Making and selling hula hoops is a big part of Bellawillow. Not only do we love to hula hoop but it gets other people active and is a good way to promote the other things we do here at Bellawillow. Last year we had attended the Terrapin Hill Harvest Music Festival and we had a blast. It was one of the places where we had first started getting into hula hoops so when we found out that they were hosting Flow Camp at Terrapin we immediately signed up to go.
The music festival at Terrapin Hill was great; it was big enough to feel like you were a part of something awesome, but still small enough to feel like you were a part of something special and exclusive. Flow Camp, since this was the very first one, was small and intimate. There were a variety of classes and instructional workshops that you could attend. You could learn anything from hula hooping and poi, to belly dancing and fire breathing, and so much more. Not only could you join the classes but you could learn so much from every person there, and everyone was willing to share what they knew. You weren't on a strict schedule and could wander in and out of any of the classes. There was the most laid back feel to the entire thing. It was as if all the most amazing people came together in one spot to just share their tricks and teach everyone else how to be just as awesome.
The camp wasn't just for experienced tricksters either. There were a lot of beginners there and we met a ton of people who introduced themselves as "Hey, I'm [insert name (for some reason if it was a girl then her name was most likely Sara)], I've only been hooping for about three days now. Do you have any advise?" It is so great to see so many people getting into things like hooping. And just in case you are a newbie and would like some advise...don't get discouraged, especially when you are covered in bruises and can't seem to stop hitting yourself in the face! If you are an experienced trickster, especially after attending Flow Camp, you will know that there is always a new trick to learn and with that new trick comes a whole new batch of bruises and sore muscles.
It did rain on the second day of Flow Camp. That really didn't dampen anybodies spirit though. As soon as the rain let up we were all right back out in the fields practicing our tricks. There was even a variety show put on by all the instructors at the camp. Starting with a batch of aerial performances (including a guy doing aerial tricks while suspended from nothing but the hair on his head!), then there was belly dancing, music and a fire show. And I should mention that the members of Bellawillow each got to hula hoop with flaming fire hoop during the camp's Virgin Burn session!
Flow Camp was such an amazing event. It was one of those things that you want to go home and tell everyone about every detail. As it was raining and we were huddled up in our tent we were discussing how Terrapin Hill is like one of those Twilight Zone places were it seems like time stops, all your worries go away, and you just have fun no matter what. It was pointed out, "The only bad thing that has happened was that some little girl lost her Gummi Bear bracelet...but she found it so that kind of cancels out and NOTHING bad has happened at Flow Camp." Hopefully there is one next year and we go again because it was a truly awesome experience.
Edit: You can now find our photo gallery of Flow Camp here. You can purchase prints from Flow Camp here and here.
