Tag Archives: fire

Summer Poi Spinning Update

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Here is a long-ish summer poi update. Please, please, please let me know if there’s something big I’ve missed, and I’ll add it!

In this update: 1) Poi classes, 2) Fire jams, 3) Non-fire jams, 4) Fire shows, 5) Poi community.

1) I’m teaching two classes this summer:

Thursdays in July – Trout Lake. Drop-in beginner and intermediate/advanced classes from 7-9 pm.

Mondays all summer – Britannia Community Centre. All level class from 8:30 to 10 pm.

More info: http://www.nightanddaydance.com/poi/lessons/

2) Fire jams are lighting up the summer nights!

Wednesdays at Trout Lake are gaining momentum. It’s said to be a slightly more “beginner-friendly” vibe, which is great for newer spinners. I go when I can!

Sunday at Trout Lake is the bigger night, sometimes with a dj or drummers, and lots of great spinners. This night tends to draw a bigger audience too. Come see what’s cookin’, or do some spinning yourself!

3) There are two regular non-fire jams now.

They happen at around the same day/time: Saturdays around 2 pm. One is at the Art Gallery, and the other is at Trout Lake. Oh, woe is I, how does one decide? Trout Lake is closer to where I live, and I like going there after the Farmers Market. This weekend I’d like to go to one, then the other. We’ll see! Both are are blast and worth checking out!

Another jam happens a little farther out – Wednesdays in New West. Check out http://www.vanjug.org for info!

Other folks have also been getting together on their own to practice and play. I’d love to see them post their info online, perhaps on the Vancouver Poi Enthusiasts page on Facebook. I wouldn’t mind having a few more friendly outdoor practice/play sessions myself! Anyone have a few new cool moves to share?

4) There are a few fire shows coming in July.

You’ll see fire-aplenty at Illuminares at Trout Lake on July 25th – a tradition during that event. The following night, I’ve been asked to perform with fire at an event on/near Spanish Banks. I’ll send more info when I know more, but it should be a pretty magical/meditative experience!

5) Poi community – I love it!

And I’d love to see it grow. One of my favorite moments at Firedrums was when I stood up from lunch in the lodge and started spinning. A few minutes later, five others had joined me and we were sharing moves and ideas. About ten minutes later, one of the kitchen people started banging out an awesome rhythm with a ladle on the steel counter. Then all the kitchen people joined in. Suddenly the room exploded into a thundering harmony of rhythm and sound – it was breathtaking, and it was coming from US! Then Burning Dan, an amazing spinner and teacher, jumped into a clear spot and starting jamming out and dancing with poi, and we all watched and cheered. What an amazing moment! Poi community!

So maybe this is what I’m suggesting: we need a poi day. We pick a day. We pick a place. We get together for the day, and we spin, eat, make music, and jam. The sun goes down, and then we burn, eat some more, make more music, jam, take photos and videos. Then we share our day, in images, online. Then we do it again and again!

So, what do you think? A poi day, this summer? August? Or do we think even bigger and call it Flow Vancouver and invite all the hoopers/staffers, etc too! What do you think?

I hope to see you out spinning soon!

Happy spinning, happy living!
David

Poi Jedi?

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I am embarking on a journey to become a poi Jedi.

I’m not necessarily doing anything truly different. It’s more a matter of focus, attention, and energy. I’m pouring more thought and time into what I do with poi, and the result is really striking. The lesson is simple, really:

The more you do of something, the better you get.

But usually most of us take this idea to mean an hour here, and an hour there. Nope, it’s gotta be deeper than that. BE OBSESSED.

led poi spinning triquetra Vancouver BC

led poi spinning triquetra Vancouver BC

So I’m obsessed with poi! I practice almost daily. I’ve been filming myself and sometimes cringing, sometimes cheering at the result. I keep making and trying new practice poi. I bought new fire poi. I talk to everyone about poi. I created a Google Map for spots to spin poi in Vancouver. I teach poi, and I’ll soon be teaching MORE poi. The more poi in my life, the more my poi-ness increases!

sock poi, fabric poi, tube poi, cone poi Vancouver BC

sock poi, fabric poi, tube poi, cone poi Vancouver BC

The really challenging side to my hyperfocus on poi is that I never really know at any single moment if I’m actually going anywhere. This is the cruel calculus of living in the moment – instantaneously, I’m actually standing quite still! It’s only when I look at the longer picture, my progression through the course of time, that I begin to see growth. It really helps to record oneself along the way, but we don’t always think of such things, do we?

Luckily, I’ve started!

It probably also helps to have a goal, but that’s tricky with poi. Do I make it my goal to tackle a certain move or set of moves? Perhaps. Do I aspire to enter a competition or perform in a particular venue? Sure. But what else is there? There is no Stanley Cup of poi, not really, and that’s not my angle anyway. I’m not much for competition.

Ah, the Jedi thing. There it is, full circle. The path of a Jedi is as important or even more important than the destination. The goal is fully entering the moment and making the best possible use of what is here right now. What’s here? Time, energy, a pile of poi to practice with, music, a video camera, desire. The more we use these things, the more we grow.

So that’s my quick take on poi, becoming a Jedi, getting better at something. What’s yours?