Arya MacDougall, 10, definitely knows how to spin a hula hoop. That’s not a surprise — her mother is Carrie-Lyn MacDougall, a.k.a. the Hoop Lady. Arya was disqualified in the hoop contest for being too good, but she gave a great performance nonetheless. (Richard McGuire photo)
Skipping ropes and hula hoops added a novel twist to Saturday night’s second and last Osoyoos Street Dance of the season.
Master of Ceremonies Clint Hawes brought kids and adults up to the grassy area in front of the stage to compete with skipping ropes and he handed out prizes donated by local merchants to the best skippers.
Then, as it got dark, Carrie-Lyn MacDougall, a.k.a. “The Hoop Lady,” brought out hula hoops — first for kids to try in a competition.
Hawes became suspicious when he noticed one girl was much better than the others at spinning her hoop. Upon questioning, the girl fessed up that she was Arya MacDougall, 10, the daughter of The Hoop Lady. Hawes disqualified her from the competition to give the other kids a chance, but he still brought her up on stage to perform.
By now it was getting darker, and The Hoop Lady herself gave a performance, spinning multiple hoops that glowed colours with LED lights. She made it look much easier than it is. The spinning hoops created a blur of moving light.
The skipping contests were dominated by the ladies of the Vajsabel family from Edmonton — mother Elise and daughters Alexandra and Julianne all won in their respective heats.
Although there was strong representation from kids and adults from Osoyoos, many of the participants were from other places — typically the Lower Mainland, other parts of the Okanagan, and strong representation from Alberta.
(Richard McGuire photos)
Sophie Soukeroff, 6, from West Kelowna, won her round in a skipping contest at the August Osoyoos Street Dance on Saturday. (Richard McGuire photo)
Elise Vajsabel, of Edmonton, is the mother in a family of skippers. She and her daughters Alexandra and Julianne all won their rounds in a skipping contest at Saturday’s Osoyoos Street Dance in Gyro Park. (Richard McGuire photo)
Julianne Vajsabel, of Edmonton, comes from a family of skippers. Along with her mother Elise and sister Alexandra, she won her round in a skipping contest at the Osoyoos Street Dance on Saturday. (Richard McGuire photo)
Julianne Vajsabel, of Edmonton, comes from a family of skippers. Along with her mother Elise and sister Alexandra, she won her round in a skipping contest at the Osoyoos Street Dance on Saturday. (Richard McGuire photo)
Carrie-Lyn MacDougall, a.k.a. “The Hoop Lady” gave a performance with LED-lit hula hoops at the Osoyoos Street Dance on Saturday as it got dark at Gyro Park. (Richard McGuire photo)
Carrie-Lyn MacDougall, a.k.a. “The Hoop Lady” gave a performance with LED-lit hula hoops at the Osoyoos Street Dance on Saturday as it got dark at Gyro Park. (Richard McGuire photo)
Carrie-Lyn MacDougall, a.k.a. “The Hoop Lady” gave a performance with LED-lit hula hoops at the Osoyoos Street Dance on Saturday as it got dark at Gyro Park. (Richard McGuire photo)
Children and adults dance under coloured lights at Gyro Park at Saturday night’s Osoyoos Street Dance. (Richard McGuire photo)
Clint Hawes, the mischievous MC at the Osoyoos Street Dances, sprays a jet of slime from a can at children on Saturday night. (Richard McGuire photo)
Children and adults dance under coloured lights at Gyro Park at Saturday night’s Osoyoos Street Dance. (Richard McGuire photo)
