Fire Groove Newsletter ~ March/April 2008

Kamala Mathis: Inside the Hoop

Kamala was recently awarded Fire Hooper of the Year by Hooping.org magazine! Check out this follow up interview and if you feel inspired, sign up for the next Fire Hooping Workshop (details below). Click here to view the full article. What better time than Fire Week to interview Kamala Mathis, winner of the Fire Hooper of the Year award in our 2008 Hoopies. The Los Angeles resident performs and teaches people how to use fire hoops, as well as all kinds of fire tools through Fire Groove Inc.. Her and her sister Hannah also teach one of the largest free yoga classes in the United States. Find out more about Kamala as we interview our Hooper of the Week. How did she first discover hooping? Kamala explains, "My first hoop experience that I saw and felt my jaw drop to the floor was Christabel Zamor. Hannah and I were teaching at this studio out in Santa Monica and she came in to do a workshop. We took it and Christabel started the class with a little expo. It was so beautiful. I was so excited when I picked up my hoop knowing it would glide around my body with the ease and flow that hers did. Ha!! I felt like the middle of a bell, the clanky thing, so not the sexy goddess I envisioned!" I asked her how hooping has changed her life. Her response: "Hooping has brought me into my body and made me feel more beautiful and sensual, than I ever have felt. The hoop constantly challenges me and I am so inspired by all of the beautiful hoopers I keep meeting." Her hooping is just one piece of her investment in herself. Kamala explains, "I am constantly working on myself. Ha! Always looking deep inside for strength and growth. Encouraging change and movement in positive directions. Staying sober and strong. Hooping and spinning are a huge part of my rehab and will continue to be." So what is her idea of earthly happiness? She says, "Gee whiz, I'm gonna hippie out here. Earthly Happiness is cleanliness of our earth, In all forms, clean up the planet, recycle, re- use, organic food, pick up your moop, conserve electricity, etc. Love our Earth Mama, you dig!" We dig Kamala, we dig. We asked her about a couple of her favorite hooping memories. "Well one of my favorite memories was my first fire hoop experience ever! Raven McBride handed me a hoop on fire right in the middle of his hoop act and I didn’t know if he wanted me to hoop or stand there. I chose hoop and I rocked that hoop around my waist like a champ! So exhilarating and spontaneous! I loved fire hooping from day one. Another very profound memory was when I finally got the hoop hooping around my torso. I was convinced that women with breasts could not hoop around the torso. Wrong! One day I went out to my studio, stripped down to a bikini top and started hooping, determined to get it. I did. It really took me saying I can do this, and then putting it to action. You can do it, I know it’s hard, but if I can you can too." What else does Kamala want Hooping.org's readers to know? She laughs. "Well, we sell some super sexy hoops at FireGroove.com and they are wrapped with love by my beautiful sister Hannah who is my hooping partner in crime and myself. Hannah and I also teach in sunny Santa Monica, California. If you're looking for a hoop class, come on out and check out our Hoop Groove Basics class. We’d love to hoop it up with ya! Also check out the Hoopcamp Retreat coming up in September 2008. Hannah and I will be running the Fire Hoop workshops there! Three days of hooping with teachers like Christabel, Spiral, Baxter and more!" What advice does Kamala have for someone picking up the hoop for the first time? She explains, "Be patient. Really try to take some time out for you. Show as much skin as possible, the hoop sticks to skin. Put on your favorite beats and really get into the hoop. Close your eyes and see it traveling around your body. I know it is frustrating at first, but give yourself a couple weeks, you’ll get it, I know you will! And if you see me hooping it up, ya better come say Hi!" Learn to Fire Hoop ~ April 26th & 27th This is a 3 part workshop that includes a fire safety class, one in-studio session, and an outdoor lighting-up ceremony. This workshop will teach you everything you need to know about hooping with fire. 3 Part Workshop Saturday, April 26th 1:30 - 3:00pm Fire Safety Class Sunday, April 27th, 3:30 - 5:00pm In Studio - Practicing with your Fire Hoop Sunday, April 27th, 7:00 - 8:30pm Lighting Up Ceremony @ Dockweiler Beach Costs: $25 per class = $75 + Fire Hoop Click here for more details and to leave a deposit. You must reserve your spot in this workshop either by leaving a deposit or by e-mailing us.

Get Connected

Fire Groove is excited to announce the launch of their
new community forum at FireGroove.com. We hope this will serve as a place for all you groovy people to connect with each other, stay in the loop, and get questions answered.
Don't be shy now ~ let's get connected!

You can also check out Fire Groove on:
Facebook
Myspace
Tribe
YouTube

Put a Spin on Spring

What better way to celebrate Spring then by learning how to spin poi, staff or hoop? Spinning provides the perfect excuse to get outdoors and practice in a park or on the beach. Spinning is not only a great way to tone the entire body, but it's also incredibly fun! We've got new classes starting March 18th, so reserve your spot now! Santa Monica Tuesday's 7:00 - 8:30 - Poi Groove Intermediate 8:30 - 10:00 - Poi Groove Basics Wednesday's 7:30 - 9:00 - Staff Groove Basics Thursday's 8:00 - 9:30 - Poi Groove Advanced Saturday's 1:30 - 3:00 - Poi Groove Basics 3:00 - 4:30 - Hoop Groove Basics Sunday's 2:15 - 3:45 - Staff Groove Basics 3:45 - 5:15 - Staff Groove Intermediate North Hollywood Tuesday's 7:30 - 9:00 - Staff Groove Advanced Wednesday's 8:00 - 9:30 - Hoop Groove Basics Costs: 12 Class Groove Pass = $240 6 Class Groove Pass = $150 Deposit = $100
_________________________________________________________________________________ Spring Specials * Save $50 ~ Bring a friend! You'll have a lot more fun, challenge each other, and... you will save $50 for each friend that signs up for the 12 Class Groove Pass. * 1 Free Pole Dancing Class ($25 value) ~ Sign up for a 12 Class Groove Pass and get a gift certificate for a free pole dancing class! Pole Dance classes include a yoga-inspired warm-up, slow, seductive floorwork and amazing pole spins and tricks. Cat Moves will show you how to create a beautiful flow between all of your movements. This card may be applied to any pole dance class or workshop. Guys may collect a gift certificate to give to their favorite female! Check out the website for more details.

Tahoe Classes Started

Lester will be in the Lake Tahoe / Reno area for a short time, and looks forward to sharing his passion with YOU! He will be teaching poi and staff every Sunday starting March 2nd in South Lake Tahoe. Lester promises to bring the skills you want to learn into the classroom. Joining in his teachings are the incredible local talent, The Tahoe Fire Dancers. Classes are open to all skill levels, and we encourage anyone interested to come in for a visit.

Starting March 2nd
Every Sunday from 3:00 to 4:30 PM
Marcia Sarasik's Dance Studio
2107 James Ave, South Lake Tahoe 96150
$15 per Class

Questions?
Contact: lester@firegroove.com / 310-882-0980

Fire Drums

FireDrums is a gathering that focuses on bringing the fire arts and drumming communities together. It is nestled in the beautiful Santa Cruz mountains and takes place May 1st - 4th. Whether you are learning, teaching, sharing, inspiring, or being inspired, Fire Drums welcomes everyone interested in participating!

This will be the largest fire arts gathering with the most talented instructors ever in the US. And as FireDrums is equally about encouraging new fire and spin artists, beginner and intermediate workshops will be offered as well as advanced. The fire arts workshops will cover a variety of areas and styles, from poi, staff, double staff, hoop, fire fans and fire fingers. This year there will be more drum facilitators and styles will be expanding to include: Taiko and other percussion instruments along with the West African, Latin and Afro~Cuban. In addition to fire arts and drumming, there will also be yoga, belly dance, reiki and other body movement workshops.

Fire Groove will be teaching, performing and vending this year! We are also organizing a bus to bring a crew of LA spinners and drummers up to the gathering. If you are interested in joining us, please shoot us an e-mail!

***Tickets are on Sale Now for $60 ***

Confirmed Workshop Instructors:
MCP aka Meghan Claire Pike (Scotland, UK)
Yuta from Poi Community (Japan)
Andy House (Germany)
Arashi from Sangre de Sol (Austin TX)
Sage from Sangre de Sol (Austin TX)
Hannah, Kamala, Lester & Jade from Fire Groove (Los Angeles, CA)
Zan and Noah from the Instruments of the Now (Eugene, Or)
Shireen Press (Portland, OR)
Greg Maldonado (Oakland, CA)
Mike ICON (Philadelphia, PA)
Chris "Rovo" Bailey (Albany, NY)
Anna Maltese (Los Angeles, CA)
Michelle Bass AKA Fire Grace (Tucson, AZ)
Noel-ski (Oakland, CA)
Sean and Prisna from Flowtoys (Berkeley, CA)

If you would like to teach a workshop of any movement or drumming style please submit your information here. The final day workshop submissions will be accepted is March 10th.

Get Ready Eugene!

Jade of Fire Groove will be in Eugene on Friday March 7th and Saturday March 8th hosting a series of awesome workshops. It all starts Friday at 8pm with an all level staff class. He will be covering everything from the basics of single staff movements all the way up to advanced contact and double staff tricks. This class will be perfect for all staff spinners. Then on Saturday the 9th we'll move on to a two class, three and a half hour poi marathon. The beginning/intermediate class will be held from 2:30-4:00 and will be a great starting point for beginning poi spinners and a perfect refresher class for the rusty spinner. He'll introduce the fundamentals of poi and create a strong base to learn from. The intermediate/advanced class will go from 4:00-6:00 and pick up where the first class left off. This class will take all the base tricks to a whole new level by exploring all possible trick combinations and body movements. A must take class for any spinner who feels like the have reached that internal plateau.

SCHEDULE:
March 7th, 8:00 - 10:00pm
Intermediate to Advanced Staff

March 8th, 2:30 - 4:00pm
Beginning to Intermediate Poi

March 8th, 4:00 - 6:00pm
Intermediate to Advanced Poi

LOCATION: Corestar Dojo.
439 W. 2nd St, Eugene Oregon

COSTS:
1 class - $15
2 classes - $25
3 classes - $30

***************************************************************************
YOU MUST RESERVE YOUR SPOT IN THESE WORKSHOPS!
E-Mail jade@firegroove.com or Call 541.554.7491 ***************************************************************************

Fire Groove is Coming to a Town Near You!
Keep an eye out for workshops in your area. We're looking at an East Coast tour with stops in Manhattan, Philadelphia and Washington DC., and a Midwest tour covering St. Louis and Chicago. E-mail Jade if you'd like Fire Groove to bring workshops to your area!

The Buzz...

Kelly is following up her recent success of winning the People's Choice Award for "Shoes" by producing another hot new music video, "No Booty Calls". And yes it's featuring Fire Groove! Check out some of her new and old hits on the website LiamShow.com or on MySpace.

Listen to "No Booty Calls" here and get ready to boogie!

What is Wizard Finger?
Wizard Finger is a variety show produced by comedian Jill Benjamin. Wizard Finger combines comedy with live music and performances by Fire Groove and other rockin' acts. Are you a musician, dancer or magician? Do you have a special talent you'd like to share with us at Wizard Finger? We are looking for an opening act. Please e-mai Jill if you are interested in participating in this brilliant show! Check out the videos below to see what it's all about.

Don't miss the next show!
8pm at Molly Malone's ~ 8757 S. Fairfax, Los Angeles