This Saturday is a big day for hoopdance.
Island Hula Hoopla presents two cabaret-style shows at the Old Church Theatre in Courtenay. There's something for everyone in either the afternoon family-friendly Mini-Matinee or the adult-only Evening Showcase.
The matinee features hoop students and professionals offering their interpretations of dancing with circles. The youngest hula hooper is Jenna, 7, representing Vesta FireEntertaiment from Nanaimo. Josie Patterson is a well-known multifaceted performer from Cumberland. At age 13, she has been hula hooping half her life. The Happy Love Hoop Show will feature her first solo hoopdance performance.
Sean Brossard, a ring juggler trained by the local Flying Fox Circus school. Rounding out the show will be presentations by seasoned hula hoopdancers Miranda Rad Tastik (Victoria), The SpinJinny (Courtenay) and Tracey Hoopla (Comox Valley).
For $5, doors open for the afternoon show at 4 p.m. with the show getting underway shortly after. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
The Evening Showcase is a full-length cabaret-style Hoopdance Revue with hoopstars coming from far and wide to share their love of circles. Professional performers will showcase many diverse styles of hoopdance including Japanese pop-culture satires, circus style hooping, spiritual hoopdance, 1950s Hoop Boogies, bellydance-hoop fusion and Oh La-La... burlesque.
The showcase features Alley'Oop (Alley'OopHoops, Vancouver), Ms. Tlullah Moon Burlesque (Cumberland), The SpinJinny (Courtenay), Ariel Amara (Vancouver), Lyndsay Spencer, Tracey Hoopla (Island Hula Hoopla, Courtenay) and Miranda Rad tastik (Victoria) will assume her alter ego character Mandy Luscious.
Advance tickets for the evening show are $15 at Eco-Centrc (565 England Ave, Courtenay) the Church Street Woodfired bakery in Comox, and the Cumberland Village Bakery. Tickets at the door are $20. Doors open at 8 p.m.
The mini-bazaar will feature a lovely, healthy, and sinfully delicious vegan concession run by Tarah Shannon of Cove Guardians. All proceeds from concession sales will fund her international initiatives. For more information, see www.coveguardian.blogspot.com.
Prior to the event, local hoop instructor Tracey Mantha of Island Hula Hoopla will offer a special workshop just for men who think they can't hoop: Hula Hooping for Guys.
From 1 to 2:30 p.m. she will use your strengths while you learn the many health, wellness and fitness benefits of spinning a hula hoop. Guaranteed to be a stress-buster, this workshop will show you you're a better hooper than you may think.
Hoops of all sizes will be provided and video inspiration will come from prominent male hoopers Rich Porter (Isopop.com) and Hula Hoop world record stuntman Paul (Dizzy Hips) Blair.
Register for $20 at islandhulahoopla@gmail.com.
For more information, visit www.islandhulahoopla.blogspot.com.
— Island Hula Hoopla