Dance Dreams

The universe sent me a little message yesterday...
Happily, deanne, we've got forever and ever. And fortunately, it's never too late to see what one's missed, remain focused on the dream instead of the "hows," and move with unwavering faith.

Yeeeeeee-haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!
The Universe

So I thought I should share my dreams with you...

Claska studio filled with hot hoopers!

Photos by Sasa

We were lucky to have many talented and stylish people come and hang with us at Velours on Saturday night. Sasa of lo-fi-me fame was one of the super sleek style masters that graced the dance floor with his presence. He also took some shots of my hooping and I think you will agree they are a colorful representation of his creative talents.




More pics here.

What a Weekend!

It is hard to know where to start I am still really trying to process the greatness and intensely of the weekend. Leila Chan as always has such a wonderful way with words and summed it up quite nicely here.

I have so much more to add but am finding it hard to put into words! The people, the action, the happenings, the connections that were made are really all just starting to sink in.

It is an unexplainable feeling to have dreams and thoughts manifest so succinctly. There were many dreams becoming reality for a lot of us this weekend.

As always I have so many people to extend unspeakable amounts of gratitude to...
Masao the man always cool, calm and overwhelmingly supportive. My ladies my beautiful ladies you know I love you and you never fail to surprise me, scare me and fill me with pure joy. New friends I need to sincerely thank all of the wonderful people who approached me this weekend both at Velours and in Yoyogi park at the Hoop Matsuri, for me hooping is all about togetherness and while I am often in my own little hoopy world I am very grateful to anyone who is free spirited enough to want to be a part of the spin so thank you to all of the gorgeous new friends who I met this weekend looking forward to sharing lots of greatness. My fabulously funky friends without a doubt I have the most amazing circle of open minded, fun loving, interesting friends I don't think there is much else a girl can ask for in life. I truly hope I offer you as much love and support as you give to me, it is an overwhelming task because the power you give to me it so very great! Thank you!

If this weekend was just the warm up to Summer then we are in for one insanely hot Summer session! Cannot wait!

Costume Shopping in Tokyo

With the Earth Day Hoop Matsuri less than a week away I am sure you are thinking about the ideal colorful costume to don! To help out I thought I would pass on some of my costume shopping tips in Tokyo.


For wigs, the flashiest, junkiest jewelery, colorful socks, rainbow belts and plenty of fake gold you cannot go past the 390 yen shop! Also know as Thank You Mart apparently these babies are all over the place but they are easiest to find in Harajuku. A stroll down Takeshita Dori will let you stumble upon THREE of them. They all stock basically the same but the one just around the corner from Takeshita Street on Meiji Street next to the stinky kebab shop on the same side of the road as ABC Mart is nice and roomy.


Of course the 100 yen stores are always filled with trashy bargains. The Daiso chain is my fav and now has this English website - how very cool. The 5 story mecca also on Takeshita Street is the bargain hunters dream. Everything 100 yen and from memory they have some great tinsel wigs!


Tokyu Hands has the wildest array of costumes all in one hot spot. the prices are not as thrifty but some people would pay anything for a Billy Blanks costume or a full samurai outfit.

Looking forward to seeing you on Sunday in your finest and most colorful!

Earth Day Hoop Matsuri

Just when I thought no good could come of today's gloomy Tokyo weather I was hit by an intensely inspirational whirlwind which launched many new projects out into the universe some of which I will tell you about later (very exciting though my hoop site is almost done!!) The most colorful new project I am calling the Earth Day Hoop Matsuri.

Inspired by the Color Parade in Sydney, the crowds of performers and hemp beer swillers at last year's Earth Day Tokyo and today's dismal weather I decided that we should be sharing as much color and light with Tokyo as we can - it needs it!

Name: Earth Day Hoop Matsuri
A Colorful Procession
Host: Hoop Lovers (Deanne)
Type: Causes - Rally

Time and Place
Date: Sunday, April 20, 2008
Time: 1:00pm - 7:00pm
Location: Earth Day Tokyo
Street: Harajuku Station to Yoyogi Park
City/Town: Tokyo, Japan

Let's share some color and love with Tokyo by parading our vibrance through the streets to arrive at Yoyogi Park for Japan's biggest Earth Day gathering on Sunday April 20.

Where: Meet at the Harajuku Girl's hang out near Harajuku Station.

Costume: Wear your finest, brightest, most colorful creations!! We will take our hoops and other play things in a matsuri style precession to the Earth Event find ourselves a spot in the action and show off our inner child in celebration for our gorgeous Earth.
(OR drink lots of hemp beer and take in the aromas of undeoderized armpits!)

Don't worry if you cannot hoop, today will be the time to learn and get your groove on!! All other play things, pets and puppets welcome.

(The sun did not show us any love today so you had better all be praying for it on Sunday 20th)
IF IT RAINS THIS EVENT WILL BE CANCELED via facebook on the morning of.

SO DUST OF THOSE WIGS, DIG OUT THOSE PLATFORMS - IT IS SHOWTIME!

Some photos from Nick Coppins to give you a little inspiration and food for thought! I may even wear my pink wig...and you know what kind of havoc that creates!!!





If you are in Tokyo next weekend and the sun is shining I will see you there!

Dr Sketchy's Tokyo Birthday Bash

A message from Leila Chan


It's our BIRTHDAY and everyone is invited! Dr. Sketchy's Tokyo has teamed up with chief&mischief and TokyoMade for Volume 2 of the infamous STITCH fashion party. Of course no Sketchy party is complete without stunning models and hypnotic beats and this birthday bash will feature a bevy of hot models to sink your sketchpads into. Not to mention Tokyo's premiere HoopStar Sushizume who will be sashaying her electro hoop in true raver fashion.

Where: Velours (Aoyama/Ometesando)

When: April 19 From 9pm-4am

¥¥¥ = Men (¥2500 w/flyer ¥2000)

Women (¥2000 w/flyer ¥1500 +1 drink)

Mail Discount: ¥1500 +1 drink (be sure to RSVP on the Dr. Sketchy site include "birthday RSVP" in subject. Deadline Noon April 19th)


Sketchy Wishes,

Leila