Laura "SpinWheel" Goetz is a recent and enthusiatic addition to the Asheville Hoops Troupe.  Laura has travelled all over the country and has called 10 different states "home". While living in Ohio, Laura obtained a degree from Ohio University in Adventure and Outdoor Recreation. The love of play, adventure and nature was fostered.  It was during this time that led Laura to eventually move and settle near her favorite recreation destination, Asheville, NC. In addition to the mountains and rivers of the area, Laura is happy to have found a diverse and interesting community.  Asheville's active music scene increased Laura's love of the live music experience and pushed her to find a way to create a deeper connection with Performance Arts. After being inspired by a hooper at an outdoor show and coincidently being lent a hoop by a friend, Laura began her path of hoop exploration and thus began her path as "SpinWheel".

Lots of spinning around in the backyard and watching lots of YouTube videos developed into a unique style of hooping that is influenced by many facets of Hoopdance. From lyrical Hoopdance, to illusions and isolations, poi style twins, and Native American Hoopdance. SpinWheel can most likely be seen with a set of twin hoops, creating mystical swirling patterns, hooping both on and off her body. Although SpinWheel's style of hooping can change as quickly as the tides, it is always playful and imaginative.

SpinWheel began performing with Asheville Hoops Troupe in the Spring of 2010 and made her fire hooping premiere at the Lake Eden Arts Festival.

April Shamel aka "April Shapril"

April's movement experience is deeply rooted inher early childhood as an equestrian. Growing up on a farm with a pony, she only briefly took dance classes before the yearning to to ride took over completely. Much like dancing, riding horses instills an ability for the body and mind to tend to multiple tasks at once. "Eyes up! Heels down! Steady your hands. Keep your seat rooted in the saddle." These are all things April frequently heard the instructor drilling at her, to do all at once.  Over time, these commands were ingrained into her brain and the techniques were mastered. April feels that hooping is very similar as the muscle memory and sense of rhythm are necessary skills for both.  Just like riding, hooping requires both sides of the brain to cross over and communicate with the other.

It wasn't until attending summer camp that April branched out of her comfort zone and picked up other outdoor activities like mountain biking, rock climbing, and paddling boats. This allowed her to step into the beginner's mind and understand the ability to pick up a new skill. At the same summer camp, she heard about a colege curriculum in which students earn a BA in Wilderness Leadership and Experiential Education.  She knew right away, this was for her. Upon graduation from Brevard College in 2002, April not only had a multitude of useful wilderness skills but also a love for teaching. April says, "I've been fortunate to have great instructors and other role models, that if I can just imitate them, I'll do well". When she wasn't guiding various wilderness trips, she applied her teaching skills at summer camps, horseback riding centers and currently works helping developmentally disabled people increase their abilities.

At the start of 2008, April had made a New Year's resolution. She decided to pick up a new healthy habit just before reading an article in "The New Life Journal" featuring a cover story about Hoopdancing classes offered by Asheville Hoops. April had been fascinated by Hoopdancers before and thought "I wish I was born like that." Upon reading the article, it became clear that Hoopdancers applied themselves to this practice to gain their skills. So she signed up and had yet another amazing instructor and friend step into her life.  April says "Hooping completely took hold of me and I immersed myself in it." That spring, Melanie of Asheville Hoops, invited April to provide assistance selling hoops at a local festival and April took advantage of the opportunity. The following Autumn, April began apprenticing in Melanie's classes.

Today, April says, "The most exciting thing about Hoopdancing now is being a part of something good that is continuing to spread throughout the community and all over the world!"

Shona Jason-Miller aka "Sho-Nuff"

A friend once described me as a chameleon, that was just when she thought my scales were red.  I would take a step in another direction and turn green. I suppose there is some truth in that observation. I have lived many lives and my scales are changing colors constantly. I spent almost 3 years of my life living in a small rural African village in Southern Mauritania after college as a Peace Corps volunteer. I then decided to run off to France for a bit and then walked across Spain.  Those years gave me the gift of my central focus and passion, slow food. I am a chef dedicated to the idea of growing, eating and harvesting whole foods. My life took an even sharper twist, when I moved to North Carolina to work at Cooper Riis as a Sous Chef. It was there that I met "melmac" and the rest is history. Hooping is an incredible gift for your mind, body, and spirit.  I wake up every morning thinking "Really? This is my life?" Well I guess it is and it appears that I am a Hoopdancer.  Strange, but true.

Rob Grader aka "The Cosmic Hooper"

I am a kid at heart and I love to play!

I am passionate about music, dance, pretty colored lights, and of course hooping!

I find my greatest happiness through spreading joy to others!

My earliest hooping memory, at around 6 years old, involves challenging my next door neighbor to a hoop-a-thon. As I recall we had to call a tie, since neither of us had stopped hooping for hours, and it was time for dinner!

Fast forward to the fall of 2001, where I encountered large homemade hoops & hoop-dancers at the Mountain Oasis Music Festival in Union Grove, NC.  I quickly learned that hooping with these larger hoops was much easier than the “kiddie” hoops I remembered from my childhood, and I spent the weekend exploring the possibilities of movement & dancing within the hoop. I returned home with huge purplish-green bruises on my hips, and promptly ran out to the hardware store to procure supplies for building hoops - thus beginning my journey into the world of hoop-making and hoop-dance.

For me, hooping has always been an extension of my dance. I find happiness within the hoop, and this joy seems to radiate out from the circle as it spins -- sending out much needed ripples of bliss into the world. The hoop can be a meditation tool, a spiritual guide, and a beautiful dance partner.

In the spring of 2009, after losing my job in the hospitality industry, I decided to follow my dreams and go into business for myself building light-up LED hoops.  Cosmic Hooper’s Emporium of Bliss (cosmichooper.com) was born from a desire to spread happiness & hoop bliss to the world, and has been an incredible success thus far!  Around this same time, I was warmly welcomed into the Asheville Hoops family and became more involved in the local hoop community and events.

As “The Cosmic Hooper”, I specialize in LED hooping performances – including using multiple hoops and mini “poi-style” hand hoops.  I also like to play with fire!

I continue to be amazed by the endless possibilities of movement, dance and tricks that the hoop provides, and I expect to be learning new hoop moves and dancing within my hoop for the rest of my life!

Melanie MacNeil aka "melmacpink"

The champion, pioneer, crusader and mastermind behind Asheville Hoops! Stoked to be alive and hooping on the planet in 2011!  This new mom is dedicating her hooping life to her family and son "Jojo" Pond.