When Hoopers Ask for Critiques/Criticism

Author Jill Janosek writes about the key critiques hula hoop performers should asses when preparing routine

Recently while prepping for a performance I had asked a friend to take a look at the choreography that I had been working on and I asked her “If I send you my routine today is there anyway you can do me a favor and critique as harsh as humanly possible?” This performance meant a lot to me and I wanted to do as well as I could. That meant not only having myself review it, but a fellow hooper who was knowledgeable on hooping and was also aware of my abilities as well.

After I sent her the link, the one thing I hoped for was that I would receive an honest critique and not just “That was super good!” Which got me to thinking, what are the main points of feedback I am looking for, and for that matter what others might be asking for critiques on? While I might not have been sure what I was asking, my friend is the bees knees and was able to send me some awesome advice and it really broke down into a few main points.

 
Hoop Routine Cleanliness:

Pay close attention to the planes, is everything flat and in place the way it is supposed to be? Do the movements seem sharp or does it look like they are fumbling? Are movements extended and fully finished or do they seem rushed? Is it a mash of the best moves they know, or does everything seem to flow?
 

Hoop Routine Transitions:

Can you tell that movements are going straight from trick to trick, or is there a more natural method of placement of the hoop from move to move? Does the hoop seem to stop between movements as though they are unsure of what move comes next?

 
Hoop Routine Variety:

Does there seem to be a lot of the same move used over and over? Are all of the transitions an iso variation? Do the movements use the space effectively, or is the hooper glued to one spot on the ground? Are levels being used efficiently or is everything done while standing?
 

Hoop Routine Originality:

Is this a routine that the artist looks connected to? Are all of the combos commonly seen? Do they add their own flair? Is there a favorite move of theirs that they do and is it included?

 
Hoop Routine Musicality:

Are the movements on track with the music? Does the flow seem connected to the beat or are they working separately? Are they efficiently transitioning with the music?
 

Having a second set of eyes focusing on the details and just watching the flow can really help the overall act. So if you are asked for some honest criticism or critiques and are looking to nit pick, I would recommend focusing on the five major aspects of cleanliness, transitions, variety, originality, and musicality.