recently applied for a place to study a
foundation degree of circus and performance arts at Circomedia in Bristol. Last year she added to her repertoire by
making her own fire hula hoop, with which she will be performing at the Uley WI Garden Party on June 12. “It looks really nice when it’s spinning,
although my first few practices were really scary because I had made the wicks far too big,” she laughs. Plastic hula hoops were invented in 1958
and have enjoyed varying degrees of popularity ever since. In recent years Bristol has become the
centre for hoop dance in England, with proponents such as Kenna Hoops, a big influence on Luna, founding Hooping Mad, now one of the largest hoop schools in Europe. “People travel from all over the world,
including America and Australia, to go to events run there,” says Luna. “There is now a hula hooping community
throughout the world and we get together at events and to learn from each other and meet others who have a similar passion.” Luna is so convinced of the positive
effects of hula hooping that she’s working in partnership with the NHS 2gether Trust in Gloucestershire and fellow hooper Ben Marshall to set up a volunteer support hoop group for people who have been affected by illnesses such as post natal depression, bi-polar disorder, post-traumatic stress and schizo-affective disorder. To this end she’s already held events to
raise money for and awareness of her charity, LaLunaC, including a show at Gloucester Cathedral with professional performers from all over the UK and Europe, including Tony Walker, who
recently came second in the World Juggling Championships, and members of the world famous Cirque de Soleil. “I want to spread the word about hula
hooping. It’s something that everybody can pick up relatively quickly and it produces huge benefits,” she says. “I love it because it’s so creative and
doesn’t feel like a job. I love performing and teaching. There is nothing else I would rather do.”
The Uley Hoopers meet on Mondays.
For more information email:
uleyhoopers@gmail.com.
50
COTSWOLDESSENCE
ESSENCE | September - November 2013
www.cotswoldessence.co.uk
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