Poi Mastery Class at Britannia Centre - Fall 2010
Class Details - Fall Session
- Mondays, 8:45-10pm
- September 20-Nov 29 (no class Oct 11)
- Britannia Centre
- Class is held at 1661 Napier St, in Room 111 of the High School
- $120/ten classes or $16 drop-in (see note at bottom)
- Practice poi are available for purchase
How to Register
Since this class is offered through Britannia, they handle all registration. To pay, you may:
- Visit them online here: Britannia Centre
- Pay at the Info Office, 1661 Napier St
- Register here: Poi Mastery Registration
- Or call 604-718-5800.
About the Class
Moves are like short songs on a piano. They may help one uncover a few chords or fingering patterns, but they don't open up the entire piano's potential for full expressiveness. The same is true with poi. For complete freedom of movement, and for full understanding of each move and how it connects to others and how it can be altered, varied, and rearranged, we have to go a little deeper.
This class will be fun - how can poi not b...e fun? - but it will also be work. If you want to take even one step further toward mastering poi spinning in all its joyful simplicity/complexity, please join us!
*We'll cover the elements of moves like the weave, butterfly, and corkscrew, and then vary them, rearrange them, stretch them.
*We'll use exercises to strengthen hand independence, body movement, and individual poi control.
*We'll learn/create/practice poi sequences that will help break old habits.
*We'll delve into some really funky flower patterns.
*Isolations, hybrids, stalls, oh my!
You can register online.
NOTE: Full Course vs. Drop-in
In order to make this class work for as many people as possible, I'm allowing drop-ins at any time. If you show up part way through the course, you can expect to feel at home right away - the movement warm up is always non-intimidating, the poi concept of the day will apply to everyone, and I always rotate between students and give individual feedback.
However, in my ideal class situation, every single student would start at the beginning and continue until the end. This gives everyone in the class - me, you, and the other students - the greatest possible sense of consistency and progress. You'll very likely learn a lot more by developing a weekly practice than by dropping in once and a while.
In the end, I leave the choice up to you! No matter what, I'm just happy that I have the chance to teach poi to such amazing people!
Can't Afford It?
Over the years, I've had a few students tell me they simply couldn't afford my class. In those cases, I did my best to help out by offering one or two classes for free, charging a reduced rate, trading services, or even asking other students to help them out. Although I can't possibly do this for everyone, the sentiment is there: I'd rather help you learn than turn you away for lack of funds! So, contact me and let me know about your situation, and I'll do my best to help! Britannia also offers financial support for some classes. Under "Programs and Services," look for "Subsidies."
Where Can I Get Poi?
To keep the class fee down, poi aren't included, but there are several sources for buying your own pair!
-
For students who are interested in buying poi in class, I will have several choices of poi to test and then purchase.
The primary source for buying poi online is Home of Poi. Their shipping is surprisingly quick, their customer service is great, and they have a large selection. This link provides Night and Day Dance with referrals points which help us collect more tools for future classes, workshops, and performances!
What Are the Basics?
Here is a list of what I and others would consider to be the "basics" of poi spinning. These are the types of moves you can expect to learn during the workshop, Of course, if you already know everything here, I'll show you how to expand on what you know and push your abilities to the limit! There are always more complex variations to master (see below)!
- Same direction, forward or reverse
- Opposite directions
- Turning with the poi in front or back
- Same direction split time, forward or reverse
- The weave, forward or reverse
- The butterfly, forward or reverse
- Split time butterfly, forward or reverse
- Windmill, both directions
- Corkscrew, both directions
- Buzzsaw
- Transitions between any of the above
What Is Considered Advanced?
This is continually expanding territory, as there is always more to learn, and there are always more complex versions of old moves. Here is a list of the current core "advanced" moves and concepts:
- Turning with the buzzsaw
- Opposite direction buzzsaw
- Stalls (either hand, in any move, in any direction)
- Behind-the-back weaves or butterflies
- Under-the-leg variations
- Isolations
- Hyperloops/orbitals
- Hybrids
- Flowers
