Hula Hooping into Immortality

By Samantha Kennedy

Brooklyn - New York City hula hooper Alexander Nixon, a.k.a. Xander Nixon, a.k.a. Puck, has immortalized the hula-hoop in his new fantasy novel, which was inspired by his Peace Corps service(Guatemala, 2008-2010).

In addition to celebrating the publication of his first novel, Nixon is celebrating a decade of hula hooping.

Nixon’s hooping voyage began on New Year’s Eve, 2004, at the closing of Ian Schrager’s Gramercy Hotel. Nixon says he remembers two things clearly from that night. 

First, the beautiful lead singer of the Brasilian Girls singing, “Pussy, pussy, pussy, marijuana." 

The second thing Nixon remembers was the Groovehoops and their unforgettable outfits and groove-hooping.

“Stefan and the other Groovehoops were like colorful creatures from another solar system. I wanted to beam up to the mothership with them.”

Nixon's parents were trapeze artists in the circus in Sarasota, FL when they were seniors in high school. 

“[The Groovehoopers] blew my mind," Nixon sayd. "I asked around and found out about the Monday night Groovehoops classes at the YMCA and showed up at the next class. I used my new hooping skills the following spring in Blunt Theatre’s Burning Man-inspired version of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” performed in a magical urban garden called La Plaza Cultural, located in Alphabet City, East Village. The magic from that summer still hasn’t worn off.”

If anything, the magic appears to have multiplied.

Ten years later, Nixon is still finding inspirational ways to incorporate his hula hooping into other endeavors. In The Rise of Apassionéa, Nixon transformed the hula-hoop into a magical weapon, and wielding a “Ring Sword,” into a lost ancient art that was practiced by the inhabitants of a lost civilization.

Check out his Kickstarter page here. Nixon requests that you check out his Facebook page and "like" Apassionéa.

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Samantha Kennedy is an avid reader, new blogger, and new hula hooper.