Introduction to Fire Dancing Series Intensive

Course Overview

The Introduction to Fire Dancing Intensive consists of the material covered in the Beginner Poi Moves, Beginner Poi Dance, Beginner Poi Fire as well as material from the Advanced Beginner, Intermediate I and Dance Transitions I classes.

The intensive class begins with students learning the Beginner Poi Moves at their own pace using the Temple of Poi Computer Based Beginner Poi Training Program. By studying this material before beginning the poi intensive, students will develop the dexterity and basic skills necessary to attend a class of this intensity and duration.

At the beginning of the in person portion of the 25 hour training, students will review the moves taught in the computer based training:

• sweeps
• pinwheels
• corkscrews
• butterflies and take outs
• weaves

Students will then learn how to connect these moves together and will broaden their repertoire by adding:

• stalls
• stall and wrap combinations to go from same direction to split direction
• hip reels
• thread the needle
• butterfly turnarounds
• weave turnarounds
• weave pinwheel turnarounds

Students then gain some performance distinctions so they will understand how to address an audience in the most effective manner to maximize the view of the poi while also expressing their own unique style. After learning this material, students will have an opportunity to "perform" solo with their practice poi and get constructive feedback on how to develop their style further and understand where they can focus to gain the most in their development.

From there, students will learn about fire safety, how to make their own fire rig and will have an opportunity to both spin fire as well as acting as a fire safety to someone else.

Additional performances, both with and without fire, are interspersed in the training as students continue to gain more skills learning how to use and incorporate the following moves:

• buzzsaws
• thread the needle
• side to side thread the needle
• split direction corkscrews
• additional stall sequences
• hipreel/pinwheel combos

Prerequisites

This class is physically demanding. Students will be practicing poi 4-5 hours a day in class, as well as some time on their own. Students should have strong upper body strength and be reasonably fit to sustain their energy through this class. Students who have any injuries particularly in the neck, shoulder, back, arms, wrists and hands, should consult with us and their doctor before beginning this class.