Category: Info and News

Categories
Info and News

2011 Event Recap

2011 was a busy year for Spin Matsuri and hoopers in Tokyo. I didn’t realise until I started listing everything but wow…

  1. January: hoopy new year lunch
  2.  February: getting inspired at circus training
  3. March: circus-style hoop drills, 4th Sunday Spin charity food drive
  4. April: hoop making, 4th Sunday Spin, Guru-guru Camp
  5. May: Japan Tricks Showcase charity video, hoop hospital, robot video shoot, 4th Sunday Spin
  6. June: 4th Sunday Spin
  7. July: hoop hospital, Kamakura beach jam, 4th Sunday Spin, Finding Flow workshop
  8. August: charity hoop making, Edogawa hanabi hoop picnic, Finding Flow  (US workshops), 4th Sunday Spin
  9. September: 4th Sunday Spin
  10. October: Japan Hoop Instructors Conference, 4th Sunday Spin
  11. November: Amazing Hoop Race, hoop hospital, World Hoop Day, WHD Dance, 4th Sunday Spin
  12. December: z-axis workshop, hoop brunch

And that is only what Spin Matsuri organised. There were also classes with Hooplovers and Hoop Tokyo, volunteering in Tohoku, performances at Hoop Lounge and beyond. Tokyo had a great hooping year. Let’s keep the momentum going in 2012.

Categories
Info and News

Introducing Spin Matsuri Hoop Mixes

Hooping.org hosts 30/30 challenges – hoop 30 minutes daily for a month – and we love them for giving us a reason to focus on our personal practice every day and build good habits.

Today we introduce what we hope will be a series of musical inspirations for your hooping during these 30/30 challenges and beyond. The Spin Matsuri Hoop Mixes are 30 minute playlists of music that we love, put together into cohesive collections that capture mood, style, and speed. We start with two playlists in a SoundCloud set called Hoop 30:

http://soundcloud.com/spin-matsuri/sets/hoop-30/

“Geo-Bounce” is a high-energy set ideal for hoop drills, fitness, and keeping up a good pace from start to end. It draws on music from all over the world:
Tu Vuo Fa’ L’Americano, Yolanda Be Cool; Rhythm; Palance, JW & Blaze;
Pipe, JW & Blaze; Lisztomania, Phoenix; Gold Dust (feat. Ce’cile), Fresh;
Husan, Husan; La Camisa Negra, Juanes.

“Meditation” slows the pace a bit with new-age and world music to get you in a mellow and thoughtful groove that isn’t boring. It features seven tracks: Ong Namo – I Bow, Gurunam Singh; Joni, Julianne; Movement, Ulele; Firewoods I, Light Rain; Dervish, Light Rain; Celestial Soda Pop, Ray Lynch; Strong Spirits, Taniki Hikaru.

Be aware that our free SoundCloud account has a limit on the number of downloads, so act quickly to ensure you get one. We’ll be bringing you new mixes in upcoming weeks and months, so if you miss out this time, stay tuned for more.

Categories
Info and News

October Events

Spin Matsuri Events

10/10: Japan Hoop Instructors’ Conference. Japan’s first conference for hoop dance and hoop fitness instructors. All certified and/or practicing hoop teachers are welcome. The one-day event will cover topics related to teaching. Every participant will prepare at least one mini-lesson, presentation, or lead a discussion.  Contact spinmatsuri@gmail.com for an invitation.

10/14: WHD Dance class @ FAB.  Tink is taking over Kana’s Beginners and Beyond hoop class to teach the World Hoop Day Dance. Dancing with hoops indoors on a Friday night – hooray! Let’s get ready for our WHD event on 11/12. After a good warm up, we’ll go through the dance steps together. Then we’ll focus on adding flair to the basic moves and creating awesome freestyle sections and solos.  Cost: 2750 (FAB class price). Tink will donate 1000 yen per student to World Hoop Day to send hula hoops kids in Tohoku and around the world. Directions to FAB: http://www.fabacademytokyo.jp/contact.php

10/23: 4th Sunday Spin. Monthly hoop jam at Yoyogi Park. Join us for an afternoon of hoop play and dance. Bring your hoops or get into your own groove with juggling, poi or any combination of flow arts. Pack a picnic, if you like. Everyone is welcome. Be ready to learn some hoop dance steps as we practice the 2011 World Hoop Day Dance (from 3pm). World Hoop Day is 11/11 and we are cooking up some fun activities to raise money for hoops to send to Tohoku and on the Peace Boat in 2012. 4th Sunday Spin is FREE, as always. Cancelled if it rains. You’ll find us on the Harajuku side of the park, in the grass near the kiosk.

More Hoopy Goodness

10/2: Sadistic Circus Tink, Mikori and Roon Roon are featured as  “cute bondage hoopers” in an evening of  hot and wild circus action. http://www.sadistic-circus.com/

10/16: Baby Loves Disco Tink’s hooping it up with the little ones at BLD’s BOOOgie Halloween 2011 party. http://babylovesdisco.co.jp/english/

10/30: HoopChi with Betty Lucas Hooping + Tai Chi = gentle hoop exercise for everyone. A special workshop hosted by Mikori with Betty Lucas from the US. Registration: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/1844038569?ref=ebtn

Categories
Materials & Essays

Organizing Free Events

Spin Matsuri has been hosting hoop jams and other (mainly free) hooping get togethers since 2009. Here are some things I’ve learned and suggestions for making your free event successful.

  1. Research your venue. Usually I hold our jams in parks or at the beach. Outdoor venues are usually free, which fits the budget.  But not all parks allow music, others are fussy about where you can play (only on the grass, only in the playground, etc), some don’t like signs. Make sure you scope out the place where you want to hoop. Know where to find the nearest toilets, vending machine, water fountain or convenience store because people will ask you about them.
  2. Consider a theme. If you are holding a regularly scheduled event, an occasional theme added to the mix can be a lot of fun and provide a boost to attendance. We’ve enjoyed Hawaiian hooping, mini-lessons, a video shoot, and World Hoop Day dance practices. If you are holding your event on a holiday, consider using that as a base for your theme.
  3. Get the word out. Let people know when and where you’ll be. Word of mouth is great but folks forget. Whether you use your favorite social network, e-mail or flyers, give everyone a way to get the details, including a map.
  4. Arrive early. If you’ve advertised a 2 pm hoop jam, aim to get there at 1:30. Give yourself time to get the space ready. Set up your music, unbundle your hoops, layout your picnic gear. Start hooping so people can find you.
  5. Bring supplies. Music and hoops, for sure. Maybe snacks and drinks to share and a picnic blanket. And don’t forget your personal provisions – sunscreen, a hat, whatever else you need to make your day pleasant.
  6. Hoist the flag. Hoops will make the group stand out, but you may want to have another form of identification – a sign, a flag, a hoop display.
  7. To disclaim or not? In the US, lots of organizers are concerned with liability and have participants sign waivers or disclaimers. In Japan this hasn’t been much of a concern for us. What you decide to do on this front is up to you.
  8. Signups and name tags. Although I generally don’t bother asking people to sign in and wear name tags, one of the local poi gatherings does and they have a simple and elegant system. The organiser has a clipboard, a roll of duct tape and a Sharpie marker. When people arrive, he gets them to sign in and write their own name tag to stick on the body part of their choice. 
  9. Promote your other events. Make sure you have a take-away with information about other events you’re holding. It doesn’t matter whether it is a business card with your URL or a flyer with the upcoming dates as long as there is something to hand out to interested people. 
  10. Encourage onlookers. Spread the hoop love by encouraging onlookers. Those people standing on the fringes of the group or who stopped to watch a while – they secretly want to play with you. Give them a chance to try the hoop. I usually grab a bunch of hoops, catch an eye and run over to hand hoops to people. They may demure, but once they touch the hoop, they usually spin it, too. And some people return for future hoop jams.
  11. Have hoops for sale. Set aside one or two hoops for sale. Mark them with tags and signs so they don’t get used in the regular jam. You won’t sell a hoop every time, but there will be a few people over the course of a year who are interested enough to buy a hoop on the spot.
Categories
Info and News

September Events

Fri 2 – Hoop Lounge. 7:30 pm @ Super Deluxe
Sat 10 – Hoop Fitness with Tink. 5:30 pm @ Hiroo Fitness.
Sun 25 – 4th Sunday Spin. 12:30 – sunset @ Yoyogi Park

Check in for more events and the World Hoop Day dance choreography soon.

Categories
Hoop Tutorials Japan Tricks showcase

Ideas for Creating an Original Hoop Trick

The Japan Tricks Showcase is a charity video to raise funds for the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami relief efforts. All Japan-based hoopers are invited to contribute an original hoop trick. Please see the Call to Play for details.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgasWZjgWIw]

I’d never created my own trick until recently. It was really fun! A few people have told me they want to be in the video, but don’t think they can come up with anything original. I know you can! Here are some ideas to help you if you are new to original tricks, too.

  1. Pick a name first, then match the movement to the name;
  2. Create a fresh variation on a trick you already know by adding an arm or leg movement, for example;
  3. Mash two or more tricks into one motion;
  4. Get together with friends and create a group trick.

And then there are ways to explore the motions themselves:

  1. What if you dance while you do a trick you already know?
  2. What if you jump in the middle of a familiar trick?
  3. What if you spin in the opposite direction?
  4. Can you speed it up or slow it down?
  5. Can you repeat it symmetrically or continuously?
  6. What happens if you do it with multiple hoops?
  7. Can you use two hoops doing different things?
  8. Can you do that trick on your hand, knees or neck?

And some other thoughts and tips:

  1. Playful experimentation is delightful fun
  2. Video your attempts and watch for interesting shapes and motions
  3. Think about the transitions between tricks – they can be tricks themselves
  4. Weird mistakes can turned into smooth or funky moves
Categories
Info and News

Our Generous Community

Thank you for a wonderful and heartwarming day!

I watched Pania’s eyes tear up when she saw the big pile of donations next to our hoops. I don’t think she expected so much generousity in the park today and I was overwhelmed myself. I’d brought one large box to put everything in. We filled that box up and had another box and about 10 bags more!

You are all quite amazing. In addition to the cooking condiments we collected, we received 20,000 yen in cash donations. Wow! And thanks so much to Sareh who organised the free market and called on her Couchsurfing connections to come out, too.

As we were walking all of the bags and boxes out to the street to find a taxi, Pania told me she knows the people who will be on the Peace Boat cooking team using all of these things. I could see her imagining the scene up north as we loaded the trunk of the taxi with all of the donations – it was filled to the brim. And there were four shiny new Hooplovers hoops riding in the back seat, so not only are we feeding the evacuees in Ishinomaki, but we’re giving them some fun and exercise as well.

Thank you!

 

Categories
Info and News Spin Matsuri Retreat

Spin Matsuri is 10 sleeps away

 

Fall is here and so is Spin Matsuri! well in about 10 sleeps!

Time is flying and so are we! We have all been working very hard to make Spin Matsuri a memorable event! So supercharge yourself..start getting those hoops cleaned up and ready to spin …start packing those bags with all the comforts you need and recharge you energy with healthy eats so you have the energy to hoop..dance..play..take in nature and meet new faces!

Our 3 day retreat ticketing has closed. We now offer our 1 day tickets for 10/10/10! WOW now that is going to be a strong beautiful day! We have a special offer for October 10th..Buy your 1 day ticket before 10.06.10 and get a special discount of 15,000 yen…that is 3000 yen off the regular ticket price of 18,000 yen! What is included? 4 great 90 minute workshops taught by teachers from all over the world! Resort access + all-you-can eat buffet lunch..and alot of amazing men and women to share the love of the sacred circle and the love of life we all have within…So if you think you can not hoop..recharge your thinking and believe that you can do anything..Spin Matsuri is not only about hoops, dance, flow, glow and movement..its about community, magic, healing through smiles and laughter and inspiration. We wish for you to walk away from Spin Matsuri feeling a bit lighter than you did when you arrived. We really want to see you there, so take some time out and come join us on this magical 10.10.10 day …

If you are interested in purchasing a 1 day ticket for 10.10.10 please email us at spinmatsuri@gmail.com and we will answer any questions you may have for us.

Thank you for being you!

Categories
Info and News Spin Matsuri Retreat

Congratulations!

Heather D is coming to Spin Matsuri as the winner of our contest.

A three year resident of Japan, Heather is a massage therapist and yogini who has been looking for a creative, positive community. Her experience at a hoop jam earlier this year “brought out a playful energy” that she enjoyed.

Special super thanks to the anonymous friend who donated the ticket and made this contest possible.

Categories
Info and News Spin Matsuri Retreat

チケット奨学金！Ticket Contest!

今年参加出来ない友人からチケットを1枚寄付してもらいました。チケット獲得したくないですか?

どうしてスピン祭りに参加したいのかを140文字以内で書いてtwitterやspinmatsuri@gmail.comにお送り下さい。エントリーは9月27日5時pm締切です。発表は9月28日火曜日になります。

この賞には10月9日から2泊3日のスピン祭り中の全てのワークショップへの参加、6回のお食事、ホテルでの2泊分の費用が含まれております。開催中千葉県にあるリゾート迄の交通費は含まれません。

We have one retreat ticket donated by a friend who can’t attend this year. Would you like to win it?
In 140 characters, tell us why you should be at Spin Matsuri! Tweet @spinmatsuri or mail your entry to spinmatsuri@gmail.com before 5pm on Mon 9/27. Winner will be announced on Tuesday, 9/28.
The ticket prize includes all workshops from 10/9 – 10/11, 6 meals and two nights hotel . It does not include transportation to/from the resort in Chiba.