Leela has been inspired and mesmorized by hooping since the day she witnessed her first hooping video. From that moment on she made it a necessity to get herself a hoop and start learning the art as soon as possible. This led her to find Valentina Unity's hoop dance class at UCSD where her passion allowed her to learn very quickly and months after, she joined the Hoop Unit. Her experience being on a Competitive Latin Ballroom dance team, taking ballet classes during highschool and now continuing to gain dance skills with hooping and belly dance has directed Leela's life a whole new direction. It has also brought her an amazing new confidence in herself. Leela loves being apart of the Hoop Unit because it gives her the opportunity to collaborate with many other amazing hoopers and dancers on a regular basis.

WendyT is a body conscious soul who began exploring the art of movement from adolescence. Her passion for dance and music has continued to grow since then. Wendy has had formal training in ballet and jazz along with two years of performance history in high school. She fell in love with hoop dancing through attending festivals and personally began her journey through the hoop in May of 2010. Belly and hoop dancing have become her second language, accented by her unique style. She has been growing and performing with her current dance troupe The Hoop Unit since the summer of 2011, and more recently has been discovering the art of teaching hoop dance.

Siouxanne is one of the Hoop Unit's sexy scientists. She loves having the opportunity to get out of her rational, scientific mind and enter into a creative, dancing space. It helps to bring balance between mind and body in her life, and to create a platform for self expression. Siouxanne likes The Hoop Unit for its seamless combination of burlesque, hooping, fire and belly dancing. Siouxanne joined The Hoop Unit in 2010. She has additional performance experience through fire dancing at Burningman with the LA Fire Conclave and San Diego Fire Conclave, and fire performing at various local Burningman events.

Jessica may not have any recent history in performing but she makes up for it with her dedication, perserverance and sassy red locks. She says she was drawn to The Hoop Unit because of the "graceful and inspiring women" that know how to always make rehearsal fun even on not so perfect days. Jessica loves how the ladies of The Hoop Unit give encouraging support and always strive to have positive spirits. Her inspiration stems from the cheeky, sexy, humor associated with Burlesque and Cabaret as well as the playful and colorful nature of Hoop Dance. This fusion of dance has become Jessica's favorite thing to melt away stress from a hard day.

Katelyn comes from a musical theater background and has been dancing jazz and modern since age eight. Here passion for movement and expansion through dance was renewed in 2011 the instant she saw a hoop dancer for the first time. He next day she went out and started practicing for herself. She found Valentina's YMCA class and joined the Hoop Unit a few months later. Hooping has opened a magical new world for Katelyn and she has since taken up belly dance, lyra, and silks. She loves the confidence and opportunities the Hoop Unit has given her, not to mention all fun she's had and all the fun people she's been able to meet! Katelyn is excited to see how far dancing can take her and expand her hooping horizons!

Tara realized she had a passion for dance and performance at the early age of 3, as a ballerina. Shortly after she was introduced to cheerleading where she gained 8 years of experience in stunting, gymnastics, and modern dance choreography. After taking a few years off of dancing to focus on her studies of cosmetology, she rekindled her love for dance by joining Belly Motions belly dance studio in her hometown Miami, Florida where she received certification as an advanced student. Shortly after, she took her dancing feet on a new journey to the west coast in San Diego, California. On her first day living in San Diego she attended Valentina's hoop class and has been hooked ever since. In one year Tara has gained experience in hoop dance, fire dance, burlesque, and continues to grow and learn in the dance community!

Michelle was originally a ballet dancer. She began stage performance at the age of 3 in the Nutcracker and performed biannual series for the next 10 years. After quitting all formal dance training, she began getting back into dance 4 years later, this time in the form of freestyle in the EDM community. Gaining experience as a freestyle liquid and tectoniks dancer helped her to achieve a type of flow most often found in hip-hop and breakdance. This led to an interest in belly dance! Unity was recommended as an engaging and inspiring dance teacher, so Michelle found Unity’s belly dance class and eventually the Hoop Unit. Performing with Valentina's belly dance students in the Vaudeville Vixen Tribal Circus gave Michelle a taste again for what she once so thoroughly loved; the stage! Since then Michelle has been inspired to gain experience, hone her skills, and embark on the beautiful journey of a hoop dancing. Using the hoop has not only forced Michelle to gain new flexibility, but also look into what is not always seen and showcase this to others. The divine purpose on this course with all these inspiring women now keeps Michelle afloat. Where there is love let there be joy. Where there is sadness, true depth is unveiled.

Rachel was first introduced to the enchanting art of hoop dance through Vanentina's UCSD recreation hoop dance class. After her third quarter of hoop dance she attended an open audition for the Hoop Unit and was honored and delighted when she earned a spot on the team. Her experience as a gymnast for over 17 years gives her a unique set of skills to contribute to the ever multitalented women of the Hoop Unit.

Jillian has had a passion for dancing and creative movement all her life - starting with Jazz and Musical Theater in school, and she now loves to Belly Dance, Hoop Dance and teach Yoga. She moved to San Diego in 2010 from NYC where she regularly attended Gabrielle Roth’s 5 Rhythms freestyle dance meditation classes, and also first came into contact with Hoop dance from the thriving Hoop community there.
As soon as she arrived in San Diego she found Unity’s hoop classes, and immediately felt a sense of belonging, inspiration and FUN! Joining the Hoop Unit has taken her Hoop and Dance skills to the next level, has boosted her confidence, strength and focus, and she has made many wonderful and talented new friends!

Mele is the mother of two young adults and has spent some of her time riding horses competitively and surfing for more than a decade. Since childhood she has enjoyed dance but had minimal training in ballet and hula. She found Valentina's classes while preparing for Burning Man 2011. She took a couple hoop classes before going and upon returning, extended that to burlesque, belly dance, fire hooping & performing. The Hoop Unit has provided her an opportunity to challenge and express herself through artistic movement.