnother incident just yesterday, my hoop sister Surca and I were walking though Westport (a local area with bars and restaurants) carrying our hoops to teach our hoop dance class. There happened to be a pub crawl going on at the time. A group full of big, drunken burly guys walked by and one said, "oh my gosh look! Real live hippies with hula hoops!" Normally this wouldn't have bothered me much, but I've had so much negativity thrown towards me lately involving hoop dance. I couldn't help but spout back, "Oh my gosh look! Drunken frat boys!"
People just don't understand...and how could they unless they've experienced it themselves? People see a hoop and they snicker and sneer and make snide remarks. This beautiful art has completely transformed my life. This thing that has brought me so much peace and happiness the past few years I now feel almost ashamed of at times....and why?
Perhaps I can blame these feelings of over - sensitivity to PMS? Hopefully it will go away soon...
I just want to dance~
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Re: Hoop discouragement....
Mon, October 12, 2009 - 3:15 PMnice comeback to the fratboy loser! :)
if it helps at all, just know that you are a hooper who really inspires me: i always love your videos and tribe posts and all!
my best friend and i hoop in public sometimes, and tho we definitely get some heckles, threats, and harassment, we also notice that many strangers are delighted by us and even try out our hoops (we are in an area without other hoopers)
the antidote to your frustration maybe to grab a hoop buddy, some hoops, and head down to a family park on a nice day. lay out your extra hoops, and wave at all the little kids and old people...invite them over to try! then you will remember the wonderful feeling of community and oneness that the hoop brings. those other people who antogonized you are assholes. i know it does not seem like much consolation, but think about how sad it is to be that prada chick, or the frat boy, or the hoop-hater. really think of it. the horror of being that person: they get one chance at life on earth, and THAT is how they are living it? people like us are so blessed, really.
do not let them steal your joy. and though i am sure you would not actually want to get violent with anyone, next time someone hassles you, just smile and think to yourself what a great weapon your hoop would make if you ever have to whack some drunken frat boy in the head with it! :) -
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Re: Hoop discouragement....
Mon, October 12, 2009 - 3:54 PMWOW! Adrienne, you took all my thoughts and put them to perfect words. I too have been inspired by Ziggie...and hope that she takes your thoughtful advice. I think we've all been faced with rude comments from time to time, and it can be very frustrating. Like you, I feel sorry for those miserable souls . There are those angry, bully-types that will always make fun for the sake of making fun....Now the "I hate hoopers" comment, that person sounds completely ignorant...he might have deserved a hoop smack.
Similarly, I've been a bit irritated with the "show me a trick" comments, while I'm walking with my hoops. I feel kinda bad when I say "not now" or "come see me later" or whatever other excuse I might use to keep from feeling like a trained monkey. Sometimes I'll throw them a quick vortex just to move on....I don't know, maybe a hormonal thing too....sometimes I don't care, other times I get really irritated by it.
No matter what the frustrations are, I'll just keep hoopin'....it's what I love, and it's what makes ME happy and sane! -
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Re: Hoop discouragement....
Mon, October 12, 2009 - 7:43 PMHey Ziggy, You are an inspiration to me, and I have also been feeling the same. I recently did a festival where I was selling my beautiful hoops that my hubbie and I put loads of love and time into. The women there were so ignorant. One woman actually took the time to come over while shoving a large sandwich in her face and say to me " I guess it was this or the pole for you, I'm not interested" It took all I had not to pull a nutty on her. First off hooping is an art as is pole dancing and if shoveling food in your face while making fun of someone was also an art she would have been a professional. Most of the day went on like that. Anyway , I had to get that out. I guess what I would like to say is , There are so many people who appreciate you/us but, we choose to always dwell on the ignorant people and remarks instead. I think when we are at a stand still in our own life or hoop practice it shows. We are highly sensitive and perceptive people us hoopers and , I think we take our art very serious, I know I do. They were drunk and the only way to impress who they were with was to make fun of you. You should have busted out some of your sweet moves and handed the hoop to the stupid drunko for a challenge. He would of ended up on his ass .
Your awsome , we love ya and , I think we are special that we can hoop and have love for this circle . -
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Re: Hoop discouragement....
Tue, October 13, 2009 - 4:33 AMmarsha:
i can't believe that woman said that!?
my biggest fear when doing fairs has been that people will nick and scratch the hoops while trying, and then not even buy anyway--thereby damaging my inventory. did this happen for you?
that woman is a loser--we could all out-hoop, or out-pole-dance, her any day! :) -
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Re: Hoop discouragement....
Tue, October 13, 2009 - 5:52 PMNo, I connected the hoops with zip ties to a wooden rod to stands my hunny made me. So I had some practice hoops and then when they chose which one they wanted , I cut it down. if they changed their mind , I connected them back up..... -
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Re: Hoop discouragement....
Wed, October 14, 2009 - 8:38 AMgood call! i may have to borrow the zip tie idea!
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Re: Hoop discouragement....
Thu, October 15, 2009 - 12:54 AMWell I thank you guys for your kind words. I don't understand how some people can be so close minded and ignorant. I too feel sorry for them.... I used to be that way myself. I guess all you can do is feel sad for them being stuck in a world of such conformity and ignorance. I only hope that some day they can find happiness as we have. I feel like they're stuck in such a juvenile way of thinking, of trying to fit in with the crowd by making fun of those who don't. Hopefully one day they will learn to ' think outside the box' and be themselves and find their true selves. But I know many may not, for the rest of their lives, and that is so very, very sad. I guess instead of getting frustrated, I need to focus on compassion. It's just so difficult when this kind of negativity is holding me back.
This art form, this love of dance and expression, it means everything to me., and I can't imagine what my life would be like without it right now. Words are so limiting and I can't even put into words what hoop dance has given me. I guess all I can do it keep hooping and keep turning people on to hoop dance and hoping it will make a difference in someone else's life as it has for mine.
~Ziggy -
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Re: Hoop discouragement....
Thu, October 15, 2009 - 10:49 AMZiggy--
do you ever do workshops or teacher trainings? i am in tne NY are: do you ever travel and host workshops?
thanks -
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Re: Hoop discouragement....
Thu, October 15, 2009 - 11:59 AMYes, I do workshops. Unfortunately, travel funds are quite low so I don't get to travel about as much as I'd like, especially once summer ends and the season slows down. But if you ever come around the Kansas city area let me know. I do multiple classes around the area weekly.
~Ziggy
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Re: Hoop discouragement....
Tue, October 20, 2009 - 1:11 PMZiggy I am so sorry to hear this. What a jerk that person is. Sounds like someone who is just mean. Don't let him discourage you and don't listen to his tales of other people who hate hoopers. Sounds to me like he's just projecting. There are two kinds of gossips -- the ones who say a thing in the first place and the ones who repeat it to you. They are both toxic. Small people always tear other people down. It's their way of trying to make themselves feel bigger (when in fact it makes them smaller). Great people make you feel that you can be great too. So just chalk it up to, "Okay, now I know who this guy is. He has issues. Time to walk away." I would probably have said, "What a mean thing to say. I try not to hate anyone but mean people who say ugly things and try to hurt people's feelings are certainly challenging to love .... sooooo. I'll be on my way now." But don't ever let them make you not want to do you art!!! If you do that, they win. Do your art despite them and knowing that for everyone who doesn't get it there are plenty of people who do and who need what you are putting into the world!!!
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Re: Hoop discouragement....
Wed, October 21, 2009 - 8:44 AMZiggy, I adore you and you are amazingly talented so I am so sorry that they said these things to you.
I have little experience with anyone actually hurling insults at me. My main problem is actually with peers. Like girls of my same age will either not look at me and ignore me all together, which really is just fine with me, or glare at me as if I am attempting to steal some sort of attention from them. Which if you knew me, I enjoy posting videos and getting critiqued, but outside of performances have a really hard time with people watching me or giving me a lot of attention.... makes me nervous :)
It just seems like some out there has to say something or do something to stomp on other peoples happiness simply because they don't have their own; so therefore no one else should have any. And that is sad for them. I feel sorry for them. I can't say I wasn't like them a few years before I discovered hooping, unfortunatly, but now I know.
Any way. Dunno if anyone else has experienced a large issue with peers than anyone else. But I hope everyone finds a way to handle the negativity that is always hurled at joy from the angry.
--Laura
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Re: Hoop discouragement....
Thu, October 22, 2009 - 11:52 AMThere are several reasons why people act like this~ one is fear, they fear things that are different and probably secretly wish they could move a hoop with such grace as you do, two is ignorance, they may have been raised or allowed negative stereotypes into their lives which causes them to discriminate people not exactly like them and you can guarantee they are doing this to more people than hoopers. There are several other reasons but those two are universal in almost every case. You are an artist, every artist receives discouraging words from time to time, let in go in one ear and out the other, don't even soak in the ignorance that comes out of peoples mouths, they are trying to effect you, don't let them. You have so much to give don't receive the negativity. I get negative feedback from people almost on a daily basis- family, friends, strangers, ect and most of them do not even realize they are speaking hurtful words. I have learned to embrace my self and to do what I love and to do what makes me feel best. Who cares what other people think, letting it fester and harnass itself in your soul is bad juju, out with the bad in with the good. Lady Karma will kick their butts soon anyway!!
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Re: Hoop discouragement....
Sat, October 24, 2009 - 10:36 AMThank you all so much for your kind words. I guess I've always been a bit sensitive, especially when it comes to criticizing my art. I need to learn to take the good with the bad and not take it so personally. And you guys are right, I also should consider where those negative people are coming from... realize why they act that way and say the things they do. It really makes me sad for them....
Like I said, I just want to dance. It's what I love to do, and I hope I'm able to keep doing it for a long, long time.
~Ziggy
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Re: Hoop discouragement....
Wed, December 2, 2009 - 2:46 PMKeep doing what you are doing. They sure will keep saying what they are saying. We can't change that about others.
I always get people saying silly and rude things about the hoops, and about my appearance, and ethnicity all my life.
I bet if those smart butts tried to hoop they could not "keep it up" to save their life. So it is always the bully and smart buttts who have something to say and are not suportive of other's bliss. Just keep doing your thing.
