Spin Gypsy

Spin Gypsy celebrates self-discovery through dance, movement, and music. We are a collective of hoop dancers, fire spinners, flow artists, and performers who connected through the Sedalia Farmer’s Market in the summer of 2010. We host performances and workshops throughout Mid-Missouri, including a weekly spin-jam in Liberty Park. 

We hope you join us in the circle!  

June 17th- Randomly at the Sedalia Lion’s Club Blues &   BBQ

June 18th - Spin Jam at Liberty Park, 4-7pm

June 24th - Friday Spin Jam at Sedalia Farmer’s Market, 4-7pm 

June 25th - Performance with the Hulagans @ Beach Party 101 in Columbia, MO, 9-midnight 

June 25th- Summer Solstice Bonfire Party in Leeton. Contact  Jeluna for details.

 

July 2nd - Spin Jam at Liberty Park, 4-7 pm

July 4th - Fire Spinning Performance at Dresden Community Center (free food & fireworks!!!)

July 8-11th - Zenfest at Camp Gaea, Kansas. 

July 16th - Spin Jam at Liberty Park, 4-7pm 

July 21st - 3rd Thursday Celebration in Warrensburg. Details TBA

July 22nd - Spin Jam at Liberty Park, 4-7pm

July 30th - Friday Spin Jam at Sedalia Farmer’s Market, 4-7pm

If you're a musician or pro-spinner interested in sharing your talents, please contact Heather Hughes @ tangledmacrame@yahoo.com

Mandala Monday - Hooping Mandala

We dance round a ring and suppose,

but the Secret sits in the middle and knows.

-Robert Frost

In mandala mythology, the circle represents the universe. A single dot in the circle's center symbolizes the stillness at the heart of Creation. Hoopdance is a beautiful, moving mandala. When a hooper whirls a hoop around her body, she becomes the axis of the cosmos. The circle  of the hoop forms rings that mirror the levels of consciousness that pull the dancer toward or away from the sacred center. Hooping on the core, for example, draws the circle in. Off-body passes and moves like the helicopter expand the circle to embrace the outer-world. The dancer's hands and legs form smaller circles as he whirls, steps, and dances. These mandala-patterns become tangible in LED and fire-hoop photography. The steams of light map the journey of the hoop through space and the dancer through the act of creation.

Even when not in motion, hoops create sacred space. Their circles promise protection, unity, and evolution. I hang my hoops on my wall as living works of art. Each day they form different patterns in response to my dance. The curious thing is that their design reflects what I leave behind. While my pet-hoop rests, forgotten in the yard, the remainders are a reminder of my un-danced potential. They hold, ground, and nurture the whiling energy at the heart of the dance.

Twirling round with this familiar parable

spinning, weaving round each new experience.

Recognize this as a holy gift

and celebrate this chance to be alive and breathing.

-Tool

Quick Wick Review

I just started using a set of 5 Hoopdrum quick-wicks on my 1/2" hoop. I wanted more freedom for off-body tricks without hitting the ground, so I ordered the 5.5" length, rather than 6." It's CRAZY what a difference that makes! Having the fire just a little bit closer is super intimidating. They do, however, make a continual vertical step through possible, so I'm very pleased with the additional range of motion shorter spines offer. Now I just have to readjust to isolations with fire at my fingertips! As other reviewers have mentioned, quick-qicks very light, as well as reasonably easy to attach. The clear, step-by-step instructions helped me both attach the wicks and understand how they work. I was able to attach four of the five by myself, but needed help with one, as the ring was just a tiny bit bent and more difficult to get into place. All-in-all quick-wicks are obviously a well crafted, well design product. They're definitely a world of improvement from my bulky old fire hoop whose long, rigid spines severely limited my dance. Quick wicks have brought flow and versatility to my fire dance. I hope to use them for years to come.

First Burn

First Burn from Heather Hughes on Vimeo.

I was still stressed from the journey to StL, but the fire whirled my worries away. I am so grateful to Willow for gifting me this beautiful hoop....and for giving me a ride to the show.

Vernal Equinox

Welcome spring with fire, friends, and a chihuahua wearing pajamas!

We had a wonderful night with our good friend. Tim and I sang while Chris played guitar. Everyone marveled at the luminous moon and the thin whisps of clouds drifting past. Our fire was bright, crawling with fire fairies who swirled in the gusting wind of spring. Good times, yes, good times...

there's a dragons with matches loose on the town...

Many folk tales associate the Maiden with apples. Snow White falls asleep with one crisp bite; the golden beauty of “Silver Hands” is betrothed to the Devil as she sweeps beneath her father's apple tree. So it was that a fallen branch beneath the old neighbor apple tree inspired me to honor the newborn spring with a blaze.

The family will light the season’s first burn tonight. I hope Abby is still awake, because she was a joy as we collected firewood. She road down in the storage area of the stroller while I pilled the wood into the seat.

Hope you enjoy these photos of the old dragon-man who lives in our fire ring. Hopefully we'll see him open his wings tonight.