For members of the newly-founded Hula Hooping Club at Binghamton University in Binghamton, New York, the hoop is more than a toy – it is a tool for dance. Formed last spring by Stefany Stempien, a sophomore majoring in integrative neuroscience, and Lauren Woods, a junior studying pre-law, Stempien came up with the idea for the club after seeing hoopers dancing it up at a music festival. She contacted Woods and they created an organization where students could join together to hoop it up and after only one semester the club has 20 regular members. Chelsea Desruisseaux, a freshman, said, “When I got there, I didn’t realize how intense it was going to be. It’s a great workout and it’s also very relaxing,” Desruisseaux also told the BU Pipe Dream that once the plastic hoop graced her midriff, she was instantly addicted. Now that the group is spinning things up Stempien has a hoop dream for the club too. “I just want dedicated members to learn tricks and eventually be good enough to perform,” Stempien said.
