"i'm a bellydancer for goodness sakes. "

Ahh that may be your problem right there. I have taught a few friends that are avid belly dancers and they had a lot of trouble. You will really need to focus pushing the hoop around with a firm stomach and tight core rather that using you hips belly dance style.

I can't really explain it too well but it may help to consentrate on using your waist to push the hoop around rather than using your hips?

Any who, hope that helps a little.

okay.. this is how I tell everybody... hum... stick one leg out further than the other one, shoulders back, tuck the butt in tight like you just got goosed, and rock back and forth on your feet like you are doing the pee pee dance. Okay.... that's pretty vivid description but it works!

Also, experiment with your directions... there is always one way that feels more natural than the other...and resist the tempation to try to do Undulations with your hips. It's a push pull movement of your body... as the last poster described.

Between that and enough fly time... you'll get it quickly.

Great advice everyone! I agree that sometimes bellydancers have to reign in their hips when first learning hoopdance, but the great news J. Lynn is that you'll be able to bring your bellydance inside the hoop in the future! Super sexy. So yes, let me reiterate - you MUST keep your pelvis tucked in in Waist Hooping, and keep your hips stable. You are shifting your weight from one leg to the other as you move forward-backward. Sometimes bending your knees a bit more at first will help you get into your legs a bit more, and will help you keep your pelvis tucked in. Lastly, try putting a bit more energy in - move back and forth faster - in the video, it may not look like I am putting much energy in to the move, but that is because I have been doing this for years and have developed an economy of movement - that will come with practice - in the meantime, try moving faster, and making your movements a little larger than mine look in the video - and check Keaton out in the troubleshooting section - she illustrates this very well there.

Happy Hooping!
Rayna

I have to agree with the others on the movement portion
of your training (after all we've got Ms. Hoopnotica here)
but the training design might help. I teach juggling, and
I have a method I call (very unencouragingly) the
principle of boredom.

Start small, and break down the movements. I don't know
if it's suggested that you choose a direction and stick with
it, or practice both directions. But either way, give a push and
go three times around. then stop. If it seems simple, move up to four.
When you find an amount you're comfortable with, but seems
slightly challanging, take that and practice it for a set number.
Say 100 times, keep going until it seems simple, until your
set amount seems boring. When that feeling starts setting in,
you'll start to link two together, then three, and before long, you'll
be up to 20, and you won't want to stop between. The important
part is to set achievable goals, and keep after them until you're
ready for new goals.

I had never hooped in my life except when i started 3 weeks ago. It was very frustrating and hard but I got it in the end. it's not really about your hips moving, it's just bouncing/rocking back and forth on your feet. i really hope you get it soon! x