Shauna
Shauna Nikles - Portland, OR
@emberlitphotos, @Fearnowka
"Dear Flow,
lIl tell you things I've never said out loud before.
I'll tell you secrets I've never shared.
I'll express my deepest feelings to you without ever speaking a word. You will hold me in comfort without arms, and kiss me with your grace.
You'll never fail to make me feel like myself again.
Thank you flow for always holding space for me.
For all the smiles and laughter.
For reminding me that..
Sometimes you do not say what you feel, you just feel what you feel. "
-Shauna Nikles
Shauna Nikles is a flow artist from Ohio, who now travels full time throughout the western United States. Flow started as just a physical emotional release from a boring small town life to opening up a whole world of wonder, community and friendship. She began hooping in the winter of 2015 into 2016 and stayed as a single prop artist til picking up silk fans in 2022. Shauna has always been called to performance art, taking the stage in both high school and college singing and dancing. Flow arts has always felt like an evolution of that part of her existence.
"The community and art itself has allowed me to grow self confidence, and self awareness. I wouldn’t be the person I am today, or have the epic web of friends I do without flow arts. My hoop was my safety blanket from the start, and I think it’ll always be that way. "
q & a
My main prop is most definitely hula hoop!
I am an active performer with the V2 performers upcoming events are
June23rd&24th https://getfunkyfestival.com
August 11th & 12th https://dasenergifestival.com
October 2023 https://getfreakyslc.com
I am in love with performing, this is something I do as a part of the V2 performance troupe in SLC Utah. I’m also super passionate about the community and connection. I envision my future property being a place where I host flow arts retreats. Bringing together the vast talent to teach their crafts.
On that note I’d love to get more active with tutorials in the near future as well.
My style of flow is very rhythmic, and techy. I love tricks but coming from a music and dance background I find myself mixing both musicality dance and techy moves. Artists that inspired me are Taylor Flows, Albinoplant, Sydfloworrom_, AmberFlowz, Allieflows, Sammiejo_19. My list of day one inspirations could go on forever.
I love flowing in nature. But when it comes to practice I love being on hardwood in front of a big mirror.
My flow arts journey began in the winter of 2015 into 2016, it all started with my older sister Shayla wanting to get in shape with weighted hula hoops. We both ended up finding the Moodhoops website and purchasing two 32inch taped beginner travel hoops. It all started with waist hooping until I saw my first flow video from the only other hooper in my home town at the time Paige Otto, she was the first person I saw trying different tricks with hoops. From there looking up YouTube videos on beginner hooping and finding videos of Taylor Duffrin, I was inspired to order my first polypro and start attempting to teach myself.
Being a part of the flow community has saved me, shaped me, given me my best friends and my partner. The people in this community are some of the kindest, most supportive, passionate group of souls. Flow arts and the community has oozed into every corner of my life. It’s created a safe space for expression and creativity, a place to share, learn and grow. I think it's given all of us a lifelong community of people all over the world, and I think that’s pretty epic. I hope to always be someone people can come to with questions about hooping or flow. To create a safe welcoming environment for everyone!
It’s such an incredible rush of emotion, an energy exchange between you and a crowd of strangers. Being able to add to the experience of an event and be a part of the magic is so fun. I love being able to share what I love to do most with so many people and incredibly talented musicians!