It has been an action-packed few months for HooperPower and we wouldn't be where we are without the amazing team of people that have helped us develop, fine-tune and illustrate our vision for a HooperPowered blast-off.

We are incredibly grateful to our growing community filled with students, myspace and tribe pals, friends, derby gals, fellow performers and teachers. Their time, effort, generosity, support and creativity are invaluable.

We must give extra-sparkly-glittery "shout-outs" to:

Noah Tabakin: HooperPower's official consultant of all things. (pic1)

mARTa Sasinowska: Inspiring hoopdance, collaboration and flawless photography in secret and dangerous locations. (pic2)

Christabel and Annie at HoopGirl.com: Endless inspiration, generosity, availability, wisdom, structure and guidance. (pic3)

Kyle Poff: Design genius. He's responsible for our killer HooperPower logo, oh, and the Chicago Olympics 2016 logo too. (pic4)

Mike Brumm: Patience for days and spot-on programming of our web presence, Hooperpower.com full site coming soon! (pic5)

Matt George: Supercreative designerly support, fresh ideas and inspiration all along the way. Word. (pic6)

HooperPower "HooperCamps" are hoopdance gatherings in Chicago parks that will take place once or twice a month all summer long! Bring friends and family for this donation-only "playdate". Donations go to organizations including Treehouse Animal Foundation and Chicago Foundation for Women. Hoops will be available for use, but it is encouraged that if you have one that you bring it with you.

HooperCamps are the perfect opportunity for you, your friends and your family to try out hoopdance without the commitment or structure of a class. All levels are welcome and encouraged to join. Forward this newsletter/info to anyone you think would be interested in these opportunities. We would love to meet new hoopdancers!

The May 2007 HooperCamp is a "double-feature" hoopdance celebration!!

It will begin Saturday, May 12 in Chicago's Wicker Park from 12-3pm and continue with a special HooperPower Hoopdance party at Chang's Martial Arts from 7-10pm right around the corner! Join us for one or both!

The party at Chang's Martial Arts Studio will be full of hoopdance performances from hoopers of all levels. There will be HooperPower information, mingling, snacks and drinks, early enrollment for Beginner Hoopdance Classes, fun HooperPower merch and more. We will be collecting donations at both events for Treehouse Animal Foundation.

See image map above for approximate HooperCamp locations. Just look for the hoops! Remember to bring water with you and wear sunscreen for the daytime event.

RSVP (if you can) to hooperpower@yahoo.com. It will help us make sure that we have enough hoops available.

HooperPower is very pleased to introduce the lovely mARTa Sasinowska. Not only is she an inspiring and dedicated hoopdancer, but she is responsible for the majority of amazing photography used for HooperPower materials. Truly a renaissance woman. You will be seeing her around.

Q&A for mARTa:

HP: In a few short sentences, what does hoopdance mean to you?

MS: it's like a moving meditation -- relaxing, challenging -- a huge inspiration.

HP: What's the most significant change in yourself since you started hoopdancing?

MS: I've experienced a huge transformation - my range of movement, expression and presence expanded to the level I'd never expected.

HP: What music are you listening to these days while hoopdancing?

MS: Anything earthy and sensual w/a great drum beat (Badmarsh & Shri is my personal favorite!!)

HP: Where is your favorite place to hoopdance?

MS: Outside! to feel the wind in my hair and the sun on my skin while I'm hooping is an amazing experience.

HP: What does "HooperPower" mean to you?

MS: Fun. Energy. Inspiration.

"The hula hoop. For most it immediately conjures up memories from childhood, but 32-year-old Heather Crosby's hoping hoops will soon have exercise on your mind."

Always a fun time = Derby Halftime Show performances.

Heather from HooperPower will be joined by Chicago's finest hoopdancers, Kathy and Marta on May 6. Visit the Sirens website for more information about the bout.

HooperPower's "Hoopernatural" 6-week Series for Beginners (Part 1) starting May 6 at Joel Hall Dance Center in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood is sold out!

Wipe those tears...we have more classes scheduled!

ENROLLMENT OPEN NOW: "Hoopernatural" 6-week Series for Beginners (Part 1)

WHEN: (2:15pm-3:45pm): June 3, June 10, June 17, June 24, July 1 and July 8

WHERE: Chang's Martial Arts (1534 North Milwaukee Ave) in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood.

COST: $150 for 6 weeks.

For class description and enrollment info contact us at hooperpower.com or at hooperpower@yahoo.com.

More classes are being scheduled now. Stay tuned.

The brilliant Kyle Poff has designed the world's coolest logo for HooperPower. We have been doing cartwheels over its amazingness for weeks. Stay tuned for more identity developments and "rollout" of our extensive new website!

Kyle, we love you.

A quick heads-up that HooperPower will be holding auditions for the ultimate troupe of Chicago hoopdancers,"TEAM HooperPower" this Winter. More later, but in the meantime:

Practice! Practice! Practice!

"Heather Crosby, founder of the Chicago-based company HooperPower, said hooping is redefining sexiness. We're constantly reminded of what we don't have, what we don't look like, and there's something about the hoop that creates this space [of] confidence and freedom..."

This past February, HooperPower traveled to San Francisco to aquire Teacher Certification with the powerhouse HoopGirl.

The people involved on the HoopGirl side and those students who joined me in training have inspired me to the millionth degree. The HoopGirl class structure is incredibly empowering and HooperPower is beyond energized to be a part of this hoopdance movement.

The hoop is a magical tool. A magnet for happiness on so many levels. Try it and see.

HooperPower has HoopGirl Beginner Hoopdance DVDs, Regular Hoops AND Travel Hoops available (YES! You can easily collapse it to bring it on a plane with you).

We are also developing a fun variety of gear as well...we are planning to announce new styles within the month!

For hoops and DVDs contact us at hooperpower@yahoo.com or hooperpower.com.