DJ Dantana
veteran
Registered: 15/08/01
Loc: Stillwater, Ok. USA
Ok, here it is, the long awaited "dancing thread". This is an open forum for the discution of dancing with your poi. This includes all forms of bodily movement, feet, hips, head, whatever you can think of. Well.....let's here some ideas.
What can you do?
What do you want to do?
What do you like to see?
etc?
Lets get some ideas floating around!
_________________________
we eat and we drink and we smoke and we try!
Astar
member
Registered: 08/11/02
Loc: Nova Scotia, Canada.
Well I can't really do anything but I like to see the crazy caporia style dancing in poi. I also would like to see break dancing make incorporated with poi, Although I realize it is very difficult to combine break dancing with poi, let alone make it look good. I was thinking swinging clubs with cheater loops would be good because you can just grab the clubs and do your break dancing and then go back to swinging.
what do i want to do: develop several distinct styles. ie; traditional/technical, liquid,drunken,breaky,chaotic.
i haven't touched the drunken yet, i have an idea of the flow for it, must watch drunken master again! that sudden dropping side to side swing of the body, lots of outstretching sweeps and direction reversals.
traditional/technical, imo, is charactized by standing in one place for most of the burn. focusing intently on twisty technical stuff. symmetrical, clean execution.
liquid: flow. freestyle. short orbit stuff. slow is better imo. folding from one class (bfly/weave) into the next, finding some rhythm in the music to beat match with. you can spin splittime and kind of move your hands inside the circle, you'll feel the wicks lighten up as the center of the rotation changes. ? . it's conducive to this kind of dance.
DJ Dantana
veteran
Registered: 15/08/01
Loc: Stillwater, Ok. USA
I've been working on several different styles.
I guess I can describe it as something similar to liquid dancing. It involves moving in smooth, fluid motions. The hips lead the feet sometimes, during sidewards movement. Whole spin can also move in sidewards "wave" flowing from teh head to the feet. I haven't yet tryed the reverse of this (feet to head wave)
When I turn I sometimes start it with a hip rotation (horizontal plane)
I also like to incorperate my arms into the poi movement. Let the circles grow and shrink.
The basic weave motions also can be shifted all over the place. For intsance, do a weave and then start moving the right hand closer to the left shoulder, the do the opposite hand, slid ethem up and down the opposite arm. Weave with one hand under the arm then above the shoulder. (I'm not sure if this is considered a part of the dance, but it could be)
capoiera steping is also something I have been attempting to incorperate. I don't remember the exact names, but there are like three basic steping patterns that are used. I do two of them. I haven't realy found a nice 360/180 turn that flows with them (unfortunatly) so when I go to turn it sort of puts a break in the pattern. The other capoiera stuff doesn't realy go to well with poi, staff..yes, poi....no (like the cartwheel stuff and ground work)
There is also a section of moves that my friends like to call "moves for the ladies" It is almost embarasinhg to describe. Basicaly it involves crude hip thrusting in variouse manners But there are a lot of variations (not jus teh old in/out in/out) I have seen some of it used in dance routines, so it is not entirely nauty.
There are variouse other hip motions that I use such as swaying back and forth and rotations at variouse fulcrums. also diagonal (up and side) movements coupled with smaller circles.
Also rotate the hips forward and drop down, resume original position and repeat.
Bouncing up and down is also an effective move for those jsut starting, it is simple yet it stil adds energy and gets oyu used to doing other things besides standing there.
I also like to raise a knee real high when I take steps and turn, this adds variety to the routine., along with raising and lowering oyur body. Crouch low, tip toe, etc.
Karate style steping and stances also can be utilized (back stance, fronstance, and walking using circular motions (also the ground)) if you have ever taken tai kwon do they use some interesting footwork to gget from point a to point b. basicaly you sometimes step in a semicircle in some steps and move your fet linear in other steps. also there are certian methods of placing your feet to turn.
Anyways, this is some of what I have been working on.
keep the idea coming
_________________________
we eat and we drink and we smoke and we try!
dancing with poi is something i didn't really start doing till last weekend, when i met this amazing girl. the person who originally taught me poi doesn't know very much so considers dancing with them to be very advanced and difficult. that made me assume it was something i couldn't do. so i met this girl, who's resume of poi moves (if you will) was far smaller than mine, but she has obviously had a fair amount of belly dancing experience which she sort of incorporates into poi. the thing that struck me the most was her corkscrew. i previously found the move boring, but she moved her hips and such with the poi and made it look like the most amazing thing ever. so i've started to pick up this style, because i realize that (in my opinion) no matter what i do technically i will always consider it more beautiful to see someone like that just doing simple moves. it just felt like she was poiing with her whole body and it was very ... primal or something. i don't mean to say that dancing or this kind of dancing is better than anything else, but just that i've come to a realization about my own style, and well, that i want to have one in the first place.
so i guess i had two very basic observations about dancing with poi: that it looks great when girls use their hips (perhaps the same is true for guys but i have yet to see a guy do that and be really into it), and also that it just looks great when you move your body in ways or into positions that aren't normal for everyday life.
(this is just my opinion and i don't mean to push it on anyone else, just sharing.)
Mistress Aurora
Hot Schtuff
Registered: 19/01/03
Loc: Stillwater,OK/Wichita Falls,TX
I try and incorporate "freak" moves into my poi.You can see a small snippet of few "freak" moves I do in the Booty one vid.It's still kinda difficult to put freak style and poi together.Most freak stuff I can do by myself w/o poi or w/o a partner.It's just trying to get it to work and look good for poi is my problem.With a lil time and practice I should get some more incorporated into poi and make it my
_________________________
RISK: Do not follow the common path; Go where there is no path and leave a trail.
Pele
the henna lady
Registered: 15/12/00
Loc: WNY, USA
A camel, or body roll forward looks really great with a rev. butterfly, timed where the butterfly seperates when the body comes forward (shoulders first, then chest, stomach, hips...in that order pushed slightly forward from neutral, in a wave). Then the butterfly closes in front when the body waves back. To add greater dimension, show a bit of stomach and add a belly roll (isolate each abdominal section, "rolling" them by contracting and releasing one then the next sequentially) to your body wave. Add length by doing this on tip-toe, and style by angling your body with each wave (ie: wave left, front, right, front, left). BUT keep the poi facing forward, so your body moves but they don't. This move also looks great with buzzsaw.
Hip lift. Stand sideways to your "audience" (say angled so the right is front). Plant your back foot releasing the front foot for balance. Contract your oblique muscles on the right so that your right hip lifts. Release to neutral. Now, do an atom about chest lever or above. Also add in a hip drop which is releasing that hip into a sitting position by releasing the muscles down and kind of sitting into it. Now try up, nuetral, down, nuetral, up..... As you do this shift the atom spin in rhythm with the hips.
These are the belly moves. Let me know if you would like Salsa, Flamenco, Hip-Hop, Ballroom, Go-Go or line dancing.... as I incorporate all these more "traditional" dance styles into my routines. Or, you can work on these and get back to me Santana
_________________________
Pele Higher, higher burning fire...making music like a choir "Oooh look! A pub!" -exclaimed after recovering from a stupid fall "And for the decadence of art, nothing beats a roaring fire." -TMK
Mistress Aurora
Hot Schtuff
Registered: 19/01/03
Loc: Stillwater,OK/Wichita Falls,TX
Another thing I'm working on is incorporating country line dancing into poi. Oh my gosh did she actually say country line dancing...The kind you do to country songs!!! Yes I did...I can do the Grapevine and sorta do the Electric Slide.
Santana yes I am still working on the "back that ass up thing" aka "freak".
_________________________
RISK: Do not follow the common path; Go where there is no path and leave a trail.
.Morph.
addict
Registered: 23/03/02
Loc: Lancashire, UK
I movement is pretty limited when I poi, this comes from poi-ing in a small room, focussing on the technical side of poi moves, & rarely gettin' on down on the dance floor. My movement style is more like a martial arts Tai Kwon Do v's Tai Chi stylie.
_Stix_
Pooh-Bah
Registered: 15/02/02
Loc: la-la land
from my point of view, Santana, Jo and Leleil have got it spot on! When I do poi in my back yard (where I can concentrate and meditate) I listen to the music that I'm hearing, most of the time its really slow stuff, Zero 7, Afro Celt Sound system, Nightmares on Wax and so on.. if the beats slow then I try to slow my movements down, if they dip at all I will make my body shape smaller, if the music is building to a creshendo (sp?) then I'll try to make my movements progressively larger.
I s'pose its almost like a ballet, I try to be a little theatrical about it all, remember how sweet and pixie like a little ballerina can be, agile and flowing, compared to a male kinda 'torriador' dancer - strong and proud.. thats what I try to do with the expression of my poi... sorry you'll have to use your imagination there as I'm not to good at putting this down in writing..
I like Leleils point of the girl using all of her body, turns starting with the hips (santana), makes me sort of think of the moves that ice skaters have.. awww! What an awsome idea... Poi on ice! I really like the idea of the two contrasting mediums, fire and ice.. now THAT would be cool! Think of the movement you could get in there..
<goes to find out where her ice skates are....> but just to finish, I try to remember my energy field around me, my frame, the music that I'm listening too and just try to keep everything in harmony..
[ 23. March 2003, 05:49: Message edited by: MisStix ]
_________________________
I honour you as an aspect of myself..
You are never to old to storm a bouncey castle..
Pele
the henna lady
Registered: 15/12/00
Loc: WNY, USA
There are several ice shows that have incorporated fire into them. Prevelently Busch Gardens permanent ice show. The performer from there used to be on the boards. He played some demon bad-guy character.
And the country line dancing is really not so hard. Try the Achey Breaky, GoodBye Earl and there are actually several more. This is one of the easiest dances to work poi into because it is so feet intensive leaving your hands free primarily. I have been doing it for years and think it is the easiest way to learn to dance with poi, but while fun it isn't show worthy because it is so much repetition, which is where other forms of dance become incorporated.
A big thing with dance, for me is that you have to be relatively fluid with your wraps to make the dance transitions with poi. Just my thoughts. Anyone else find something different?
_________________________
Pele Higher, higher burning fire...making music like a choir "Oooh look! A pub!" -exclaimed after recovering from a stupid fall "And for the decadence of art, nothing beats a roaring fire." -TMK
toast
member
Registered: 19/02/02
Loc: sussex or worcestershire
My personal style of dancing was the reason one of my pals handed me a set of poi two years ago, saying " i think you'd like this". I tend to rotate my hands alot in close proximity,(weave or windmill combos) letting the spin of my wrists take my body into different twisting and bending motions. I also like to let my legs cross over so that i can turn with a smooth spin of the body, but i have to avoid getting two stop starty, like micheal jackson . When dancing to dance music it i enjoy devloping repeating patterns of combinations, that build up toward a fast wide crecendo @ the appropriate moment.
i love dancing with poi, i find myself alot less inspired without the beat to work to.
Oh one last thing, spinning to reggae helped me alot to get the motions i was looking for, purely beacause you have a solid baseline, with simple slower bouncy melodies. get those knees going!
_________________________
I fell in to a burnin ring of fire, i went doo doopy doo and the flames they got higher, and it doo dumpy dooooooooooo.
Astar
member
Registered: 08/11/02
Loc: Nova Scotia, Canada.
Whats wrong with michael jacksons dancing? He is one of the best dancers out there (atleast in the spotlight)
Also I really like the idea of line dancing with poi. It's so simple and foot intensive like pele said it would allow you to concentrate more on heavy jedi-set technical moves. I think if you could do easier poi moves with more focus on dancing and then transition into something inspired by line dancing to do a few amazing technical moves without stopping in place and standing like a stiff board while you do them then you can transition back to another dance style. Not repetitive at all.
toast
member
Registered: 19/02/02
Loc: sussex or worcestershire
Err nothing, i said: " but i have to avoid getting two stop starty, like micheal jackson" i.e. avoid body popping unneccasairly, as an old MJ fan myself its easy to slip into it, i find it can disrupt the flow, thas all.
one other thing i've noticed with other fire dancers is the head, by moving, turning nodding and flicking back, a simple motion can look alot more dynamic, eg turning to face the oppposite direction to the movement of your hands.
_________________________
I fell in to a burnin ring of fire, i went doo doopy doo and the flames they got higher, and it doo dumpy dooooooooooo.
DJ Dantana
veteran
Registered: 15/08/01
Loc: Stillwater, Ok. USA
I do like the idea of letting the music guide your routine. Using changes in the music to co-incide with changes in your form. I do a little of that, like when the music slows down, you slow down. Or if there is a drum beats that comes in strong suddenly (techno has a lot of that stuff), use that point to shift to some more technical stuff/high energy/big body movements. I have discovered that it is getting easier for me to do technical stuff and still dance. Proabably just a combination of more practice dancing (get it down to reflex level?) and getting better at technical moves (practice practice practice) and practicing it all together. It gets easier over time. BTW I love everybodie's ideas so far!
Pele, I like the idea about the butterfly, I will try it out. I already do something similar, but without the body wave (moves for the ladies )
those hip movements are intruiging, I must try out some more movement techniques.
I can do belly roles going up and down. They tend to freak people out LOL, but it is funny to me. I haven't done them with poi though
also, I can suck my stomach way in (ribs stick out), or push my belly all the way out so I look pregnant. I'm not sure what good that would be in a routine, but it is an extra option.
_________________________
we eat and we drink and we smoke and we try!
one things is everybody's always stuck in this square planed out box. box of moves. learn the moves, then throw them away, i say! dance first. then start throwing in moves, getting more and more complex as each move becomes natural.
_________________________
-Such a price the gods exact for song: to become what we sing
-Seek freedom and become captive of your desires. Seek discipline and find your liberty.
-When the center of the storm does not move, you are in its path.
DJ Dantana
veteran
Registered: 15/08/01
Loc: Stillwater, Ok. USA
although....twirling fire at a rodeo might be cool. Get a bunch of drunk cowboys together watching somebody swing fire around. Everybody likes fire. especialy drunk cowboys....I have extensively tested this theory.
_________________________
we eat and we drink and we smoke and we try!
i HAVE twirled fire at a rodeo. but i didn't do no achey brakey, i'll tell you that much! they liked my bullwhip tricks...
_________________________
-Such a price the gods exact for song: to become what we sing
-Seek freedom and become captive of your desires. Seek discipline and find your liberty.
-When the center of the storm does not move, you are in its path.
Ewen (SpaceEmonkey) was dancing around with poi on rollerblades a couple of weeks ago at Spitz! It flowed!!
I'm more into jigging around that pulling off 5 beat reverse thingy's myself.
Prolly cause I can't but dancing is more fun
_________________________
Come faeries, take me out of this dull world, for I would ride with you upon the wind and dance upon the mountains like a flame.
- W B Yeats
Registered: 10/01/02
Loc: Melbourne, the new Land of Nod
When I poi I dance around in my "Drunken Pixie" style. Here's the basic recipe:
Some kind of combination of an ginga (Capoeira foot work) on the bottom half.
Rolling hip and waist movements on the top half.
Throw in a handfull of martial arts.
Sprinke with the odd cartwheel.
Don't be stingy on the wraps. (if anything go to the upmost extreme, hell, my theory on poi is, "If you think you are about to f*** someting up, turn it into a wrap.")
Be fairly liberal with the odd dance techniques.
Try to keep the flaming poi away from your face. (this may or may not include moving your head out of the way)
Keep out of the way of other twirlers.
Mix well.
Feel free to add or modify your recipie to suit yourself and enjoy.
_________________________
A wise man once said to me, Hey! You! Get out of my wardrobe! and in a way, I guess he was right.
bender
still can't believe it's not butter
Registered: 14/11/01
Loc: Melbourne, Australia
ima going to bee the devil's avacado (mmmm satanically fattening aplenty!) cus music doesn't impact me beyond the mid-routine outburst of 'hey, they're drumming faster now!' My twirling style is led more to where I may I only think up to about 3 moves in advance at most, and personally my twirling is more a journey through one of those possible destinations rather than to syncing to musical choonz, or even drumming or earthquakes. My twirling is more affected by environmental interaction (hmm tree trunks!) and twirler interation (argh toddler wraps!) contrary to pupular belief, sandwiches do not come from the beach.
quote:Originally posted by arashi: but i didn't do no achey brakey, i'll tell you that much!
oh sure mr asrashi,... do not let your boot-scoot betray your posts! SEARCH YOUR FEELINGS! YOU KNOW IT TO BE TRUE!!! IT IS YOUR DESTINY! mua ha ha ha hha etc etc.
[ 28. March 2003, 00:11: Message edited by: bender™ ]
_________________________
Laugh Often, Smile Much, Post lolcats Always
<holds nose to invoke whiny white man voice> thread jackers!! </end whine>
just dance like no ones watching! most of the time unless the music is pretty damn loud i can't hear it over the flames anyways.
how many of yall look at the crowd while spinning?
thats one of my things i'm working on, i feel more confident looking at my feet or hands instead of the audience.
what about bowing?
i have a hard time acknowledging crowd response. i would prefer to scoot out of the center of attention and return to my normal programming.
how many people have a predestined set they perform?
i almost always go freestyle, maybe quietly deciding beforehand what style, but no planning beyond that loose constraint. i've tried to choreograph with other people before but my lack of $killz was making it very difficult for both of us. born soloist! it's not a ego thing, more of a practical/partner endangerment issue. i don't mind sharing the stage with other soloists tho. the most fun i had with a partner was with a friend on stilts (w/ staff) while i was on the ground w/chains. i was wrapping on his stilts, going between his legs. fun. i do have some visions of coop battles with another set of chains. leg wraps, "strikes" , entrapments? (butterfly)
_Stix_
Pooh-Bah
Registered: 15/02/02
Loc: la-la land
I've not done that many 'performances' per say - but when I'm spinning in front of people, mostly ignore then, just do my thang, but then I'll do some butterfly type moves and look at someone in the crowd thru the flames intensly (don't know if they see me looking at them or not) but I think it gives a sort of connection to the flames for that person (or group of people in the direction I'm looking) If you can get really close to someone as well and do simple side spins close to them so they can hear the sound.
_________________________
I honour you as an aspect of myself..
You are never to old to storm a bouncey castle..
Pele
the henna lady
Registered: 15/12/00
Loc: WNY, USA
Yes..I choreograph for "real" shows, I also have sets of moves that go well together for more "improv" shows. This way my safety knows what I am doing, and I can be sure that my audience is safe.
Yes..I look at the crowd, sometimes I even talk with them, sometimes I wink, sometimes I just smile. It is really important to make that contact. That is part of the transition from hobbist in public to professional.
Yes..I make an exit, otherwise you leave the audience hanging. How many times have you walked away from something that didn't seem finished thinking "Geez, that was stupid". By making the ending clear you can do several things, reintroduce yourself so they don't forget who you are, make it clear the spectacle is over and receive your well earn accolades.
All part of putting on a show versus showing off.
Hey Santana...got those hip movements yet? Don't leave them just to the ladies as I can tell you, the ladies like them on men too! ahem*icecream*ahem
_________________________
Pele Higher, higher burning fire...making music like a choir "Oooh look! A pub!" -exclaimed after recovering from a stupid fall "And for the decadence of art, nothing beats a roaring fire." -TMK
really if you wanna be a pro you gotta do both. for many many years i just did the flow thing, and it's very good to have, so you can dance to any band or dj that walks up to hire you, and react to their music. plus i also have a set of moves that go well together, once you have that, you can spend more time reacting to the music. but if you wanna really blow people away you gotta perform, and that means not having to focus on your dancing and move your focus to the performance, the winks and such. man, all those girls looking at you like, "damn, i'm takin HIM home..." You gotta make eye contact with THEM at least! . rftek, i'd be happy to help you out with some pointers, next time we see each other (as if our styles needed any more similarities, huh?)
_________________________
-Such a price the gods exact for song: to become what we sing
-Seek freedom and become captive of your desires. Seek discipline and find your liberty.
-When the center of the storm does not move, you are in its path.
my advice? experi-meriment . really it's about what feels good for YOU, people can see and feel whether or not you are "there." try things and see what works. you're already working on the "moves for the ladies," but honestly, being sexy is sexier than looking sexy... if you want to pick up real tips, do what i did... take theatre classes! plus, i learned heaps from drag queens doing cabaret shows in San Fran. *respect* undoubtedly the best performers get their inspiration from drag queens. Little known hollywood secret. They perform, shine every moment of their lives! and they have style!
_________________________
-Such a price the gods exact for song: to become what we sing
-Seek freedom and become captive of your desires. Seek discipline and find your liberty.
-When the center of the storm does not move, you are in its path.
it tied in alot to what you we're saying earlier about taking cues from other performance artists, ie; drag queens and acting. this is something i've been thinking about lately.
part of my quest for myself is what am i as a fire performer? to be honest, it's all fun and games for me right now. i'm putting myself in the category of dedicated amateur playabout. i play because i love to, i get a lot of satisfaction out of making equipment i can later have fun with.
later yall
[ 29. March 2003, 04:49: Message edited by: rftek ]
DJ Dantana
veteran
Registered: 15/08/01
Loc: Stillwater, Ok. USA
wow, that article was THICK. It had a lot of good info, but it was a lot to digest in one sitting (and they didn't even go into great detail about a tenth of the things they mentioned). I guess that is why they have schools that teach this stuff, not just overnight classes, right?
Well, we have a show in a couple weeks. I am going to try and implement that stuff.
I used to think I was starting to get the hang of this "performance stuff" Now I see how amature I realy am. I may have been doing a lot of that stuff by instinct, but untill I became aware of it, I could never be as good as I could be.
It reminds me of when I first saw Circles of Light #1, I realized I had a long way to go, (just when I thought I had learned all there was to learn. I feel like a child again). I feel I am lost in a sea of information, and trying to decipher it all at once. I know it will take a long time to come close to the %800 percent that I need.
Thank you all for showing me this world, even though it shook my very foundations. This is a good thing.
#1 learn to poi
#2 learn to dance
I thought that was all I needed to know, I was wrong.
#3 learn to do all that other 1000 things in the above article.
_________________________
we eat and we drink and we smoke and we try!
Pele
the henna lady
Registered: 15/12/00
Loc: WNY, USA
That was the intro article to what he wants to be a stream of articles that incorporates a set of criteria for a strong physical performance. However, something to keep in mind...a performance is ALOT more than just getting up and dancing with the poi. THere is connecting with the audience, interaction, setting, costuming, music...it all plays a crucial role that makes or breaks a show.
That article was superbly researched and written, but is presented in a circular fashion that makes it difficult to sift through at points, I agree. In many areas Mikie is very correct. The thing is, you can not force your body to do something it does not feel and have it look good. More you have to find what feels good and work your body into polishing that up. I simply disagree with the order he has placed them in. I draw my inferences in this from my training and experience.
The second edition of Burn Syndicate was supposed to be out last month I thought, but Juliet is a little busy now. His next article is about the studies that go into movement and performing..yoga, dance forms, tai chi, alexander technique, etc. It talks about performance principles from a personal perspective, about how to implement them and where to really dig the teeth in and what to grace over. I know, he interviewed me for it!
Anyway, I would be happy to open a discourse about this here sometime if you are interested, but I maybe when it is not 1:30 am and I have a workshop in dance to teach the next day! LOL
_________________________
Pele Higher, higher burning fire...making music like a choir "Oooh look! A pub!" -exclaimed after recovering from a stupid fall "And for the decadence of art, nothing beats a roaring fire." -TMK
Mistress Aurora
Hot Schtuff
Registered: 19/01/03
Loc: Stillwater,OK/Wichita Falls,TX
I'm working on something pretty neat!It's kinda hard to do and I will ONLY do it using electro-glo or practice poi...Never fire because what I'm wearing is made of a flame-worthy material.
Oh yeah! I'm also working on my freak moves.I got my turn the hips thing and moving with it pretty much down.Need to work on more technical freak moves along with poi!
It looks darn good!!!
_________________________
RISK: Do not follow the common path; Go where there is no path and leave a trail.
I'll have to go back some time and see what this thread is currently about, but for now I'll just share my own thoughts and style of dance.
I dance with my poi. I call it a poi-dance. I do not try to incorporate other existing styles into my dance (have you ever seen a line-dancing balet?).
When I am dancing I try not to think of what move I am doing, or what I am going to do next. I simply let the poi do thier thing and try to keep myself out of thier way, not allways sucessfully. I just try to get a flow going and move/spin with that.
_________________________
The world is not out to get you but if you fight it you will be eaten alive
I thought I danced, but after reading this thread, I think I just try and move gracefully - I don't dance according to the rules of any particular style (though maybe there are some elements of irish dancing in there, as I used to do that many, many, many moons ago)
I have used some tai chi movements with the poi, and that seems to work well - though it seems to work better when I'm using my fire fingers.
toast made a good point about turning the head - it is quite a nice effect
I do move in accordance to the music (when there is some) starting with slow music (for choreographed shows) and some basic tricks done with slow body movements, then building up to fast poi movements and fast body movements. I like to slow it down again before a fast ending - sort of like a false end almost. I will cut music down (through a cd burner thingo) to ensure it's of the correct length, and will time it out on a bit of paper, before reconstructing the whole thing into a continuous flow.
mmm, more thoughts to come when I reflect a bit more on this discussion.....
Registered: 13/08/02
Loc: ati: on: She: ffi: eld: UK:
Well put, Jeaden. I dance with my poi, in the way people usualy dance when they're out at a club... Moving their bodies around to music. My poi are props in my dance, and i wouldn't dream of dancing without them. I don't perform with my poi, and get embarrassed when people watch to closely, so I don't think of it as a performance... any more than most people would think they were performing if they were just shakin' the booty to the tunes. I'm aiming to be able to do all the moves i nkow i can do, however technical or easy, strung together in whatever order the music dictates, fluidly, smoothly and above all, without hitting myself in the head. My electroglos only weigh 75g each including the string, but it's still annoying after the 100th time...
It's time to waste some of my bosses time by writing in a HOP discussion group when I should be slaving away. This is what they get for not having cameras watching me all the time.
Anyways, back to topic.
I'm trying to combine some aikido moves with Poi. Aikido always involves a really low, balanced stance with your hips facing forward. You can move pretty fluidly in any direction in a rather menacing way. With the Poi swinging around, however, it's kind of hard to get those hips going the way I want them to go without wacking myself.
But if I can figure it out, it'd look cool for Poi fights.
The aikido stance could be the performance part, and the dance part could involve slowing down and speeding up the Poi in time with the music. We could even try timing our "strikes" with the music.
Wintermute
Lost in the world but loving it :)
Registered: 02/04/03
Loc: Maybe Oxford, maybe Brighton ;...
Its good to see capoeira and aikido mentioned (I do both ), I always try and incoprate lots of big expansive arm and body movements into anything I do including the poi.
I imagine ginga could be used but its a little difficult to keep the poi from smashing together due to the side to side movement of ginga, you sort of make a triangle pointing behind you and move your feet from point to point (that was a really bad explanation)
Hmmmmmmm lots of new ideas now, you could try and throw a forward flip through a butterfly, or if you were absolutely badass you could do a flat folha seca whilst doing a corkscrew, possibly, you might die tho
Have alook here for made capoeira type stuff to incoporate, and if get it to work tell me
bender
still can't believe it's not butter
Registered: 14/11/01
Loc: Melbourne, Australia
quote:Originally posted by Wintermute: ..capoeira type stuff to incoporate, and if get it to work tell me
wintermute, mate, i strongly suggest that you grab a copy of Circles of Light IV when it cometh out. I certainly will not be the only one who will do perferm their best capoeira combination movements and routines. Unfortunately, they do not allow for twirling toys at the rodas at the upcoming Melbourne Batizados!!
mmm capoeira makes me hungry
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Pele
the henna lady
Registered: 15/12/00
Loc: WNY, USA
quote:Originally posted by Wintermute: I imagine ginga could be used but its a little difficult to keep the poi from smashing together due to the side to side movement of ginga, you sort of make a triangle pointing behind you and move your feet from point to point (that was a really bad explanation)
Spin your poi in the horizontal plane (parallel with the ground) for this. It works better than vertical, imho. Split time Bfly movement work well with the ginga, and that just opens up even more fun experimentation! Hope this helps a tad!
[ 11. April 2003, 13:32: Message edited by: Pele ]
_________________________
Pele Higher, higher burning fire...making music like a choir "Oooh look! A pub!" -exclaimed after recovering from a stupid fall "And for the decadence of art, nothing beats a roaring fire." -TMK
Registered: 08/01/03
Loc: Harrogate, Yorkshire, England
I know its not really dancing, but has anyone tried park skating (rollerblading) while spinning? Quarter pipe 180s look great with a horizontal mexican wave if you tuck up and get one poi under you skates as you turn.
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Is this were Im supposed to write something interesting.....errmm.........AVOCARDO!!!!!!
I don't suppose anybody lives in taiwan who knows where to study capoeira? There's aikido studios here, and dance studios, but I don't know about capoeira.
Pacifist
[ 11. April 2003, 12:18: Message edited by: Pacifist ]
Gidg
Super Gidg!!!!
Registered: 11/04/03
Loc: Portland Oregon USA
Has anyone thought of using traditional Polynesian dance technique? Lot’s of hip and leg movement but keeping the upper body still. If you want a challenge try an Omi, hips moving in a circle, keeping the upper body still while twirling. Add an extra element by doing the whole thing while turning your body in a 360. Remember the point of the exercise is to keep the upper body still . There are some people that just can't seem to do it.
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Can you guys help me start my routine? I can do all the basic moves: reels, butterflies, weave, wiggle etc but I need a push to get a routine together, something simple but what looks great - I've been practicing for a couple of weeks and would like my routine to fit with maybe funky house. Please help with any good tips
[ 14. November 2003, 10:27: Message edited by: kymble ]
Pali
journeyman
Registered: 27/01/03
Loc: Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
How to create a routine for funky house: put in some funky house and poi until you can't poi any more. Use soft practice ones at first so you can try stuff. Let the poi lead you and show you where they want to go. Dance with it! Your feet aren't doing a thing when you poi so there's a lot of freedom and opportunity down there.
Remember to save something for last - I always save the chase because it's fastest and will put me out when the heads are ready. Have fun and remember to dance like no one's watching!
_________________________
Genuineness only thrives in the dark -- like celery.
Pali
journeyman
Registered: 27/01/03
Loc: Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
quote:Originally posted by Gidg: Has anyone thought of using traditional Polynesian dance technique? Lot’s of hip and leg movement but keeping the upper body still. If you want a challenge try an Omi, hips moving in a circle, keeping the upper body still while twirling. Add an extra element by doing the whole thing while turning your body in a 360. Remember the point of the exercise is to keep the upper body still . There are some people that just can't seem to do it.
Bellydancing with poi! It was destined to happen! Not only are we sexy girls on fire - we're sexy girls on fire shaking our booty!
_________________________
Genuineness only thrives in the dark -- like celery.
I've done a couple of times what my friends have dubbed "the dance of Maudite"... I drink 2 bottles of 9% Quebec brewed beer and fly at it with my fire poi.
I don't recommend getting smashed and spinning poi, because it greatly affects your judgment, motor skills, etc., not to mention its a big risk, But it did force me to spin in a different way than I'm used to (because of a certain blood alcohal level)...
I've seen "drunken master" and some other material on the subject of drunken boxing. It seems to me that the style relys on offsetting your center of gravity, creating a funky looking movements to fool the eye. Speed in the style varies too. Slow and relaxed positions can then become bursts of energy, then back to slow and relaxed. It looks quite impressive
Being intoxicated sort of gave me a "feel for it" if you will. If I could "appear" to be totally off balance and confounded but be in the right mind and have perfect balance then I think I could explore this further. Unfortunately I don't have a clue how the mechanics of this style works, and I need a lot of practice on some of my ground work (rolls, and tumbles with poi). I'd like to learn some more if anyone has insights to this.
and as for the performance stuff, I'm really just an amature out in public... But I never know when someone might walk up to me and say "hey we could use you for such and such an event", so I think it's good to educate myself about such things.
Quote: Bellydancing with poi! It was destined to happen! Not only are we sexy girls on fire - we're sexy girls on fire shaking our booty!
Mmm, that's what *I'm* saying! Actually, I *was* incorporating contact juggling with my bellydance (it looks great with the body rolls ) but since ive been spinning i found that poi looks so much sexier with the bellydance than CJ did, prolly because you have a wider range of body motion when you spin... And letting go into the dance helped me loosen up my poi moves too.
And i sooo agree that guys can do the hip rolls and such too... you guyys look just as sexy to us when you shake your booty.
_________________________
"I have no particular talent. I am merely inquisitive." -Albert Einstein
no seriously, thats the first bit, then assuming your technicality is all that it should be you shouldent have any trouble fitting what you know from dancing into poi. Movement has been my latest thing for poi, check out hip-hop steps, country dancing ect, good for footwork, for the body, men, move your ass! this esspecially applies to british spinners. Dont be afraid to do simple stuff when dancing, no-body really expects you to charleston though a hyperloop. For the arms, try linear movments aswell as circular ones, get your longarm and seperations sorted, do isolations at the side whist turning around, run about, travel, colapse, STOP, jump, change speeds, dynamics.
T
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-><- Kallisti
#124295 - 21/11/0306:50 AMRe: dancing with poi
[Re: [Nx?]]
Durbs
Classically British
Registered: 23/09/01
Loc: Epsom, Surrey, England
I've been learning lots of foot glides and floats for use with my CJ, but you can put them into poi too.
I don't think you can learn to dance with poi, you just learn poi for long enough that you're confident to switch off the poi part of your brain and just dance
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#124296 - 27/11/0312:05 PMRe: dancing with poi
[Re: Durbs]
yannicus
member
Registered: 16/07/03
Loc: Paris, France, the armpit of e...
i think dancing with poi is not essential, but it a plus. just doing figures gets boring.
i think that with fire poi the slow and sensuel works good, if you catch my drift. i mean, on contrast with glowstick dancing, like those tekno turtles, in which the moves themselves can look like a dance, the wraps espescially, and the mind games. i would find that sort of stuff amazing to music, like timing wraps with beats and stalling when there is a build up to go mad when the sound comes crashing back
im working on those the most at the moment, but i don't always have a beat to work to, because its too cold to poi outside, and my roommates are usually watching tv or working which makes it hard to put on pumping house music and dance around without being noticed.
but, with time all will improve.
im not much of a belly dancer, or a capoeira master. i like to swing and turn and do little fast steps and them long stretched ones. crouching down and tiptoeing is also cool, but its not like i have any dance steps, i let the poi drag me, and i let the music drag the poi
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Quote: These are the belly moves. Let me know if you would like Salsa, Flamenco, Hip-Hop, Ballroom, Go-Go or line dancing.... as I incorporate all these more "traditional" dance styles into my routines.
Would love to hear more about this, Pele... can you give us more details (unless of course, you can share some of it on video)?
We have tried some throws adapted from swing, and have utilized belly dancing, tango, some capoeira steps and kicks, moves that feel similar to ice skating (at least seem the same - I dont skate), african dance, etc. The ability/inclusion of level changes seems to help a lot in dancing with poi.
We also, while prepping for a group performance piece, worked a lot on interaction between people spinning and dancing, in a freeform style. We worked out a lot of ways to pass the poi back and forth (and all around), explored some great wraps on partners, two person butterfly's and weaves (one poi each or two poi in one hand), hugs of death, back to back turning weaves and all kinds of other stuff. It also helped immensly to have people without poi come and mischeviously play/dance with those spinning, which pushed the people with fire to move in new reactive and proactive ways, and for those without fire developed a lot more awareness of how to interact with the other person's fire in partner/group spinning interaction (suddenly those without poi were initiating surprise wraps , etc.) Havent tried multi person throws yet...
Though these type of interactions dont neccesarily equal dancing with poi, they go a long way toward helping to facilitate it - good practice focusing on movement and interaction instead of technical moves, having attention split betweent them both, and bringing (forcing?) movement into the realm of feeling and flow instead of intellectualizing moves (you will know right away if you are thinking about what move to react/interact with, instead of interacting/reacting). And, I hadnt heard anyone mention multiple people dancing interactively here yet, so I wanted to throw this out there.
But I wanna hear about how you are incorporating hip hop and go-go ...
i'm not really a dancer, but i am learning to incorporate some of my tai chi moves into poi somewhat.....
it's great for your coordination, but i've no idea if it looks good. only ever practised it alone.....
funnily enoughlast night i was told that they way i poi looked like tai chi even though i have never done it. but i do love the grace of it. as i have just started i am trying to get it so i am not just walking/standing around doing the tech moves but its hard when you don't have music. although at the weekend i did blast it up and did punk poi
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#124301 - 14/10/0406:40 AMRe: dancing with poi
[Re: GothFrogette]
Tao Star
Pooh-Bah
Registered: 30/05/03
Loc: Bristol
i do english folk dancing and french - it works quite well.
if you go to a techno rave, just look at the people skipping on the spot and imagine them moving around, it's kind of like that. Except you don't move too far or you lose the people you were with.
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i do english folk dancing and french - it works quite well.
if you go to a techno rave, just look at the people skipping on the spot and imagine them moving around, it's kind of like that. Except you don't move too far or you lose the people you were with.
i have done a bit of traditional english folk dancing but not much and it was fun, the only time i usualy do it is at beltain, which i also have not done in a couple of years,
i did see some morris dancer in whitby and that looked like great fun, i wonder if that would work with poi, obvioulsy being very careful
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Life's too short to worry about where you put your marshmallows
#124303 - 16/10/0402:55 AMRe: dancing with poi
[Re: Kat]
elasta
addict
Registered: 28/11/02
Loc: wishing to be in Rio
I have always found personally, that dancing and poi are inseparable. Who here hasn´t found themselves on a dancefloor and kinda visualising poi movements as you dance?
I agree with what has been said before - its a matter of listening to the music, or feeling your own natural rhythm if you´re not listening to music and let thm moves just flow into each other.
It is really noticable those who dance,and those who do series of tricks. Both are watchable and entertaining, but dancing is so much more aesthetically pleasing - and in my opinion more enjoyable.
close your eyes and move.
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I have always found personally, that dancing and poi are inseparable. Who here hasn´t found themselves on a dancefloor and kinda visualising poi movements as you dance?
I agree with what has been said before - its a matter of listening to the music, or feeling your own natural rhythm if you´re not listening to music and let thm moves just flow into each other.
It is really noticable those who dance,and those who do series of tricks. Both are watchable and entertaining, but dancing is so much more aesthetically pleasing - and in my opinion more enjoyable.
close your eyes and move.
thats how i do it, of cause the hoot from the cars tell me when i am about to get run over
_________________________
Life's too short to worry about where you put your marshmallows
#124305 - 17/10/0407:27 AMRe: dancing with poi
[Re: GothFrogette]
Richee
HOP librarian
Registered: 15/01/02
Loc: Prague
I like doing anti-moves, like with low turn when I still it down horizontal i move my back to back while stillling and when Poi stops i run against them
I like doing anti-moves, like with low turn when I still it down horizontal i move my back to back while stillling and when Poi stops i run against them
oooh that sounds luurrrrvvvvvvlllllleeeeeeeeeeeeeeyyyyyyyy
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Life's too short to worry about where you put your marshmallows
#124307 - 17/10/0408:51 PMRe: dancing with poi
[Re: GothFrogette]
Zim
Former Raver Invader... Not sure what i am now...
Registered: 28/09/04
Loc: Southern California, USA
to poirob2... i am the oldschool straighting master. That's old school skating, WHILE stringing... me and a friend of mine got boozed up and were doing it at some park for hours... then the popo 5-0 came and did the whole "you kids need to go home... NOOOOWW!"
then about a week later(under the same blood alcohol circumstances) i was doing it on a friends board in front of a bank.... then i fell... and it hurt...
-Your Friendly Oldschool Straighter ~Zim
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Clean for 6 months and counting... ah yeah, that's nice.
#124310 - 21/10/0405:36 AMRe: dancing with poi
[Re: Kat]
My hairs on fire
If its got pistons or boobs, its gonna be expensive...
Registered: 21/10/04
Loc: Cyprus
When i spin - Eyes are closed, hair is wet and i go go metal lol! drunken master all the way me thinks...let your arms be pulled by the direction of the poi an use the legs to quickly catch your balence due to the nose diving skull lol!
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Hope all is well : )
I incorporate dancing and any type of liquid type danceing into my fire poi shows, and when I am just spinning glowsticks on strings as well. I am from the Dallas party scene and considered 1 of the original party kids and old school kandie kids that help get the scene started when it was going nowhere. Everyone in the party scene here knows me, and or has heard of me. I was the first person to spin fire in the scene here as well.
#124314 - 16/10/0710:18 AMRe: dancing with poi
[Re: Toke]
DJ Aman
newbie
Registered: 26/03/07
Loc: Lodi Heights, Michigan
I combine C-walking and Melborne shuffle to create a smooth floating effect. I'm also kind of notorious, where I'm from, for my popping and locking so I'm kind of expected to incorperate that into performance. But when no ones around I just like jumping around, doing crazy front flips, and hoping I don't hit myself.
#124315 - 25/01/0801:59 AMRe: dancing with poi
[Re: DJ Dantana]
Bernie_Flame
Poi junkie
Registered: 06/12/05
Loc: In your face!
Coming from a dance background, I feel it has helped my spinning no-end. Having a strong knowledge of Ballet & modern dance has helped me develope style and grace into my spinning. But more recently I have been Tap dancing with Poi just to see what is possible. A friend of mine also does Tap & Poi and we had great fun with this. Wings & maxi fords are both possible- and a great way of adding extra beats! Since I have seen lot's of other stuff done with poi such as stilts, acro, rollerskates etc, I was wondering if anyone else has tried poi & tap or has seen this done before?
_________________________
man who go bed with itchy bum wake up with smelly finger!
#124316 - 26/01/0802:31 AMRe: dancing with poi
[Re: Bernie_Flame]
PinkNigel
Pinker than thou
Registered: 04/05/06
Loc: A little pink world all my own...
Written by: BernieFlame
I was wondering if anyone else has tried poi & tap or has seen this done before?
What's the gaucho (? maybe) thing with the clacking poi(-like swingy things with metal weights) on the ground as you tap that Cirque du Soleil had in Saltimbanco called? That was/is tap and poi at the same time (though the poi moves were *very* limited -parallel circles in and out of time and 2 and 3 beat weave is pretty much all I remember- even in the Soleil show)
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A wise man once said: "You have two ears and one mouth, therefore you should shut the up and listen" (though, to be fair, he might not've put it _quite_ like that..)
#124317 - 26/01/0804:57 AMRe: dancing with poi
[Re: PinkNigel]
Bernie_Flame
Poi junkie
Registered: 06/12/05
Loc: In your face!
Written by: PinkNigel
What's the gaucho (? maybe) thing with the clacking poi(-like swingy things with metal weights) on the ground as you tap that Cirque du Soleil had in Saltimbanco called? That was/is tap and poi at the same time (though the poi moves were *very* limited -parallel circles in and out of time and 2 and 3 beat weave is pretty much all I remember- even in the Soleil show)
Sounds interesting- poi doing the tap sounds! were they tap dancing at the same time? would like to see this!!
_________________________
man who go bed with itchy bum wake up with smelly finger!
#124318 - 26/01/0806:25 AMRe: dancing with poi
[Re: Bernie_Flame]
PinkNigel
Pinker than thou
Registered: 04/05/06
Loc: A little pink world all my own...
Ask and you shall receive...
_________________________
A wise man once said: "You have two ears and one mouth, therefore you should shut the up and listen" (though, to be fair, he might not've put it _quite_ like that..)
#124319 - 26/01/0806:57 AMRe: dancing with poi
[Re: PinkNigel]
AmaraO
Member
Registered: 03/01/08
Loc: South Of The Swan, West Oz.
Wow...that was pretty cool.
As a bellydancer venturing into Poi, I will be blending my poi and bellydance..I already have some 'routines' in mind, just have to learn and get fluent in the poi moves...
Ordinarily when I've been practicing my poi I use upbeat music and just let the music take over.
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You also tilt when you should withdraw, and that is Knightly too. Rest In Peace, Heath.
Proudly Owned By FireTom.
Theres a group in USA who use "voi". A combo of veil and poi as they put it. Will send you a linkie. Jeds used flags with dancers before but more as a spinner not dancer. Remind me to have a look at my silk flags.
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#124324 - 01/02/0812:23 PMRe: dancing with poi
[Re: animatEd]
Bernie_Flame
Poi junkie
Registered: 06/12/05
Loc: In your face!
Written by: Look_This_Changes
the cirque thing is/are called boleadoras.
I mix poi and popping/boogaloo.
Do you mean body popping like street dance? Getting into that at the moment, finding it tricky but it's great fun! I love dance. I would like to see a version of 'puttin on the ritz' with fire staff- that would be
_________________________
man who go bed with itchy bum wake up with smelly finger!
a lot of popping is all about making interesting lines and shapes and movements with your body, which compliment the poi so well.
Waving is a bit harder to incorporate whilst spinning poi, because of the level of body isolation needed to make just the waves look good. a dead still hand can't spin poi! works great when manipulating the poi instead of spinning them, though.
It's good to see more people getting into it. good luck with it!
_________________________
Empty your mind. Be formless, Shapeless, like Water. Put Water into a cup, it becomes the cup, put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle, put water into a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Water can flow, or it can Crash. Be Water My Friend.
I like to listen to Dance Gavin Dance when I spin or other bands like Paramore, Job For A Cowboy or Emarosa.
I can usually find a rhythm while listening to those bands and it adds a lot to my poi.
Especially "Surprise! I'm From Cuba, Everyone Has One Brain" by Dance Gavin Dance and "Tragic Tragic Track Jacket" by HeavyHeavyLowLow really get me to do some interesting stuff while doing anti-spin flowers.
I guess modern is the style I tend to use while dancing.
I actually saw my first poi being swung at a dance part/rave type scene here in the pacific northwest, so thats always been a part of how I move with mine.
I'm decent at popping and locking, but I find the style difficult to mesh with poi and prefer fluid dancing over it. A little freestyle movement and expression always helps as well.
The other day a rock song remix came on the radio while I was swinging for some friends so I turned my body to the side, started swinging my left arm in large circles and the thrashing with my right arm in a small circle so it looked like I was jamming on a guitar. That along with the head banging got my buddies laughing hysterically (in a WOW kind of way).
But yea I just prefer movement in general over anything. I have a friend whos feet never moves when he does poi so it looks like hes always in control. When I spin even I don't know whats going to happen, I just let my body follow the poi...Heres a link to the vid page so you know what I'm talking about.
I have been taking (beginner) modern dance classes since 2 years.
And now I can do a pirouette with giant vertical reel
I am thinking of getting ballet classes next. My experience has been no matter what genre of dance you are interested, ballet technique is always involved.
One thing I am working on is being able to do my backflip while spinning. I can do it but I have a hard time getting a full flip because most of a backflip is done with your arms. I have a break dancing and free running background so im starting to do a lot of wild things with poi now that I have better poi control.
#124330 - 07/08/0811:28 AMRe: dancing with poi
[Re: animatEd]
newgabe
what goes around comes around. unless you're into stalls.
Registered: 03/03/05
Loc: Bali
Written by :Look_This_Changes
yup, that's exactly right.
a lot of popping is all about making interesting lines and shapes and movements with your body, which compliment the poi so well.
you mean like this Maori classic from the 80's?
(wait for it... it gets there with a Maori Michael Jackson) Apparently it gives advice about how to survive in the city... whih seems to be DO POI!
_________________________
.....Can't juggle balls but I sure as hell can juggle details....
#907251 - 27/02/1007:14 AMRe: dancing with poi
[Re: DJ Dantana]
Sister Eleven
owner of the group property
Registered: 03/08/09
Loc: Seattle, WA
I figure I'll bump this old, very general, thread to ask my question instead of making a new one.
I'm looking to start taking dance lessons to add more interesting body movements to my spinning. While a lot of dance styles seem to lend themselves well to simple poi technique, what have people who have formally learned dance found goes well with more technical spinning (spinning with odd hybrids, UTL, atomics and plane bending, etc.)?
It seems like technical spinning kind of needs its own style, but that style must have relatives. I've seen highly technical poi spinners who dance (like Nevisoul and Yuta), but I don't know dance well enough to know what else their movements are similar to. I'm worried something like bellydance (which I'm going to give a try at the urging of my friends) will break under the strain of some of the things I like to do. As far as I'm concerned, the poi come first, and if an attractive dance style requires me to simply not exploit some of the poi's possibilities, I'd just as soon lose the style. (With due props to great dancers with simple technique; it's just not how I roll.)
Anyway, I'm tired and rambly. If anyone has ideas I'd love to hear.
leospoi
Poi explorer
Registered: 02/02/08
Loc: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Celtic music works well for UTL since you're moving your legs A LOT anyways. As for the other advanced spinning I just put all of the emphasis on the poi trick looking good and then move my body around this constraint (or opportunity to emphasize the trick). For me dance and movement with advanced poi is just walking and running, quick turning and pirouettes, jumps, and changing my center of gravity.
I don't find belly dance and poi all that mixable, except for a few undulations with butterfly or corkscrew based moves: I've been belly dancing for 8.5 years and poi spinning off and on (shoulder probs) for about 7 of the last 18 months.
When I was first getting in to poi I looked for vids combining the 2 on youtube, it was hard to find any with both good belly dance and good spinning: mostly it's fairly experienced dancers doing very basic spinning, Sage does great spinning with pretty basic belly dance.
I think it's because most bellydance moves come from your core, and don't show that well whilst you're spinning. YMMV
Belly dance is the only dance form (other than the free form style known hereabouts as flailing mania) I've done since I left school, so I can't recommend another form in particular: I only know that IMO poi doesn't combine particularly well with belly dance.
Mostly when I'm attempting poi dancing myself it's home brew, but then I do it mainly for my own pleasure.
Any form of dance / movement training would be better than none but I'd lean towards something more dynamic and with more arm movement
#907592 - 05/03/1006:11 AMRe: dancing with poi
[Re: Jameth]
Sister Eleven
owner of the group property
Registered: 03/08/09
Loc: Seattle, WA
(On the other hand, maybe I don't need much in the way of dance lessons; last night was the third spin jam in a row I got told I was fun to watch. What up with that?)
liquidtrance
i dream in circles...
Registered: 29/11/05
Loc: Scotland
i do a lot of stuff in nightclubs with my flowtoys so I've taken up the 'tutting' dance style cos it's quite effective for freehand work, as for general dance i dunno, never been much good with my feet
_________________________
even chuck norris can't pin you down if your on fire
#907635 - 06/03/1003:46 AMRe: dancing with poi
[Re: Pur]
liquidtrance
i dream in circles...
Registered: 29/11/05
Loc: Scotland
I live in scotland UK I'm afraid otherwise I would love to!! plenty of people on HOP live in that area though so check out the 'meet others' section, you should find someone
_________________________
even chuck norris can't pin you down if your on fire
#909769 - 06/04/1012:16 PMRe: dancing with poi
[Re: toast]
Mel Mepham
journeyman
Registered: 03/04/10
Loc: Wellington, New Zealand
the lady who gave me my poi told me that its not about the way you move your poi as such but the way you move with the poi, i liked that, the poi should (in my opinion) should be an extension of yourself when dancing, you need to feel the tension of the poi's and use it to your advantage when moving with them.
#910191 - 09/04/1008:42 PMRe: dancing with poi
[Re: Mel Mepham]
leospoi
Poi explorer
Registered: 02/02/08
Loc: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Very true indeed, since your arms are pulling on the poi all the time the poi are also pulling on you. You need to treat your whole body as another prop to manipulate and in unison with the poi create interesting patterns.
#914811 - 02/06/1001:05 PMRe: dancing with poi
[Re: Smurf24029]
Sister Eleven
owner of the group property
Registered: 03/08/09
Loc: Seattle, WA
Hm. I just realized one can move one's shoulders and hips in different timings and directions (except together-opposite doesn't really work), and the same with other joint pairs. I wonder if there's an appealing way to work this into body motions to play against one's hybrids or simpler spinning motions.
EpitomeOfNovice
Putting the "FUN" in fundamental since 1981
Registered: 15/09/09
Loc: Dover, Delaware USA
Have you looked into Bollywood style? I could see that combining with tech quite well. I'm still pretty simplistic in my movement, but am finding that modern, lyrical, and older hip-hop moves are very compatible with poi (locks and new jack swing, mainly as far as hip-hop goes).
_________________________
~Rock on!~
"As the pattern gets more intricate and subtle, being swept along is no longer enough"-Waking Life
(All you RLers this is epitome_of_lame *waves hello*)
been mucking around with getting the melbourne shuffle incorporated into my poi routines. not sure if anyone has done this before would be interested to see if any of you melbournites have had success in being able to do this
_________________________
would rather have a bottle-in-front-of-me than a frontal lobotomy
"The dangers of life are infinate and among them is safety"(geothe)
#916573 - 26/06/1004:48 AMRe: dancing with poi
[Re: toast]
Smurf24029
Poi Master Smurf
Registered: 05/09/09
Loc: Tacoma, Washington
So I dont know if this has been mentioned in here yet or not, but my friend gave me an idea. Figure skating with fire dancing. Seems interesting to me.
_________________________
Fly High Spin Hard Don't Stop
#916578 - 26/06/1007:09 AMRe: dancing with poi
[Re: Smurf24029]
EpitomeOfNovice
Putting the "FUN" in fundamental since 1981
Registered: 15/09/09
Loc: Dover, Delaware USA
Sounds great if you're an excellent skater, but I think I'll pass on that one! I've been toying with some Latin ballroom footwork lately and it seem promising...
_________________________
~Rock on!~
"As the pattern gets more intricate and subtle, being swept along is no longer enough"-Waking Life
(All you RLers this is epitome_of_lame *waves hello*)
Smurf24029
Poi Master Smurf
Registered: 05/09/09
Loc: Tacoma, Washington
I LOVE THAT VIDEO!!!!!! Do the Turbonoba Child. Gather the Mushrooms, Pick the Apples ahahahahahahaha me and my friends actually did some of those at raves. Especially lost in the woods with a bewildered stare
Also Epitome, The idea is definitely something that would require amazing ice skating skill, but when I imagined someone really good at both ice skating and poi, it opened up a few ideas that would only be possible on ice. Just a fun thought that I figured would be appropriate here.
_________________________
Fly High Spin Hard Don't Stop
#916588 - 26/06/1010:28 AMRe: dancing with poi
[Re: Smurf24029]
EpitomeOfNovice
Putting the "FUN" in fundamental since 1981
Registered: 15/09/09
Loc: Dover, Delaware USA
Originally Posted By: Smurf24029
Also Epitome, The idea is definitely something that would require amazing ice skating skill, but when I imagined someone really good at both ice skating and poi, it opened up a few ideas that would only be possible on ice. Just a fun thought that I figured would be appropriate here.
If this manages to come together I want to see a video! I love watching the funky figure skating routines and would love to see it with such an element added Staff and skating would be pretty awesome too!
_________________________
~Rock on!~
"As the pattern gets more intricate and subtle, being swept along is no longer enough"-Waking Life
(All you RLers this is epitome_of_lame *waves hello*)
#917366 - 07/07/1007:39 AMRe: dancing with poi
[Re: LazyAngel]
EpitomeOfNovice
Putting the "FUN" in fundamental since 1981
Registered: 15/09/09
Loc: Dover, Delaware USA
I have just encountered a dance hangup during my last burn and wondering how anyone feels on a basic level about this...
How are you supposed to pivot and pirouette let alone have a good flow on grass that is anything but well manicured? I can't dance on anything but a dancefloor or pavement with optimal success, but crunchy, thick, long grass was the biggest thing screwing up my flow.
Any advice on just being on rough grass? I have a hard time doing anything on uneven, not smooth ground...
Edited by EpitomeOfNovice (07/07/1007:40 AM)
_________________________
~Rock on!~
"As the pattern gets more intricate and subtle, being swept along is no longer enough"-Waking Life
(All you RLers this is epitome_of_lame *waves hello*)
Sister Eleven
owner of the group property
Registered: 03/08/09
Loc: Seattle, WA
I have similar problems with burns at the beach (sand blows) or on ground that isn't level. Honestly, I think you either have to spend a lot of time on these surfaces, or just suck it up and/or avoid them. I try to avoid venues that involve bad ground, since I never can get the hang of them.
You try loose sand and you will adore crunchy, thick long grass.
You're not supposed to have a good flow on these surfaces at all - it's just trying not to look too disgraceful and keep smiling.
For me the trick simply works like: continuing to stomp my feet to the beat of the music. Next to take steps. And finally to make the transitions of the moves according to the beat. at some stage it's pretty obvious when the transitions in the music come (counting) so you can sync to that once you get the hang of it.
I find sync spinning @ >130bpm's quite straining and don't even try to keep up longer than 2min's. Usually I'm looking at some slower element within that music, alternate speed (sync to every beat and then half the speed) or adjust to - say - not the beat but some other element/ instrument.
Originally Posted By: Mel
the lady who gave me my poi told me that its not about the way you move your poi as such but the way you move with the poi, i liked that, the poi should (in my opinion) should be an extension of yourself when dancing, you need to feel the tension of the poi's and use it to your advantage when moving with them.
precisely - which is why I'm advising to close eyes and deprive the lazy mind of visual input. When dancing with fire you hardly have enough input anyway. Knowing exactly when which poi is where in space around your body will make you a lot more confident moving about.
_________________________
the best smiles are the ones you lead to
![[Roll smile]](graemlins/ubbrollimages/icons/smile.gif){kind=icon}
![[beer]](graemlins/beerchug.gif)
![[umm]](graemlins/umm.gif)
![[wave]](graemlins/wave.gif)
![[spank]](graemlins/spank.gif)
![[LOL]](graemlins/ubblol.gif)
But there are a lot of variations (not jus teh old in/out in/out) ![[Embarrassed]](images/icons/blush.gif){kind=icon}
![[Wink]](images/icons/wink.gif){kind=icon}
![[Confused]](images/icons/confused.gif){kind=icon}
![[Eek!]](images/icons/shocked.gif){kind=icon}
![[Razz]](images/icons/tongue.gif){kind=icon}
![[Love]](graemlins/ubblove.gif)
![[Smile]](images/icons/smile.gif){kind=icon}
![[Roll Eyes]](images/icons/rolleyes.gif){kind=icon}
![[Smoking]](graemlins/ubbsmokinvegas.gif)
![[Idea]](graemlins/ubbidea.gif)
![[Big Grin]](images/icons/grin.gif){kind=icon}
Everybody likes fire. ![[Loco]](graemlins/ubbloco.gif)
especialy drunk cowboys....I have extensively tested this theory.
![[peace]](graemlins/peace.gif)
) but since ive been spinning i found that poi looks so much sexier with the bellydance than CJ did, prolly because you have a wider range of body motion when you spin... And letting go into the dance helped me loosen up my poi moves too. 
, etc.) Havent tried multi person throws yet...
up and listen" (though, to be fair, he might not've put it _quite_ like that..)
I'll try and look for some of these on YouTube.
Staff and skating would be pretty awesome too!
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