learn fire poi

This is just too exotic. It can get back on my list when I move out.

When I came back home at the beginning of the month, I was surprised with a pair of hand-made purple and black striped sock poi by my partner. It was probably one of the most simple, yet incredibly thoughtful gifts I’ve received in quite a while.

She’s really encouraging me to start spinning since she’s taken up her staff again. I have one little problem with all of this, though… if I’m going to learn, I need to be able to do so on my own. If I’m going to screw up and hit myself in the face or break something in my apartment, I don’t want anyone else watching. I’m not too sure how that’s going to pan out, since she’s really excited about practicing outside with me. I really want to try them, but I’m going to wait until I can manage some time on my own to work out the kinks.

I’ve wanted to learn how to spin poi since a friend of mine peaked my interest with it. We were at the Taboo Sex Show about 5 years ago when we saw someone spinning in front of their booth. I remember her going up and asking the guy if she could try it out, and it was so entrancing that I’ve been determined to learn it ever since.

I want to learn how to spin regular poi, and then advance on to fire. My ultimate goal with this is to be able to spin fire poi while bellydancing. There’s a studio that offers classes in Vancouver, and I’ve been considering for awhile to have them teach me. I’m not very close with the people I know that spin, so I don’t want to bother them, or feel awkward joining a group and being the only newbie.

I think while I’m up north I might buy a starter set online and practice what I can pick up.

Today I order a fire poi kit off ebay.
I’m going to practise with these before adding fire to them.

My Aim: To Perform At Folk Week With My Fire Poi

I’ve gotten pretty good with my practice poi. My friend whose been performing for years says he’ll have me doing them on fire by May

I really want to learn to do this but I don’t know where to go to get lessons. I made my own and try but all I do is hit myself with them. I really want to do fire poi!!!

So in my latest adventure I decided to learn how to spin using fire poi. So I enrolled in the beginning fire poi class at The Crucible in Oakland. The Crucible is a industrial and fire arts collective and studio, its a huge place, a great place to learn from knowledgeable artists, and a great place to network and collab. You might have seen it featured in a local bay area newspaper, or on Mythbusters…its a cool place…im biased…I volunteer there. Ok onward!
I came willin and ready to learn to the second session…i missed the first due to working late night at the school for the spring production. When i entered the upstairs studio i was was greeted with a few people swinging stripe socks around and a welcoming smile from the instructor. She introduced herself as Scottie. She gave me the funny looking pair of stripe socks, two smaller nudie socks, and two cups of lentils. I assembled my practice poi.
The classes began with rotational work, changing directions, walking with the poi in motion, tricks like the butterfly, and so forth. Each of the class meetings got me working up a little sweat which is awesome, it is such a workout for the core and arms! ohh and i was so glad we practiced with anything but the real thing…because of the many times I hit myself only to sing soprano…luckily i played it off and was pretty sure no one was watching (yeah right! they were probably giggling and thinking there were magnets in between my legs).
All in all this was an enjoyable experience, with a little bit more practice ill be comfortable with the real fire set…im playing around with the led and color light set which is wicked cool. Ohh…hey! So I was watching Mythbusters the other day…lo and behold! I see Scottie the teacher hottie! So apparently Scottie is an awesome fabricator and welder that has worked with the Mythbuster crew several times…thats hot! Woman that can dance with fire, cut with fire, weld, fabricate, and still look cute in boots…awesome.
Get off your but and learn! Stop saying you will..just go and do it!
interested? Check it!
- www.thecrucible.org
- www.playpoi.com

SuperAn

A friend bought me a couple of poi spinning tutorial videos and they arrived a couple of days ago. I so far have only gotten to check out one, but it’s called “Poi Groove Basics” and I must say, I’m very impressed with it—tons of moves, slow mo option and you can loop one move over and over automatically, which is cool if you’re trying to master a move. If you’re looking to learn, definitely give this one a shot. The other one which came is called “Poi Spinning for Beginners”, as I haven’t yet popped that one in the player I’ll have to save the review for later. Anyway, w00t! :)

I got some spinning time in over the holiday, some of the first pics I ever got taken when spinning at night. My moves are still limited, but it was a lot of fun.

Yay! The practice poi I ordered have arrived! I’ve been practicing some very basic moves and I have to say it’s very frustrating. I know I’ll get better with time and I’m not going to give up based on a little frustration, but I sort of hoped I’d catch on quicker than this.