Hoopnotica Fitness Hoopdance Hula Hoop DVD Level 1 (Beginner)

This video is great for the true beginner. If you have done any hooping, I would suggest moving on to Volume Two. They repeat everything that was in video one and there are much more challenging moves. I flew threw Volume One. The quality of instruction and entertainment value was very high.

In Hoopnotica Hoopdance Beginning Level 1, veteran hoopmeisters Rayna McInturf and Keaton Talmadge manage to systematically teach basic moves of the art of hoop dance to virtually anyone with the desire to dance and the appropriate hoop with which to do it. Their methodology is simple; each segment of the DVD whether viewed in the sequence presented or not offers an introduction that outlines and introduces the subject goal, a demonstration with instructions that repeats the move adequately enough to enforce the mechanics without annoying repetitiveness and a troubleshooting follow-up that details the most common mistakes along with the associative adjustments needed to tweak the move and get it under control.

Hoopnotica Hoopdance Beginning Level 1 details the following hoopdancing maneuvers: waist hooping, hip hooping, halos, passing and floating, and corkscrews. The DVD begins with a general introduction that defines the overall goal of the first level and a warm-up using the hoop as a tool to help stretch the body before attempting to dance. One of my only complaints about this program is the lack of a dance sequence as a finale that the student can watch and copy that incorporates all the learned moves. Some fun music and a beginner''s routine would have capped off this DVD and launched it into a 5 star rating.

For those who are new to hoop dancing: make sure your hoop is an adult sized hoop made specifically for dancing. I own two different hoops from two different companies: the Hoopnotica Fitness Travel Hoop Combo fits the bill nicely as it comes apart and can be easily transported. Although perhaps a bit flimsy, this hoop is slightly weighted but not to the extreme as the Empower Cardio Core Hoop with DVD is. The Empower model is too heavy, making performing halos, passing and floating and corkscrews a little more painful if done incorrectly. Stick to a hoop made with dancing and not strict cardio hula-hooping in mind. A further caution--exercise or dance with your hoop in either a studio with a lot of individual space that does not restrict your movement and an extremely high ceiling with no dropped paddle fans or outside on level ground. When I use my backyard as my dance palace, I am unable to view the DVD instructions simultaneously, so some adaptation must be made: I watch first, try it and then observe again to make the appropriate adjustments helped out greatly with the troubleshooting segment. Even though I am not the most graceful dancer it didn''t take me long at all to learn the first few moves and totally enjoy what I was doing. Working on the halos and the pass and float moves requires a little more space and a bit more patience. Nonetheless with very little practice, I was able to master these maneuvers with little additional viewing of the corresponding segments. Presently, I am working on smoothing out my corkscrew move--it took me a while to realize I had to rotate within the hoop to get it to settle on my waist/hip from halo position. Once accomplished, the body remembers the feel of the move and it becomes ingrained as part of the overall repertoire.

In general, hoop dancing is a fun way to tone the body and work up a healthy, cleansing sweat. Initially, you will feel the stress in your arms as you work through halos and passing and floating; similarly you will feel your waist and hips working as you keep the hoop in movement around your body. Although the two dancers featured on this DVD are in their prime, this activity makes a wonderful group activity for all ages and activity level--there is a local retreat house that sponsors a Cancer Survivors Weekend where I think this type of class would be phenomenally fun and therapeutic. My only other less positive comment is to depict dancers of all ages to illustrate the agelessness of this activity. Don''t dis those of us who want to age gracefully and defiantly!

Bottom line? Hoopnotica Hoopdance Beginning Level 1 teaches the rudiments of hoopdancing in a concise and extremely efficient manner. Pop it into your DVD if you want to learn waist hooping, hip hooping, halos, passing and floating and corkscrews and then practice, practice, practice your way to a wonderfully therapeutic form of exercise that will keep you "hoopy." Looking forward to mastering my corkscrews to move onto Hoopnotica Hoopdance Beginning Level 2. Recommended for good fun and great exercise.

Diana Faillace Von Behren

"reneofc"

Buy Hoopnotica Fitness Hoopdance Hula Hoop DVD Level 1 (Beginner) Now

After ordering this DVD & level 2 and also ordering Christabels Hoopdance for Beginners, I have to say that Hoopnotic is definitely the way to go. Though you get more for your money with Christabels Hoopdance for beginners (because she only has one volume which actually has more moves than both of Hoopnotics volumes combined), Hoopnotics DVDs are much more instructional. They are classier and even have a troubleshooting section which can be SO helpful when you can''t get something right. It made me much less intimidated to try moves I hadn''t even seen before. Know that it isn''t an exercise video, but once you learn all the moves to hoopdance, you do get an amazing work out.

Read Best Reviews of Hoopnotica Fitness Hoopdance Hula Hoop DVD Level 1 (Beginner) Here

This DVD does an excellent job of taking you step-by-step to learn hoop dancing. I could not have learned how to hoop without the help of this DVD. My jeans are fitting loose and I''m anxious to purchase level 2.

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Hoopnotica Hoopdance Beginning Level 1, in an approximately 60 minute format with excellent production quality, provides clear and detailed instruction for those new to hooping plus correction of common mistakes in sections called "troubleshooting" at the end of each topic and focuses on both on-the-body (waist, hips) and off-the-body moves; shoulder/chest and thigh hooping are not included and are on Beginning Level 2. It is divided into a 40 minute main section and a 20 minute bonus section which includes a brief hoopdance demo.

These two videos together, Beginning Level 1 and Beginning Level 2, provide an excellent introduction to hooping.

Though some find it too slow paced or suggest skipping it and going straight to Beginning Level 2 if you are not a "true beginner", I think that this DVD contains enough helpful tips that many who are not brand new to hooping may still find something they did not know and, contrary to what another reviewer stated, material introduced in Level 1 is not duplicated in Level 2 which introduces very different material.

If you are looking for a follow along work-out with an in-real-time routine, that is not what this DVD is about.

Also, be aware that Hoopnotica has put out the same or similar material at different points under slightly different names and, as of August 2011, many are still available through amazon.com; some say Beginning Level, some say Beginner Level and some say Workout but they are all different editions of the same instructional material with minimal variation ... or so say the Hoopnotica staff I spoke to when, confused, I called to clarify.

I think it is excellent and recommend it to anyone who is looking to have technique and moves explained and demonstrated. It does this very well no more, no less.

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