Flow Festival Flow Artists Feature: Harmony Chenoweth
If hula hoopers were waves, they would flow onto the shores with ease. They would connect with every particle around them, breathe in and out in sync with the coral, rocks, seashells and sand. Their dance would be seen for miles around.
Harmony Chenoweth is the winner of the Flow Festival ticket giveaway in honor of Alexis ‘Lexi’ Aaron, who passed away last summer. Lexi was a hoop artist who won the contest for Flow Fest 2017 and this year, the organizers renamed the contest in her honor. Flow Festival will take place February 2-4 in beautiful Puna, Hawaii. This is Chenoweth’s second Flow Festival and she can’t wait to return in Lexi’s honor.
“I remember meeting Lexie last year,” Chenoweth said. “It’s really beautiful that they’re honoring her. She had so much passion for flow arts and the community. I feel super blessed, I’m going to flow in her place and carry on her image in that way.”
Originally from Eugene, Oregon, Chenoweth first came to Hawaii three years ago. This is her third time on Island.
“Hawaii is such a family,” she said. “The first time I came here I was wwofing and I fell in love with the vibes and the people.”
Photo credit: Joey Hart
Flow arts are a main component of Flow Festival, with fire-spinning circles, hoopers, poi artists, staffers and the like.
“My goal during Flow Fest is to further my connection with the community,” Chenoweth said. “We come together for the good cause of music — to share the space and create.”
Harmony took the time to answer some questions for our flow artist feature. Follow her on Instagram, 34thvibe and catch her flowing at Flow Fest! You can still purchase tickets here!
Q:What made you want to start hooping?
A: I was volunteering at a reggae festival five years ago when I first picked up a hoop. I had some downtime in between my shifts and a woman was leading a flow workshop so I participated. I learned super simple tricks but loved how fun it was, and the workout aspect of it as well (back then i was using a super heavy 38 inch hoop). When I got home I ordered my first hoop and have been addicted ever since!
Q: What’s your preferred size of hoop?
A: My preferred hoop size is 26 inch, 5/8th width for my double and single flow and a 30 inch for fire hooping
Q: What’s your favorite: LED, fire or day hoop? Why?
A: I love LED and day hooping but I would say my favorite form of hooping would be fire dancing! I am an aries and overall have a lot of fire influence in my birth chart, and when I light my hoop I get the most euphoric feelings and really feel one with my flow when I am spinning fire.
Photo Credit: Dave Musgrove
Q: Who do you get your hoops from?
A: I have been getting my hoops from the same woman my entire flow history! That is Hiptronic Arts based out of the big island of Hawaii. I was super excited to meet her and see the shop in person when I first started traveling to the islands three years ago, and two years ago she sponsored me.
(using code HARMONY gets ya a discount.)
Q: What’s your favorite trick?
A: It’s hard for me to pick a favorite trick but I definitely love off body variations like escalators and coin flips and rolls of all sorts.
Q: What’s the most beautiful place you’ve ever hooped?
A: I bring my hoops everywhere so narrowing down the most beautiful place is hard to choose … I have taken my circles all over oregon, through all the Hawaiian islands, across the country and back and soon they will be with me out of the country as well!
Q: Obviously you’d bring your hoop, but what are the other two things you’d have with you on a desert island?
A: Hmmm … Two other items i would bring with me on a deserted island would be some sort of music device and probably a good book
Q: What type of music do you like to flow to?
A: I like all types of music when flowing, depends on my mood. When I really am wanting to exert some energy I put on some trap or Bassnectar. Sometimes it varies between more house music or acoustic stuff like Rising Appalachia or Mike Love.
Q: What’s one piece of a dvice you’d like to offer new flowmies?
A: I would say that there is no wrong way to flow. To just pick up a hoop and as long as you are having fun that is all that matters. Connecting with the hoop community is one of the most beautiful experiences I have yet to have. I meet flomies wherever I go and always making friends through my travels with my hoops.
