Hoop Convergence Reunion!

May 17-20, 2024, Efland, NC.

December 16 update: HOOP CONVERGENCE IS HAPPENING! Registration will remain open until May 1 or until spots are full. Thank you all so much for your encouragement, enthusiasm and commitments! I am so excited to reconnect with you all next Spring. More details coming soon.

Greetings, folks~

You are invited to reconnect with our extended hoop(-and-flow)-family and to make new connections; to visit the beautiful, well stewarded land that holds countless memories with us; to tap into collective creativity: and (re)engage with these transformative practices.

Consider it something between an old-school Hoop Con retreat, a multi-day movement jam, a family reunion and an intimate burn.

BACKSTORY ABOUT HOOP CONVERGENCE, ME, AND A BIT ABOUT 'WHY?'

(yes, you can skip the back-story if you're just ready to register.)

First Spin

22 years ago, on September 23, 2001, I (Julia) was entranced by the slow spin of a 5' hoop. Just two weeks after 9/11, amidst a pretty hopeless moment, the hoop brought me a profound, life-changing gift.

By 2005, I had taken a leap of faith to quit my night-job (bar-tending) to follow the hoop's path wherever it was going--towards creativity, hope, connection and a never-before seen or imagined career in hoop dance. My work included teaching kids, teaching adults, making hoops (a lot of hoops!), and performing.

Birth of Hoop Convergence

In 2008, the muse inspired a hoop dance focused gathering to bring together devoted practitioners of the hoop. At that point, I was seven years deep in love. The practice was opening doors beyond my imagination. I was so grateful for how the practice was transforming me and those around me and wanted to connect more intimately with a growing hoop tribe. There was a desire to connect and learn in a more intimate and beautiful environment and thus conceived a multi-day experience with opportunities to learn from one another, jam together, share ideas, connect and showcase our rapidly evolving movements. Hoop Convergence was born.

For eight years (2008-2015) this gathering brought together the most talented, innovative hoop and flow artists around the world. Lasting relationships were built. We learned about collaboration and the expansive, exponential nature of the creative spirit. Hoop Convergence hosted workshops on every aspect of hoop dance--performance, injury prevention, movement technique, fire dance and craft. There were workshops, open-to-the-public showcases, jams by the lake, late-night balls, amazing live music, renegade shows. Over the years, the curriculum expanded to include other flow and circus arts--aerial dance, cyr wheel, poi, yoga, ecstatic dance and partner acrobatics.

More than any place I'd ever been, I was repeatedly awed by the beauty of people in motion. Together, we co-created a vortex for innovation and heightened flow states while building a professional network and giving more visibility to the growing artform. It was a fun, inspiring, transformative and meaningful wave to ride.

Big thanks to all the teachers, performers, volunteers, musicians, artists who helped make this event happen. An especially big round of gratitude to Scott Crews, my wasband, who helped organize and execute this project in those years!

Life outside the Hoop

In 2015, amidst massive life changes, evolving interests and what felt like a natural receding of the wave, I offered Hoop Convergence to the fire. In the years that followed, I focused on building local community via The Flowjo and deepened my studies of animism, ritual arts, emotional expression, ancestral healing, ecstatic dance, grief work, initiation, death & dying. My partner and I co-founded an organization called Heartward Sanctuary and now co-steward 36 acres in Silk Hope, NC with a Barn Temple and Ancestral Meadow (a place for natural burial). Heartward Sanctuary is the umbrella non-profit for this year's Hoop Convergence.

Another Convergence?!

Now, eight years later, I've had an undeniable call to gather again. As I approach 50, I feel called to harvest some wisdom gained on this multi-decade journey and to reconnect with fellow, familiar creatives.

A significant era of my life was unexpectedly, profoundly guided by my hoop practice; by the flashes of insight and inspiration that were accessed in the flow and ecstatic states found spinning in the hoop. I am positively certain that these practices (hoop, acrobatic arts, fire spinning and ecstatic dance) strengthened my capacity to ground vision into form, to adapt and improvise, to find courage in the face of fear, to persist despite discomfort and to cultivate resilience. These practices have saved, shaped and enhanced my life beyond measure. More than any other practice, hooping helped me find and maintain excitement and courage to be here on the earth in a body in a time I felt a lot of despair. With all that's happening in the world, this practice seems like good medicine right about now.

This gathering feels like an opportunity to give praise to the hoop and express embodied appreciation for all the ways it changed, enriched, supported all of our lives. We've all been through such transformation in the past decade. Hopefully, with more life experience, training and perspective, this event can offer a chance to harvest some deeper, collective wisdom relevant for these times.

I'm genuinely grateful for all the amazing, inspiring people I've met through the hoop, and specifically at Hoop Convergence. I'm hopeful for another opportunity to converge, reconnect, see what folks are up to now, meet new people, tap into that creative spirit and also to inspire and support one another, wherever we are along our paths.

WHAT WILL BE INCLUDED IN THIS RETREAT?

I have no shortage of ideas. And, yours matter.

Of course, *not* everything can be included in one weekend.

On December 15, everyone who has made a deposit will be sent a form collecting your feedback--on Hoop Con's past events and the upcoming event.

The form will provide a chance for you to let me know where you're at in your lives/bodies/practices before the schedule is curated and workshops are confirmed. It will be a place to submit workshop proposals.

Knowing where this specific group of folks is at will influence what and how many hoop workshops or other movement modalities we schedule; how much time we spend in more free-form jam space; how many complimentary practices to include; and what other not-yet-dreamed-of possibilities there are.

There is a wealth of wisdom, talent and experience within this circle. A lot of folks have inquired about teaching. Seems right to begin by collecting proposals from within our crew of past presenters and participants. Everyone here has been engaged in this practice for a long time.

It would also be inspiring to feature a couple of newer to the scene flow-wizard-athletes. It's good to see what the "kids" are up to and where they're taking the artform! I'm long retired from hoop-video watching, so I'd need your input on who, for instance, are the Nick Guzzardos of today.

I imagine we could use time for self-care practices and open space to connect with one another. (But that could just be me. : )

My most treasured memories are from the jams--connecting with music, and also witnessing others in their full expression. So, we still need good music to move to! I'd love to book musical artists or DJs for a jam or two.

We've also had disussions of a more lab-style learning environment.

A performance showcase.

At a deeper level, I recognize that we've spent a lot of time alone and endured a lot of transformation in recent years. Given that, I'd like to weave in ways to tend these passages and soul processes with these practices. I envision a ceremonial burning of an effigy (appropriate to the venue and gathering, of course.) We've been hosting these at Heartward Sanctuary since 2020 and they've been powerful community rituals.

And, I'd love to see the burn-spirit infuse the gathering in the sense that folks are welcome and encouraged to bring their creativity, volunteerism and make art that would enhance this gathering.

FEELING CALLED???!!!

HELP KICK-START THIS EVENT!

This event takes a lot of energy and funds to produce.

This GiveButter campaign is just for your deposits of $222 to reserve your spot.

75 people x $222 = $16,650.

We need 75 people to pledge a deposit of $222 by December 15.

$222 is NOT the full cost of the event registration. Total costs for are listed below.

This event costs about $26k to produce before administration costs. (That total depends on how many participants, teachers, teacher stipends, musicians, tents, venue for show, etc.)

75 commitments of participation will ensure a number that will cover the event. 55 folks paying a full-sustaining rate will make sure we can support a crew of presenters. If we get more than that, YAY! There are 150 spots available. 75 is the minimum needed.

If we don't get 75 pledges by December 15, I'll update everyone and refund the deposits.

If we reach our goal, then I'll add ticket options for the remaining costs. And we'll move on with making an memorable event!!

TOTAL COSTS:

The total cost of the retreat is $444-666, depending upon lodging choices.

All registrations include all meals and events from Friday dinner - Monday breakfast/brunch

$388 - off-site lodging

$444 - camping

$555 - rustic bunks (bunk bed, conditioned space, but no plumbing so folks use the main bath house)

$666 - bunk bed in cabin (bunk beds, conditioned space, bathroom, some cabins have other amenities)

Day passes will likely be released later. Prices and passes will be available after we've reached our goal.

FAQ:

How do I pay?

Select $222 (or enter your desired amount). You can pay by Venmo, PayPal, Credit Card or by Check. Please select "allow Heartward Sanctuary to contact me." This will give me your email address and ease of communicating with everyone registered.

Where?

Chestnut Ridge Retreat Center, a 350 acre retreat space that has many cabins with bunk beds (think summer camp) and space for camping. While it is a Christian retreat center, their values include stewarding the natural world with care. They have organic gardens, a natural cemetery and beautiful landscapes. They LOVE our expressive creativity and have been wonderful hosts in years passed.

Why not a KickStarter?

I've chosen GiveButter rather than KickStarter because (1) I've met everyone on this list and I hope the prior relationship and successful events in the past affords enough credit to trust me to refund your deposit if don't reach this goal; (2) KickStarter takes a much larger percentage of funds that could go to better use being invested in the event; and (3) I am familiar with and like their back-end functionality.

All funds from this campaign will be left in a secured account in GiveButter until December 1. GiveButter has an easy refund option if that's required.

When you make your deposit of $222, you'll be prompted to answer a few questions about your preferred lodging style and dietary preferences. And, then, you'll receive another form with personal questions about where you're at and your hopes and visions for this gathering.

Can I teach or perform?

Once we've reached our goal, and I've read over the info forms, THEN we'll move on to workshop, performance and special event submissions.

Will teachers or performers get paid?

Once we have reached our goal, we'll have a more accurate budget for the event including comped registration credit for teaching, performing and production support and possibly travel support from those traveling from afar.

Are the deposits refundable?

If we don't reach our goal, deposits will be refunded.

If we do reach our goal, they are not.

When do I pay the remaining balance for registration?

If we reach our goal, I'll put up the next campaign with the options for paying the balance specific to your registration type: camping, cabin, off-site lodging, etc.

When are payments due?

A second installment will be required by Feb 1. Final payments are due by May 1.

Can I pay my whole amount now?

Yes, absolutely! But even if we reach more than $16,650, we need 75 people to commit so we can cover all event costs.

How many full paying participants will we need to cover the minimums?

55 (of those 75) will need to pay full price. That will provide enough support to offer discounted or comped registration for a number of teachers and performers.

Can I come just for a day?

Day passes will likely be released later. Prices and passes will be available after we've reached this initial goal.

Why Heartward Sanctuary?

Hoopdrum LLC was closed several years ago. Heartward Sanctuary is our umbrella org, a 508(c)(1)(a) faith-based non-profit. These embodied practices are an important part of our mission. And this is the most streamlined and aligned way for me to run this event.

Other questions?

Hit me up at Hoop Convergence @ gmail dot com

Hoop Convergence Reunion 2024

By Heartward Sanctuary

Hoop Convergence Reunion 2024

Let's kick-start this gathering!

Team Members