I first discovered poi in 2002 at the Mountain Aire Festival in Angel’s Camp, Calif. That weekend my sister Dina and I were onstage when Trey was playing with his solo band (thanks to Darren from Particle!) and rocked to Ween, Les Claypool, Robert Randolph, Galactic, Particle and danced the last bits of the night away to Perry Farrell and Alex Graham.
Our friend Ryan whipped out his poi, lit them on fire with gasoline and effortlessly spun them through space while deftly dancing within the burning circles. I was hooked. It was so gorgeous I had no words. He handed them to me (after they’d burned out) and I spent 15 minutes getting tangled in the chains and covering myself with char. That night, I went to sleep in my tent reeking of kerosene with a huge smile on my face.
The next few years were spent researching the art online, making my own homemade practice poi and eventually spinning fire. Poi has since become my instrument, as a dancer I have now found something outside of my body that can follow the energetic movements of my soul. Sometimes I spin the fire, sometimes the fire spins me...
Poi, which translates to "ball" in Maori, has been a significant part of the indigenous culture of New Zealand for generations. Traditionally used for warrior training, Poi has since developed into a contemporary art form and ritual of celebration.
The rhythmic Poi dance was originally used by Maori women to keep their hands flexible for weaving and by men to build strength and coordination required during battle.
Maori Poi is not traditionally done with fire. The practice of lighting Poi is speculated to have begun about 50 years ago, stemming from Polynesian performers using the flaming staff.
The art of fire dancing is evolving moment by moment with artists using tools like double poi, staves, fire fans and fingers, hula hoops, hand candles, crowns, whips, swords, devil sticks, clubs, diabolos, torches, batons and wings.
