Rewind to the pandemic, when a clip of Eshna Kutty, dancing to Genda Phool in a sari and sneakers while twirling a hula hoop, went viral in September 2020. The two-minute video (@EshnaKutty on Instagram) showed Kutty gracefully, joyfully spinning her hoop on her torso, moving it seamlessly to her arms, neck and even feet. It notched more than 2.3 million views. Almost overnight, the hoop went from being a fitness tool, a child’s plaything, to a gateway into an Instaworthy art form for homebound Indians.

Since then, fitness stores such as Decathlon have been adding serious and shiny hula hoops to their stocks. More Indian hoopers have popped up, and shown off on social media. They’ve held classes, workshops, and meetups online and off it. And it’s had a ripple effect on other flow arts – activities that combine smooth movement with object manipulation. In cities as far apart as Pune, Shimla, Kochi and Panjim, there are enthusiasts devoted to hooping, poi (cords with weights), dapostar (an eight-pointed spinning cloth), leviwand (a string attached to a weighted rod, creating the illusion it floating) and bo staff (a wooden rod commonly used in the martial arts).

It’s mesmerising to watch. But the new interest goes beyond the thrill of performing. Flow arts call for balance and flexibility just like in yoga; muscle isolation and stamina just like in Pilates; and a trance-like meditative quality reminiscent of whirling dervishes. It’s a complex hobby that just happens to look good on camera. And there are just enough fans to hold a regular Flow Arts Festival in Goa. See how an unlikely subculture is taking shape.

Annabele Charles Hoop dancer and instructor, 32

Charles, who works in clinical research in Thrissur, Kerala, was in the Decathalon store in Bengaluru in 2021 when she watched a child expertly spin a hula hoop around her waist. Charles’s competitive streak took over. She tried it too and realised, five failed attempts in, that it isn’t as easy as it looks. She bought her own hoop and practised, off and on, for three months before she was hooked.

Now, the hoop is almost an extension of her body. Charles devours videos explaining complex moves, she attends workshops and jam sessions. She can weave multiple spinning hoops at different speeds along the shoulders and sides of her body, she’s choreographed her own routines. She also teaches hooping online with HoopFlo, and engages with hoopers on Instagram. “The community is so supportive. Everyone’s a fan of the other.”

Manipulating a hoop (or several hoops) has as much to do with the mind as the body, she believes. Unlike a sport, or playing an instrument, there’s no need to pre-empt the next move. With practice, muscle memory takes over, the body finds its zen and the moves flow of their own accord.

So, it’s no surprise that those who are hooked on one flow art, end up trying the others. Charles has tried poi, dapostar, leviwand and bo staff. She’s upped her game with beachside fire jams (in which fire-wicks are added to the props). One of her favourite memories is cycling with fellow hooper Eshna Kutty through Fort Kochi in 2022. They had hoops strapped to their backs and taught waist hooping to curious passersby, including a shawl salesman and an autorickshaw driver, for free. “Their smiles, when they got the hoop to spin, were unforgettable.”

Yacobeh Co-founder Indie Flow, multi-prop flow artist, 32

Yacobeh started off as a software engineer in Bengaluru. On a trip to Goa in 2014, he attended a music concert, watching a musician performing with flow artists. He was fascinated by the smooth flow mix of dance, athletics, meditation and showmanship. “They had dragon staffs and other flow toys. It was smooth and very trippy - a noticeable synergy between the musicians, audience, and performers.”

He returned to Bangalore, determined to learn. “But there were no instructors or workshops then. I learned through YouTube videos.” He created his first pair of poi with socks stuffed with stress balls, and would spend hours after work in calming practice sessions, and jamming with other enthusiasts in Cubbon Park. One thing led to another, and while now, Yacobeh is proficient in several flow arts including leviwand, dapostar and staff, poi remains his first love.

Yacobeh quit his job to officially launch Indie Flow with his partner, fire-flow artist and lawyer Sarena Beri, in 2020. They organise events, teach, perform, and make and a sell wide range of flow props in India. “Ordering them from abroad used to take several months and was expensive. With customs (duty), a prop could cost ₹20,000,” he says. The items Indie Flow sells are priced between ₹1,000 and ₹2,500. He says they get 100 to 150 orders a month.

It reflects how the audience for the flow arts has grown, attracting those in their 20s as 30s. “It’s great to see more people with no formal movement background taking to the flow arts.” Beyond performing, Yacobeh enjoys practising for himself. He recalls getting home from work, turning on his playlist at 8pm and flowing for hours, until he realised it was 2am. “I’m not a dancer. But it has helped with flexibility and unlocked a freedom of expression. It can help you access a side of movement you never knew you had in you.”

Nitesh Sharma Dapostar artist, 25

In 2020, after watching a tourist in Goa expertly spinning an eight-pointed spinning cloth, Nitesh Sharma decided to give it a whirl. “Over three months, my friend and I learnt the basics.” The activity is inspired by frisbee and flair bartending. It involves spinning the cloth, often interchanging it quickly between both hands, around the body and in the air in complicated formations, to make it seem like it defies gravity. “It improved my coordination and reflexes, and using both hands strengthened my non-dominant left hand,” he says.

Sharma completed his MBA during the pandemic. But job opportunities were limited. So, he decided to bank on his skills, and launched Flowchakra in Shimla in 2021. It’s a busy life: He participates in events, holds workshops and performances around India. Most people who attend are between the ages of 15 and 30. But Sharma is particularly delighted when there’s interest from kids and those in their 50s and 60s. “It’s a fun and relaxing session,” he says. “People tell me they’re happy to learn something new and can release some pent-up energy.” Clearly people want more – Sharma holds intermediate/advanced sessions for seasoned enthusiasts and returning attendees too.

His company designs and sells dapostars. “Any fabric can be shaped into this spinning cloth. Dapostar inventor Tai Dapero stitched two towels together when he started,” Sharma says. Flowchakra uses a polyester-Lycra blend for heft and movement. Each design is priced between ₹1,500 and ₹ 2,500, and Sharma says he gets orders for 150 to 250 pieces a month, largely from South India.

“But there isn’t a strong community in North India,” Sharma admits. “Chandigarh and Delhi have some meet-ups.” In the southern states, the form is being taught a school in Bengaluru and some Mysore-based psychologists use it in their sessions. “It’s good to see children starting young and the flow arts being used in therapy.”

First mover: Eshna Kutty on how hooping changed the game

What’s happened since your viral 2020 video?

Flow arts are definitely more popular after the pandemic. People are investing in mental and physical health, hobbies, and travel. Parents are more supportive, and younger generations are vocal about their passions. In 2019, it would take a month to sell 15 spots at a workshop. This year, my company, Hoop Flo, has 7,000 community members, we’ve sold more than 3,000 hoops, our four-week programs sell out in minutes. I get tagged almost everyday on a hoop video reel by new new faces. I also no longer need to explain what hoop dancing is!

How come hula is everyone’s first step into the flow arts?

Hoops are familiar, they’re versatile. They appear in gymnastics, circus, and even school PE classes. Juggling is probably the second most common entry point, as people associate it with clowns, which then leads to pois and staffs.

What do you wish more people knew about hoop dancing?

That it’s not a new-fangled activity. Hooping shows up in cave paintings, the Roman Empire, world wars, and Native American folk dance. More practically, I wish more people knew about picking the right hoop size. Many adults give up because they were using a child-sized hoop, like wearing XS when you’re really an L.

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