Annie Weinert: Annieland Inside The Hoop
Annie Weinert, not only owns a costume design company for hoopers and performers called Annieland (see a full gallery of her work), she also teaches hooping for HoopGirl and performs solo and as a member of the HoopGirl All Stars. Originally from Geneseo, Illinois, the recently engaged San Francisco resident has been making a name for herself in the hoop community beyond her associations. What makes Annie spin it up? Find out as we interview Annie Weinert, our Hooper of the Week.
So how did her hoop experience begin? Annie explained, "I was at the High Sierra Music Festival with my then brand new boyfriend Shaun, who is now my fiancee. It was our first time in California and our first High Sierra. We were out in the the big meadow watching a String Cheese Incident show. He picked up a hoop lying in the grass and starting hooping around his knees! I was so impressed, but told him that I couldn't do it, because I could never hoop as a kid. He persuaded me to give it a whirl, and I did, and I loved it! I hooped for an hour straight! I didn't pick up a hoop again for about a year, but the memory stands out brightly in my mind! I really got into hooping after I moved to California in 2005. That's when I met Christabel Zamor, the owner of HoopGirl. I took her teacher training in 2006 and that's when I really jumped in with two feet and made it a big part of my lifestyle."
How often does she hoop? She told Hooping.org, "I rehearse for two hours a week with my hoop troupe, the Hoopgirl Allstars. There are seven hoopdancing women in the troupe. We take turns leading, and the rehearsals vary in style. We do everything from hoop drills to choreography, as well as jam circles where we work on specific aspects of performance. We each have unique skills to contribute to the group, and it is an extraordinarily supportive environment for learning. I teach one HoopGirl class per week at Dance Ground Keriac in San Francisco. I am a beginner and intermediate licensed HoopGirl Workout instructor. It is very gratifying to see someone master a move that they wanted to learn during a class. I love seeing students progressively improve over time, and increase their expressiveness through movement. I have met so many amazing hoopers in my classes!
I also do a few nightclub performances per month at Ruby Skye (video here), and usually a few other side performances as well. Recently the Allstars performed a half-time show at the Bay Area Roller Derby Girls bout. Then we headed over to a 70's party and performed with our psi-hoops for a sequin and platform-adorned crowd! Whew!"
So how has hooping changed her life? Annie said, "Oh so many ways!! First off, it has helped me feel great about my body. It has brought me closer to a myriad of incredible people. Hooping has made me a more sensual person. Probably most importantly, hooping has provided me an opportunity to turn my passions into a career."
I asked her about a challenge or personal obstacle she's currently working on. She responded, "I would like to become more fluid in my outflow. I like to push myself to take risks in the hoop since it's such a safe space to play. I would like to get better at my kick outs from leg hooping. I really love the beautiful grace of sustained spinning~ that's a big one I want to work on! I get dizzy!"
What are a couple of her favorite hooping memories? Annie said, "The first time I performed at Ruby Skye in San Francisco was a big one. I remembered watching Christabel perform there, but never imagined I would do it myself. When she gave me the opportunity to perform there, I was so nervous but excited! It was completely exhilarating, terrifying, and surreal! I think i performed for about three minutes, though I was supposed to do five! I was totally exhausted and my concept of time just flew out the window up on stage. Luckily, performance endurance builds with practice over time. Another incredible hoop experience was the Hoop Convergence in Carrboro, North Carolina, I had the chance to meet and learn from some of the most talented hoopers in the world. Everyone shared their knowledge so freely and with open hearts. I had never encountered so many inspiring hoopers in one place. If there was such a thing as hoop ecstasy, HC was it! And then came Hoop Camp here in California. We have such an incredible community!"
What is Annie's favorite hoop these days? She revealed, "aAhhhh, my PSI Hoop! It's such a beauty. My psi hoops have gotten smaller over time. I'm down to 32" in diameter with 5/8 tubing. It's so fast and light, and it's perfect for doing long sets without wearing me down. Owning a PSI hoop really helped me step into my higher potential as a hooper." What are some of her favorite music artists to hoop to? She said, "I am a big fan of funk and hip hop. I love Quantic, Lauryn Hill, M.I.A., Zap Mama, Kanye West, Glitch Mob and Bassnectar."
What quality does she most admire in a hooper? "I very much admire a balance of confidence and humbleness. The ability to rock out and dance with the hoop is key! I love when you can see that someone is really connecting with the music, and I enjoy seeing an emotional range in people's performances. I also very much appreciate when I feel someone is approachable, and has a willingness to share their skills freely." So what does she see as being her most marked hooping characteristic? She said, "I think I have a funky dance style. It's maybe a little like a pouncing faerie. I like to combine silliness with sensuality while hooping. I also have a vast range of looks I create with my costumes. Some of the looks that I have recently created and performed in are disco, vaudeville, space girl, Bollywood, anime, faerie, flapper, and Bettie Page."
What else does she want Hooping.org readers to know? Annie says, "My costume design company is called Annieland. It's cyber-faerie inspired fashion. I love using bright colors, funky materials and textures. Everything I make is with hoopdancing and performing in mind. There are certain materials that work great for hooping because they have a nice 'gripping' quality. I often use fabrics that are shimmery and will stand out on stage. I like creating designs that look great while spinning and leaping. You can find my online store here, my full gallery of costumes here, and the HoopGirl Allstars here."
In closing, if Annie had one piece of advice to share with someone picking up a hoop for the very first time, what would it be? Annie explained, "You have something unique and beautiful to contribute to the world, something that no one else can give. This is also true for what you contribute to the hooping world. It's easy to allow your inner critic to compare yourself to others. Be gentle and patient with yourself, and you will step into your highest hooping potential!"
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Find out more about Annie Weinert:
Craft Magazine Ascends Into Heavenly Hoopla
