Shenandoah

Shenandoah has been hoop dancing since 2001, performing, teaching and sharing this whirling world . Shen grew up in Western Mass with extensive traveling, brought on by her love of exploration, adventure and learning. She teaches all ages of people to hoop through various after-school programs, retreats, celebrations, festivals and many more. Shen has taught classes at the Shelburne Falls Yoga Studio, Dance Northampton, The Body Shop and the Energy Park in Greenfield, as well as many in-school classes from elementary to college. An established, professional hoop dancer, Shenandoah is always learning more in the never ending circle of possibilities that surrounds everyone.

She has taught at Dance New England, Daughters of the Earth, Boston School of Art, Community Action Teachers Enrichment Day, The Community Health Center in Middletown CT. Schools in Holyoak, Deerfield, Greenfield, Sunderland, Shelburne, Orange and East Longmeadow. And public classes at Shelburne Falls Yoga Studio, Dance Northampton, The Body Shop and the Energy Park in Greenfield.

All-Level Hoop Dancing

With a wide variety of hooping techniques, moves and exercises, Shenandoah teaches the hoop dancing to engage the whole being from your feet to your hands, connecting the mind to your body and inspiring the spirit. Hoops of all sizes, weights and colors are provided to explore and learn with.

Rhythm. Balance. Connection. Grace. Coordination. Movement.

Some of the words that describe hooping. It teaches these basic principles of dance while connecting you more to your body by taking you out of your mind and into your core, building strength, agility and connection from the inside out. A dance hoop is at least 35" in diameter and up to 45". This makes for a slower moving hoop, allowing for more time to find the rhythm and for movement inside the hoop.

Being larger, the hoops are also heavier and weighted with water. This adds a centriphical force that pulls the hoop into and around your body making it easier to move, but also making it a better workout as you're moving more weight around. Another benefit to extra weight is the massage! As it moves around it pulls into the waist and lower back resulting in a more relaxed sway!

Once it is spinning you are instantly taken to your center, mind and body. It feels so wonderful, that people find they don't want to stop, realizing they can actually have fun and like exercising! The endless possibilities of hooping techniques make it engaging and interesting as well, benefiting you no matter what level you're in.

The last Wednesday of each month, you are invited to make your own hoop, paying only for materials which Shenandoah will provide.