SPRINGVALE — The hula-hoops go ’round and ’round to the beat.

Is it a dance, an exercise, both? Does it matter?

Whatever you call it, young people and a few adults stopped by Nasson Community Center Thursday for a chance to hoop, as the craze is called ”“ or, if hooping didn’t entice,  juggling was on offer.

The opportunities came as Nasson Community Center hosted its inaugural hula-hoop and juggling contest: Hoopstravaganza!

Hoopers say dropping that multi-colored hoop around their waist and moving to the music is just plain fun.

Alexys Devlin, 11, said her sister, Evangeline Graves, 9, taught her the moves.

“I learned from my friends,” said Graves. “Then I taught her. It’s easy and fun.”

Miranda Migneault, 9, said the rhythmic action “calms me down.”

Is it fun?

“Ya,” she said.

Instructor Tracy Tingley of Hardcore Hooping of Portland ”“ who was trying her hand at juggling under the guidance of Charlie Tranchemontagne ”“ said she teaches hooping in the schools, at the YMCA in Portland, at Portland Adult Education and in the corporate world.

“I’m on a mission to get people moving and have fun,” said Tingley, whose 70-year-old mother Joan teaches hooping in Belfast. “It burns calories and makes you lean and strong.”

Hoopers demonstrated their agility, some looping three or four hoops over their body and making them spin. Others dropped to the floor on their knees, keeping the hoop moving all the while.

Some tried their hand at juggling ”“ including Tingley, who attempted to hoop and juggle at the same time.

Tranchemontagne, who offers juggling instruction in the mornings to 30 or 40 kids at Willard School before classes begin, demonstrated briefly  and then got some young people and adults throwing balls into the air.

Then it was time for the hoops again.

Kaleigh Hill, on school vacation this week like her friend, said she came to the event because she thought it would be fun ”“ and she was right.

“It’s really cool,” said Chaler Brown.

“It’s pretty awesome,” agreed Rylee Collins.

Aisha Naimey, who coordinates the resiliency program at Nasson Community Center, said the idea to bring hooping, along with juggling, to the center came as she and her co-workers were at the schools, talking about what the resiliency programs offered.

“We brought hoops and juggling balls and the kids loved it,” said Naimey.

Voila! Hoopstravaganza was born.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 or twells@journaltribune.com.