Marika Sila
@marikasila - EDMONTON, CANADA
“You’re allowed to be both a Masterpiece and a work of art.”
Marika Sila, also known by the stage name ‘The Hoop Ninja’ is an Inuit hula hoop dancer, born in Yellowknife and raised in Canmore, AB Canada. Marika has performed for festivals and events around the world but mostly enjoys working in schools-teaching youth- the art of hoop dancing. It all started back in 2014 when Marika was travelling in Costa Rica to attain her yoga teacher certification, where she discovered a new found passion for hoop dancing. Since then, she has dedicated countless hours to her practice and has become one of Canada’s favourite hoop dancers.
Marika finds pleasure in supporting and inspiring others in the community and is proud to share her Inuit heritage. Marika has a passion for inspiring youth and is currently focusing on leading youth empowerment projects in schools and on First Nations reserves around Canada. Marika is always happy sharing her talents through performing and teaching workshops around the world.
💖 CanSpin Award Winner for 2017 “Hooper of the Year” 💖
q & a
Hooping is my strongest, I have been hooping for almost 3 years now. I play with fire and flow fans as well, l started them about a year and a half ago, and I also play with Poi every once in a while.
I would describe my flow as being dancy, flowy and maybe a little sassy. I take inspiration from dancers mostly and my partner in crime- he’s a Traditional First Nations hoop dancer and bboy 🙂
In the Anytime Fitness studios late at night. If you haven’t heard of Anytime Fitness yet, you need to find one around you! They are 24 hr gyms and each one has a dance studio where you can hook your own music up to the stereo system! Your pass works for any Anytime Fitness gym anywhere in the world!! It’s seriously the best.
I started April 2014, In Costa Rica while I was at a retreat to get my Yoga Teacher Training. A friend of mine was a hula hooper and on the last day in Costa Rica, we drove an hour into the jungle to a Burning Man Camp, this is where I saw fire hooping for the first time. It was Magical.
I have made so many close friends in the community, in person and internet friends. It is so fun connecting with such talented people around the world. The flow community has the power to change peoples lives, hooping changed my life! and It has the power to improve anyone’s life in this world. The more people we reach, the more love we spread to this world. My partner and I teach youth empowerment workshops, where we educate the students on anti bullying, drug and alcohol awareness and how to protect and preserve the environment. In these workshops we also perform and teach hoop dancing in schools and communities around the world, primarily in First Nations communities.