I adore hula-hooping, but I rarely have much time or space to practice and I've been lamenting over the fact that I haven't conquered many hooping tricks - which I would love to have a firm hooping handle on. I decided that rather postpone my hooping advancement any longer - I would schedule a one on one session with Nicole from Cherry Hoops. Nicole was extremely responsive and very professional with all of my interactions with her. We set up a time to go over some things at Mobu studio space. Nicole was prompt and exceptionally personable. She jumped right into the lesson and I appreciated how clear and patient she was with instructions. We tackled a slew of things and though it can be hard to fit in that many things in one hour - Nicole kept both of us focused and I was impressed at all we accomplished. Of course - at the end of it all - it us up to you - the hooper to really practice and tackle all that you learn - which is where I am at now - but if I have since signed up for Nicole's leg hooping workshop and wouldn't hesitate to recommend her to anyone seeking some personal and in-depth instruction. Our hooping lesson was not cheap - but it was thorough and I loved how on top of things Nicole was. She also makes great hoops as well for reasonable prices. Check them out. Highly recommended. Trust. read more

So this review is for her classes, not the store. The classes are taught by Nicole at Levy dance studio. I love the format - there are 3 beginner series that her website says can be taken in any order. I'm in my final week of series a and i've already signed up for the next one! Loving it! Nicole is a very friendly and patient teacher. She does a good job of breaking down the moves and reviewing the parts that are difficult for most people. During the class, there are some practice periods where she goes around to give everyone more individual attention. She also sells hoops which is great since you can basically try them out in class first. I got a custom collapsible travel hoop that is awesome! It's lighter weight than I expected, but I really like that I can collapse it and bring it easily around on foot or on the bus of whatever. The eye catching colour seems to attract a lot of components from random passersby too Lol, no jokes. Otherwise, she brings hoops to every class to borrow up you don't want to make your own hoop investment yet In addition to these things, she organizes open gym sessions to practice your moves and meet other people in the hoop community. I went to this with my friend and I was kinda iffy since I'm still a beginner. It was a bit intimidating watching other people go, but they were nice and offered friendly tips and/or were kinda just concentrating and doing their own thing, so there's no unwanted attention either Hoop is great since it's not toooooooo hard to get a few impressive moves down, so that's a motivating way to start since you see progress right away read more

Bought a hoop from Nicole this week. She was super responsive and easy to work with. Her selection of hoops were gorgeous and she has lovely studio where she gave me a quick demo/tutorial. There was a lot of variety of hoops to choose from all on site- cherry red, multi, black and shiny, and turquoise to name a few. Great transaction and would recommend Cherry Hoops to anyone! Cheers. read more

Hula hooping is so fun! I just finished Nicole's 4-week beginner series and had a ball. I've been practicing in my backyard and feel like a little kid everytime I pick it up. I really like the way she teaches, she progresses in a deliberate fashion and adds on new techniques in each class. The environment is playful and there is no pressure; she makes sure to learn everyone's names and give each student individualized attention. I was very impressed with her teaching style and would definitely recommend her to anyone who wants to learn how to hoop. I plan to continue taking her classes and expanding my repertoire. read more

Nicole and Cherry Hoops is THE BEST! I called her on a Tuesday to get 35 hoops by Friday for a Bat Mitzvah and she rocked it! They were all so beautiful and so fun. We had kids from as young as 10 to adults in their 80's hooping to dance music in a hip South Beach loft. It was the best party favor ever and Nicole was so nice, so reasonably priced and so fun to talk to and decide on colors. Hoop on! read more

I absolutely LOVE Nicole!!! My interest in hooping started about 2 years back when I was waiting for OK Go's free concert at Stern Grove. We got there early to score good seats, so then there was a ton of wait time before they got on stage. During this wait period, I happened to spot a hooper nearby and I just fell in love with her performance. It looked like so much fun!! I live in the Peninsula so the only hooping class I could find in my area was through the city recreation center. I took a few sessions there but then found myself doing the same moves over and over. I craved something different to spice things up. I'd heard about Cherry Hoops but never considered taking a class with Nicole because it was in SF and about a 30 minute walk from my work. However, they performed during the Yelp 10 Year Anniversary boat cruise, and I decided it was a sign I should try them out. I am so SO SO SO glad I did!! I've taken two intro sessions with Nicole so far and have absolutely loved every minute of every class. The intro sessions are late - from 8-9pm so a lot of times I find myself wanting to go home after work. But then I always think about how much fun I have during class and that gets me going until 8pm! You are always learning something new with Nicole every session and she is an awesome, patient instructor who loves to hoop. You can tell she loves hooping and loves to teach it - she always has a smile on her face! I've learned so much from Nicole and so happy to have found Cherry Hoops - otherwise I think my desire to continue hooping may have died. I also recently just ordered a collapsable hoop from Nicole and love it. It's great for practicing hand moves before transitioning to the heavier hoop. Also, I was hoping for one that was pink pink and she didn't have one like it, so she custom made one for me! She's just that awesome. If you have any interest in hooping, take a class with Nicole and I guarantee you'll be hooked. Only pout is that it's so late so I don't get home until around 9:30 on those days. Luckily, she also teaches some shoulder hooping and transition classes from 7-8 so I think I'll check those out. Nicole is awesome! Did I say that yet? =) read more

Nicole is an incredible teacher (and one of the nicest people I've ever met). I took her beginner course without knowing how to hula-hoop at all (like I couldn't even waist hoop for more than five seconds). Four lessons later and I can waist hoop for minutes on end and do some really cool arm/hand hooping tricks (as well as a few transitions between arm/hand and waist!). Easily worth the time and money I spent. Nicole also did an awesome job of making me feel welcome. I signed up for the course with my girlfriend, and I was the only dude in the class. I thought I'd feel out of place, but Nicole never once singled me out, and I think it mage a huge difference. Other dudes reading this: if you're interested but uncomfortable, just do it. It's super fun and you won't feel judged at all. read more

Signed up for a group class and there was a bit of location drama. The studio we were supposed to be in was double booked and the other group won out so we had no place to go and Nicole was very apologetic and we all opted to just go to the park around the corner and it worked out fine! She even refunded half our fee for the trouble! I really like how encouraging and positive she was. She was such a sweetheart and she made a very open comfortable environment for us new hoopers. The music was fun and we learned a lot of cool things like how to bring the hoop from our waist to our hand above our heads and back down, Also some off the body tricks like rolling it on the back of our shoulders (although I don't think I ever did it correctly...) Had a lot of fun and I recommend her. read more

I attended Cherry Hoops' Beginning Hoopdance workshop today and it was incredible! I had a shoop shoop hula hoop as a kid, but I wasn't getting very far on my own with my new adult-sized hoop. Nicole is a great teacher--high energy, patient and very encouraging. She fostered a real sense of fun and community in the class. I appreciated all the extra hoops of various sizes and weights she had on site that we could try. By the end of the class I was tossing hoops into the air (and catching them!), hooping in both directions, even passing the hoop under each of my legs in succession. I highly recommend Cherry Hoops--I can't wait for the next workshop! read more

I had a great time in Nicole's class at Hoop Camp 2014. She is a great teacher and an incredibly sweet person. Hooping is an amazing form of exercise so if you hate to exercise - let Nicole teach you how to hoop :) A.J. read more

If you are even remotely considering taking a class at Cherry Hoops, my advice is DO IT! I had been interested in learning how to hoop dance for about a year before I started at Cherry Hoops, but never really committed to learning until I moved to the Bay Area this spring. I found Nicole's classes through a Google search, decided to sign up for Beginner Series A in July, and have been hooked ever since! I took beginner Series A and B consecutively, and after just two months with Nicole, felt confident enough to take the Intermediate Choreography class she offered in September. Each beginner series class focuses on different moves and combinations, so by the time I took series A B and C, I felt like I had a very well-rounded and comprehensive sense of different ways to move my body through the once-foreign hoop space. I'm now in the middle of my 5th class at Cherry Hoops (twin hooping for beginners), and I am absolutely addicted to this amazing exercise and art form. I love Nicole as a teacher because has a knack for recognizing when you need a little extra guidance, and makes a point to walk around at least once per class, giving useful personalized tips to each individual to improve the tricks we're practicing. She is an extremely patient and kind, and makes absolutely everyone from total beginners to seasoned hoop dancers feel welcome in her class. I never thought I would say this, but no joke, Mondays have become my favorite day of the week thanks to Cherry Hoops. Every week I look forward to an hour of fun, directed, and relaxing exercise, and I am amazed at how much I have progressed with hooping in the last 5 months. I will absolutely be continuing my hoop journey will Nicole, and I hope this review inspires you to do the same! :) read more

Like most others, this review is for her class, not the store. I'm currently enrolled in Nicole's Beginner B series and can't rate it highly enough. I came into the class with minimal hooping experience, but eager to get back into the swing of things. Nicole is an amazing teacher and INSANELY talented hooper. Some people can do, not teach, well Nicole does both beautifully. In 3 weeks I've already learned several impressive tricks and can't wait to sign up for the next class. I highly recommend this class for anyone looking to shake up their M-F routine, it's definitely the highlight of my work week. read more

Nicole is a talented hooper and a wonderful teacher. I took her shoulder hooping series after hooping for a few years, and I was thrilled that her instruction made things that had been hard or impossible suddenly much easier. She has a knack for describing specific movements or tips that pave the way to mastering each move. Highly recommended for both new and experienced hoopers! read more

The classes in Emeryville are super fun! Nicole teaches every move three ways so you're bound to get it one way or another. She is really good at spotting things you're not aware of and helping you smooth out your hooping. Everyone is welcome at the classes and she is able to make it challenging for all levels. I also love the high ceilings so we can practice throws. Hooping is a great workout! And if you want to learn in a fun and encourageing environment, then I highly recommend Cherry Hoop classes. read more

I contacted Nicole for a private lesson to help me work on knee hooping and smoothing out other performance tricks. She was wonderful! Within the hour, she'd responded to my email and set up a day/time to meet in Dolores Park. Nicole was very encouraging and had a lot of positive energy. She brought a bunch of different size and types of hoops with her so I could work with something different. By the end of our lesson, not only was I hooping on my knees (something I've been trying to master forEVER), but I also learned new troubleshooting techniques and off the body tricks. I highly recommend working with Nicole - she turned my frustrations into fun :-) Thank you!! read more

This class is really fun. She's a very lovely person and a great hoop dancer. If you have reservations about starting classes with her "Don't". You don't have to walk in and perform. It's a great group of people (even a few guys) and Nicole is a very good teacher, patient and a good communicator. No pressure, no judging. It's fun and considered "joyful exercise"...AND at the end you get a little taste of her routine to top off the class. read more

I bought a hoop from Nicole a few weeks ago an was very satisfied with my purchase. Her assortment of hoops were high-quality and gorgeous! And my shopping experience was so fun with her, I decided to take one of her workshops! The Beginner Workshop was a total blast! The entire 2 hours was filled with dancing and a whole lot of laughter while getting a great workout on. And by the time it was over, I was so confident in the new moves I learned, I bought another (different size) hoop! And I pretty much haven't put it down since :) Nicole is a super-talented, super-fun teacher and I can't wait to hoop with her again! read more

I hired Cherry Hoops for a children's program at my library. She was totally professional, punctual, personable, and charming. She performed for and instructed over 20 children (ages 5 and up) for at least 1 hour. She is an experienced teacher and excellent with children. By the end of the hour she had all the kids, parents, babysitters, and big brothers hooping along with her. Highly recommended. read more

I could never hoop as a kid and wanted to improve my balance, coordination, and sense of timing while having fun. Hoops are healthy and super fun. I pick up my hoop whenever I have 5-10 minutes and just have a good time. Nicole had me hooping in 2 minutes. She's a really caring teacher. Very professional and responds quickly to text and emails. I highly recommend both her instruction and this activity. read more

Incredible workshop at HOOP CAMP!!! Thank you Nicole for being so awesome! I look forward to taking your workshop again someday. :D

I've taken two sets of classes with Nicole, and she's such a great teacher and a nice person. Classes were fun, upbeat and varied- she stops to give very specific tips that make sense and are incredibly useful. She also has a knack for identifying what you're doing that may need tweaking along the way, and always does so kindly, yet efficiently. I plan on taking more classes with her when I can, I highly recommend her. read more

I had the pleasure of taking this class this past saturday and let me tell you it was so much fun!! Not only does she perform beautifully but she was able to break down all the movements so that the class could try things as well. I would take this class over again. I enjoyed it so much I even bought a hoop. I highly recommend it!! read more

Super fun way to sneak some activity into your workweek. Nicole is contagiously positive and a great teacher.

Nicole is very knowledgable, upbeat, I was cleaning up my shoulder hooping in no time. Great teacher!!

Having a skill doesn't automatically mean a person is able to teach that skill, but Nicole has it all: she has mad hoop skills and a superlative understanding of the art of teaching. She is simultaneously very knowledgeable, kind and witty. Her metaphors make perfect sense when explaining what the hoop is supposed to do ("keep the cheese on top of the pizza at all times"), and her attitude makes her classes a ton of fun. I especially appreciate how Nicole is able to troubleshoot, anticipating how things might go awry with a particular move and how to avoid/correct the issue, and she's able to watch you mess something up and immediately explain how you can improve whatever is ailing your move. Thanks, Nicole! read more

Love Nicole's classes! I've been taking her classes ever since I started hooping since last July. Great energy and teaching style. You should take her classes if you get a chance. Reasonable prices for classes. You learn so much and won't be disappointed. Seriously, she's the best! read more

fun! Fun!! FUN!!! :) If you're thinking about trying it, stop thinking & go for it! It's a great way to let your inner child loose & play while getting a good workout! read more

Love her classes, they are amazing. They are completely worth it. She is an amazing teacher and will take your hooping to a whole new level

I had the pleasure of taking a few classes with Nicole at Google, MTV. She started a small series by teaching us how to build our own hoops. I got so excited that I asked Nicole to give me a few privates too. The goal was to put together a small routine that would help me learn faster the different moves and sequences. Instead of privates, she ended up staying after the classes and putting together a small routine for me. She taught me with enthusiasm, attention, patience and pleasure. The routine was done on the spot, quickly, but didn't lack in creativity and fun. It was the right difficulty level, enough to challenge me, but not to discourage. She even took time to write down in an email all the sequences. I was very impressed by Nicole's engagement, sense of responsibility, choreography and teaching skills. Nicole is a beautiful hooper but she is a even more talented teacher. I am looking to having her teach me more. Thank you Nicole. read more

Nicole of Cherry Hoops is just the best! She distills her training down to very clear directions that lead you much more quickly to new skills. I'm an enthusiastic but very part-time hooper - wish I did it all the time, but without much practice I can pick up what Nicole teaches, impress my family, and embarrass myself with friends. Or vice-versa. read more

I've attended two different hoop workshops with Nicole and loved them both! Nicole offered a great range of tips and tricks to help expand my hooping. She is great fun and very supportive of all skill levels. read more

I cannot stress enough how much I love Nicole and her hoop lessons! I am on my second beginner series with Nicole and I'm already looking forward to what classes she will offer next. She does an amazing job of teaching. She's an extremely talented hooper, but she is able to walk beginners through extremely basic moves as if she just started as well. Her classes are fun and extremely informative. I highly recommend attending! Once you start you won't be able to stop :) read more

Nicole is talented, awesome, and cares about her students a lot. I came in not being able to do any sort of hooping, and now I feel comfortable doing quite a few tricks! I took one of her beginning courses, and am going to take many more now. Thanks Nicole! read more

I am taking Nicole's beginning hula hoop class and it is amazing. The class and Nicole have exceeded my expectations. She is an excellent instructor. She is flexible and encouraging. After 3 classes I have multiple tricks in my repotoire, can string them together and cannot wait for the next class. Her class is super fun and I am learning tons with a great group of people. I cannot wait to learn more and sign up for her next class series. read more

I've taken one of the Beginner Series classes, and recently the Chest/Shoulder Hooping Class. Nicole is a wonderful teacher, and always comes to class energetic and enthusiastic. She presents multiple ways of learning each technique, and takes care to review last week's lesson via detailed emails and in-class review. Nicole also encourages us to attend local hooping events and sells a variety of hoops for practicing. I've learned so much in previous classes, and I'm excited to be attending her Leg Hooping class this month. read more

Nicole is fantastic! I'm taking one of her beginner series courses now and she makes it fun and accessible. Even in a group class, she gives us individual attention and pointers on how to fix any specific problems we're having when learning a new move. read more

Nicole is great! I took beginner series B. The class is so much fun and is exactly what I need after a long day sitting in my desk at the office. I learned so many new tricks that seem really hard at first but Nicole breaks it down and makes it easy! read more

You really should take this class! It's a total blast. Nicole will amaze and delight, and she will impart her skills in a fun and wonderful way. My friend signed me up, and I'm so glad she did! The class is very casual, but you can take it as far as you'd like... from basic beginner skills to very advanced hoop dancing. If nothing else, take one segment! Really. (And wait til you see Nicole do her thing. WOW!!!) read more

Nicole's classes are the best. She is so fun, and kind, and she is a great teacher. She will make everyone feel comfortable (young, old, petite, extra-large, beginner, advanced, you name it), always warms up the class with some stretches and movements. Just the right blend of group instruction and individual help. I have taken two of her classes, and I have bought hoops from her as well. You will not regret checking her classes out! read more

These classes so fun and have become the only reason I look forward to Mondays!! Nicole is a wonderful teacher. She is positive, patient, and talented! I have completed the Beginners series A, B and C which have been a blast! Plus, the shoulder hooping class which was my favorite! Who knew my favorite festival activity would have turned into my weekly workout. read more