We had the good fortune of connecting with Shae Nance and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shae, how does your business help the community?
Hoopologie and The Spinsterz are committed to transforming people’s lives through flow arts. We are a stand for your greatest self expression. EveryBODY can access and benefit from the flow state, and it is our mission to empower you through movement, community, and powerful partnership.

Over the years, Hoopologie has shifted our focus to (1) sharing the true history of hoop dance by highlighting Native American voices (2) bringing the transformational power of hooping to communities that do not have access to it and (3) embracing inclusivity and diversity.

It is important to understand and acknowledge the connection between Native American culture and flowing with a hoop. Hoopologie and The Spinsterz acknowledge that Native American Hoop Dance is a traditional dance form that has been practiced by indigenous peoples of North America for centuries and plays an important role in Native American culture and identity. We find it extremely important to lift up indigenous voices and celebrate their history. We have two Native American brand ambassadors, Eric Michael Hernandez and ShanDien Sonwai LaRance. Both of these artists are extremely powerful voices in the hoop dance and Native American communities.

Lately, a big push of our brands has been to provide hooping to communities that do not have access to it. South America has been a focus of ours. Everyone’s life can change through the lens of a hoop, and we want everyone in the world to have access to this transformational process. Our ambassador Nuria LunaLlena comes from Argentina, where she spearheaded a hoop community there. Currently, she is based in Barcelona. Another ambassador of ours, Rachel Sullivan, just wrapped up a North America hoop workshop tour and is in the works of planning her South America hoop workshop tour. Hoopologie and The Spinsterz will be working with her on this tour. Within the past month, we have donated hoop supplies and materials to Peru.

Inclusivity and diversity are foundational virtues held by Hoopologie and The Spinsterz. EveryBODY can access and benefit from the flow state. We include everyone in our community, and our diverse team of ambassadors holds these values to their hearts as well.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Ever since I can remember, I have had a strong passion for expressing myself through movement. I am blessed to have a family that has supported this passion from day one. Growing up, I trained dance heavily. I studied ballet, jazz, contemporary, and modern dance. I chose dance over everything else. Eventually, this selfless commitment to dance ended up breaking me – at the age of 17, I was diagnosed with a severe case of anorexia. This diagnosis forced me to prioritize my well-being, and I gave up dance.

Years go by, and I find myself healing through movement. I started a daily yoga practice with my mom during the pandemic. I placed mindfulness with movement, something I was not familiar with before. I found flow arts and hooping; a new way to creatively express myself through movement. I slowly started dancing again, but this time for myself. Not for anyone else.

In college, I stumbled upon a job listing for Hoopologie. I was an excited hooper who wanted to get more involved with the community that I was new to. Melinda brought me on the team with open arms. She has supported my passion for dance ever since I have met her. For that, I am grateful.

Towards the end of my college career at CU Boulder, I joined the dance and theater department. My passion for dance was fully reignited – I had a community to move with, teachers to learn history from, and endless opportunities to create and express myself. Learning the true history of certain dance forms reminded me of my passion for supporting and uplifting indigenous communities. I am constantly learning and unlearning.

Also in college, I learned a variety of dance styles I never had access to growing up. One of these styles was burlesque. Burlesque has been a wonderful healing practice for me – I believe in burlesque as a reclamation of myself and my body. All of these new dance styles and the power of healing through movement have inspired me to study somatic therapy. Movement and dance healed me, and it will heal others.

Today, I am a performer in the Denver area. You can find me dancing at a variety of events. This is just the beginning.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I have lived in Boulder, Colorado for a long time now. I love it here!

FAVORITE LOCAL SPOTS
– Tonic Elixir Bar
– Dushanbe Teahouse
– Boulder Creek
– Boulder Circus Center
– Hoopologie & The Spinsterz (of course)
– T/aco
– Jungle
– Pearl Street Mall
– The Little Yoga Studio
– Michantli
– Thrive

FAVORITE SPOTS AROUND BOULDER
– Red Rocks
– Clock Tower Cabaret
– Nederland
– Garden of the Gods
– Hard Candy Dance Studio
– Denver Circus Collective

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would not be here today without my strong team of supporters. My support system includes (but is not limited to):

– Melinda Rider (owner of Hoopologie & The Spinsterz)
– The entire team at Hoopologie & The Spinsterz
– My family
– My friends
– My dance instructors throughout childhood and adulthood

Website: https://www.hoopologie.com/ ; https://thespinsterz.com/

Instagram: @hoopologie @thespinsterz @shaenance4

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkaCQgHqSKy8_D9ihfE8AEA (Hoopologie YouTube)

Other: Shae Nance LinkTree: linktr.ee/shaenance4

Image Credits
Photo of myself with fire – Mountain Storm Photography (@mountainstorm_photography)
Photo of myself with feather fans – Shayla Love Photography (@shaylalovephotography)
Photo of myself laughing – Heart Mind Evolved (@heartmindevolved)

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.