The history of hula hooping is one full of play, ritual, reinvention, and a whole lot of joy. Long before hula hoops hit playgrounds or spun around hips at festivals, circular objects were used in ceremonies, games, storytelling, and athletic training across cultures.
Hula hooping has since evolved into a global flow arts movement with a blend of dance, circus, wellness, expression, and community. From ancient hoops made of vines to lightweight polypro hoops, the hoop’s journey is a beautiful reflection of human creativity and the universal desire to move.
Ancient Roots: where hooping began
Hoops have appeared throughout history in many forms. Archaeological evidence suggests that hoops made from reeds, vines, stiff grasses, or dried willow were used as children’s toys and as objects for rolling games in both ancient Egypt and Greece. Even early Greek physicians recommended hooping as a form of exercise, and today many modern physiotherapists and fitness professionals still use hoop-based movements to support core strength, mobility, coordination, and low impact aerobic conditioning. Another great reason to join a hula hoop class!
One of the most well documented ceremonial uses of hoops is the traditional indigenous hoop dance from Native North America. The dance tells stories of creations, transformation, and interconnectedness. Multiple hoops are used to create symbolic shapes and share their stories. This dance form continues to have strong cultural significance.
Hoop manipulation has a long history in Chinese performance arts, dating back to the Han Dynasty. One of the most iconic acts was Swallow Play, where performers leapt gracefully through stacked hoops, mimicking the quick, fluid movement of swallows darting through trees. This act required incredible precision, flexibility, and timing. This became a foundational skill in traditional Chinese circus.
Over centuries hoop jumping, hoop manipulation, and hoop balancing grew into staple elements of Chinese acrobatics, influencing modern circus traditions worldwide.
Across continents and cultures, hoops have been used for:
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- children’s toys
- agility and balance training
- ritual and storytelling
- circus-style entertainment
- fitness and recreation
While the materials, meanings, and techniques vary, the thread remains the same. Hoops have always been tools for movement, creativity, and expression.
The Victorian craze
By the 19th century, Hoop Rolling had become a craze! Wildly popular amongst British children, hoops were made of wood or metal, rolled with sticks, and raced down the streets. This excitement spread through Europe and to colonised countries including Australia.
The foundations of hoop culture as we know them today were established. Hoops were fun, portable, and irresistibly social.
The birth of the modern hula hoop
Modern hula hooping started in Australia in the 1950’s. Hoops were originally made from bamboo and the nation went hooping mad. In 1957, a partnership between Toltoys and Coles department stores resulted in the first lightweight plastic hula hoops that were sold in Australia.
But when did the term “hula hoop” actually start?
Well… that depends on who you ask.
Like many playful pieces of history, the origins of the term “hula hoop” shift slightly depending on the source. One of the earliest documented links between the term hula being associated with hooping was when British sailors saw dancers in Hawai’i performing their hula dance, and recognised a similarity between the hip motions of the dance and the motions used during early hoop play.
However it wasn’t until 1958 when the term really took off. Whilst Joan Anderson, was visiting Australia she witnessed the bamboo hoop craze that was sweeping the nation, and had her mother ship her a hoop to the USA where she now lived with her husband. It was here at a dinner party where she demonstrated the hoop and the moment often credited with coining the term “hula hoop”, as her guests also compared the movements to Hawaiian hula dance.
However it wasn’t until 1958 when the term really took off.
Joan Anderson, born in Sydney in 1923, witnessed the bamboo hoop craze that was sweeping the nation. Captivated by the trend, she had her mother ship a bamboo hoop to her home in the United States where she was now living with her husband. It was here at a dinner party where she demonstrated the hoop and her guests compared the movements to Hawaiian hula dance. Sparking a moment often credited with coining the term “hula hoop”.
The global hoop boom: How bamboo hoops became hula hoops
Joan and her husband told Arthur ‘Spud’ Melin, a toy businessman about the Hula Hoop, and although they believed they had sealed a deal with a handshake, Melin patented the hula hoop in 1958 through his company Wham-O. The hula hoop was an instant success selling millions of hoops within just a few months.
It has only been recently that Joan’s role in the modern hoop boom has been recognised.
By the 1960’s the initial hoop craze died down. Wham-O released an updated Hula Hoop in 1965 with added ball bearings that made a sound when it spun. This generated a small spike in sales, and the hula hoop remained a common toy throughout the decade.
Hula hoops were still available in toy stores in the 1970s but their popularity had faded. In the UK, the term hula hoop became associated instead with a newly released potato and corn snack that launched in 1973.
While hula hoops were still found in toy shops in the 1980s, they were less popular. In places such as China and Russia however, hoop manipulation was a developed skill within their traditional circuses and rhythmic gymnastics.
In the mid-late 1990s there was a re-emergence of the hula hoop. Hoops however were now larger and available in adult sizing. The focus this time was more on hoop manipulation as a dance form or fitness activity
The rise of modern flow arts
By the 2000s the hula hoop movement was solidified. It had become a lifestyle with online forums like hooping.org launching in 2003 which helped hoopers connect globally. Around the mid 2000’s dancers, circus artists, and festival communities began experimenting with
- new hoop materials
- new sizes
- different styles of movement
- LED hoops
- multi-hooping
- hoop dance choreography
This is where the modern flow arts movement sprang to life.
Polypro vs HDPE: a game changer
When lightweight plastics became available hoopers suddenly had faster, springier hoops. Hoops that were ideal for on-body or off-body flow, as well as a multitude of durable and colourful tubing to choose from.
If you’re curious about which material is right for your hoop style, here’s a great explainer: Polypro vs HDPE: What’s the difference?
A tradition that never stops spinning
The hoop’s transformation over time mirrors our evolving relationship with movement. Today hooping is loved for a multitude of reasons, from wellness & mental health (read 14 Mental Health Benefits of Hula Hooping), to artistic expression.
Hula hooping builds communities and connections through hoop jams, retreats, online flow communities, and classes. With one of the best bits being that anyone can hoop! All ages, all abilities, all bodies. Hooping offers a sense of achievement that grows with every trick learned.
The hoop has lasted thousands of years because it taps into something universal. It is ancient and modern, simple and endlessly creative. From ritual to recreation, from storytelling to flow arts, hooping continues to evolve and its story is still unfolding. What a magical thing it is to be part of something that just keeps on spinning.
Whether you’re new to the hoop or deep in your flow journey, YOU’RE part of a lineage thousands of years old. Let’s keep adding new chapters to this beautiful, circular story together!