Hula hoop

Jennifer

Reading — Intermediate Level
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Activity

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Native American Hoop Dance is a form of storytelling dance incorporating hoops as props. These props are used to create both static and dynamic shapes, which represent various animals, symbols, and storytelling elements. The dance is generally performed by a solo dancer with multiple hoops.

Before it was known and recognized as the common colorful plastic toy (sometimes filled with water or sand), the traditional "hula hoop" was made of dried willow, rattan, grapevines, or stiff grasses. Though they have been in existence for thousands of years, it is often incorrectly believed that they were invented in the 1950s.

Author Charles Panati records a "craze" with the usage of wooden and metal hoops in 14th-century England. He reports that doctors treated patients suffering from pain, dislocated backs, and even heart failure due to hooping. Panati also says that the name "hula" came from the Hawaiian dance in the 18th century, due to the similar hip movements. The hula hoop craze swept the world, dying out again in the 1980s, but not in China and Russia, where hula hooping and hoop manipulation were adopted by traditional circuses and rhythmic gymnasts.
Source: Wikipedia
  1. The name "hula"came from the Hawaiian dance due to the same movement. How is the hula dance executed ?
  2. Medical reports revealed that patients got treated due to hula hooping. What are the dangers in using hula hoops?
  3. What makes the hula hoop attractive?
  4. How is the Native American Hula dance performed?
  5. Hula hoops are used as props for the Native American Hula dance. What do props refer to?
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Discussion

Practice your writing skills by discussing the questions below

  1. Have you tried hula hooping? If yes, how was the experience?
  2. What makes hula hooping risky?
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