Winter Solstice Fire Performance Class

Take part in a yearly tradition! Perform with fire on the shortest day of the year!

This ten week class at the Roundhouse Community Centre is designed for students who would like to learn to spin poi, work with other fire tools, create and learn choreography, and learn proper fire safety procedures. Although the performance is not a requirement of the course, we hope that everyone will get involved!

Workshop Details

• October 18-December 20
• Saturdays, 2-4:45 pm
• Roundhouse Community Centre, 181 Roundhouse Mews
• Each class roughly half instruction, half rehearsal, but this will change slightly from class to class
• $150/ten classes
• Fire/practice tools aren't included in the cost (see sidebar)
• Performance on December 21 at the Roundhouse
• Register online or by phone: 604-713-1800

Poi and Other Fire Tools

In the fire tools portion of this class, the focus will be on poi spinning. Beginners will gain a solid introduction to the basics of poi spinning, and experienced spinners will take their spinning further with new moves, new concepts, and new variations. There will also be an opportunity to work with torches, sword, hoop, staff, and a few other tools. Of these tools, what we focus on will depend partly on student interest.

Movement

The second portion of this course will involve movement - how to move in a grounded, fluid way, how to move in interesting ways with poi and other fire tools, and eventually how to create, practice and perform both choreographed and improvised pieces. Students who love to dance will have the chance to participate in and help create pieces that give them the opportunity to dance. Students who prefer the technical side of poi spinning can take roles that focus on more fire and slightly less movement. In other words, there will be something for everyone!

The Performance

Everything we do in this class will eventually culminate in a performance during the Winter Solstice Lantern Festival on December 21st, the shortest day of the year, and the darkest. Fire is a fitting medium, then, for such a performance, as it will allow us to bring light and warmth, and thus wonder and magic, into a dark, cold space. The performance itself will include both student- and instructor-created movement sections as well as music, costumes and tools chosen or made by the class itself.

I have been spinning poi and playing with fire for nearly five years, and I have questions and thoughts about how to make fire shows even more meaningful for both the performers and audience. As I compile these ideas, I will post them here for your reading and feedback. I'd also be more than happy to add your own contributions to this page!

Fire Safety

In addition to indoor classes, this workshop will include outdoor instruction and fire safety orientation. This includes types of fuel, how to soak and snuff fire tools, what to do when something or someone catches on fire, etc. The goal is to help everyone in the class feel comfortable around fire.

...back to Poi Lessons and Classes

Where Can I Get Fire Tools?

To keep the workshop fee down, tools aren't included. This is partly because many people now have their own tools, and there are several sources for different kinds of tools.

• For students who are interested in making their own poi, there will be the option to buy materials and set up a separate workshop for making poi together.

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