Hoops for Peace!

This weekend was Winter Carnival, and we created a float for the parade with the theme, "Hoops for Peace." Seven or eight women from my HoopGroup showed up in bright 60's attire, and donned some extra wigs for the occasion. We quickly rehearsed our dance to "Dancing in the Streets" (the 60s mo-town version), and then headed out in the the cold, snowy day to hop aboard the float with our hoops.

The flat-bed trailer was 8x20, and a little slippery to stand on because it was covered with a thin layer of snow and ice, so we all had to find our footing before the truck pulled away and into the parade. After we got moving and were on Pioneer Ave., we found our groove, with each person strategically positioned on the trailer hooping and flashing peace signs to the entertained crowds. It was pretty cold - maybe 10 degrees F - so we really had to keep hooping to stay warm!

By the time we got to the judges stand, my hands felt almost frozen stiff! But, not too stiff to "Dance in the Streets." So we did our dance in front of the judges and then kept on moving down the street in the parade. The whole thing went by pretty quickly - much quicker than when I walked and hooped in the parade for the 4th of July. And besides being a little cold by the end, I think we all had a blast. I was proud of the ladies who showed up, some of them just brand new to hooping, to strut their stuff in the parade.

And it turns out that we won first place in the parade, too!

Congratulations, Cosmic HoopGroup - you rock!