I’ve just returned from La Puente, CA, where I did a hooping demonstration for a class of third graders at Hurley Elementary School. I met their teacher, Mr. Cortez, at that party I went to last Friday, and he asked me to pay a visit to his class. I guess they’ve been reading a book that has hula hooping in it, and a lot of the kids in the class were asking a lot of questions about hooping.

I thought it sounded like fun, so I agreed!

And it was fun! I gave a three minute spiel about the history of hooping, then did a short performance. My accompanying music was my current favorite CD, Bossa Mundo 2. I figured the Brazillian beats would resonate with the kids, and lo! I was right! When I first started hooping, one young cynic scoffed, “Pshht. Whatever. It’s totally fake.” HA! I’m glad to see kids are savvy about their entertainment, but I’m not quite sure how I could have faked hooping. Regardless, by the time the song was done, all the kids were clapping to the music and wiggling their butts in their seats. So cute!

Then I did a tiny little tutorial on a easy trick to try (transitioning from around the neck to around the waist), and let the kids have fun with the hoops. We had a screaming good time doing a hooping contest; it was absolute chaos, and totally fun.

Afterwards, they had all sorts of questions:

  • How old are you? (27)

  • Where do you live? (Venice) Where’s that?
  • Do you live by yourself? (I’ve been asked this before by kids — it’s obviously a mysterious and facinating aspect of being an adult.)
  • What’s that on your lip? (a birthmark) It’s not where you bumped yourself with a hula hoop? (no, I was born with it)
  • How long have you been hooping? (since this summer)
  • Can I have your autograph (uh, I guess?)
  • Will you be back? (probably not)

    • It was a very sweet little visit, and my only regret is that my camera crapped out on me so I don’t have the super cute picture of me holding the hoops as if they were on fire, and all the kids jumping through them like lions. Bah. Stupid camera.

    I think my favorite moment was when one of the little girls got all jokey-sassy on me, putting on her best chola accent and saying, “Ok, look: I could beat any of you at hula hooping. Even Ms. Ariel, Ok?”

    Oh, and I totally got a mob hug when I left. Aww. It was fun.