Oh really? I've heard of combinations with Hula Hoops and Bellydancing (Way to bring up the obvious, right?), but Poi I haven't seen. Thanks for the heads up, though.

Since we've brought up the topic of Flag Poi, am I the only one who thinks they are extremely difficult to dance with? I can dance and flow very comfortably with my Poi. But with Flags, there's no weight to it! It's lighter than glowsticks!! I bought myself a pair (they're unusually expensive) they look beautiful, and I've gotten used to the weight, but at first I was so confused. I thought they forgot to give me a weight on the end of my flag or something!

Also, what about the rare fire arts? I've seen fire Tai Chi swords, fire sai, fire kamas, fire axes and much more. I've been really curious, since I've been into martial arts for many, many years. Also!! Bull whips!! I saw these recently, and oh my lord! Talk about beautiful. The person stood still and all, but it has so much potential. I love the way it looks. Any bull whippers willing to talk about putting more movement into it?

With happiness,

Sunshine Performer

i should look further before i post...here's one of a dancer who made veil poi:
youtube.com/watch

absolutely beautiful

I knowwww! I'll get one out there soon enough, you know? I've been extremely busy working with new patterns, and picking up some bounce juggling, meteoring (I'm getting better!! Mwahah!), some toss juggling (blech..), double staffing, and hooping.

Toss juggling is fun, but I have to say, it's modern manipulation that has my interest :) There's so much more movement and purity about it. Either way, I believe toss juggling is a nice thing to have on the side.

And I would totally agree, Mireneye. Playing with atomics, plane-bends, kooky stalls, it's all so much fun.

To keep this thread alive, why don't you throw out what you think style is (in reference to Poi, ofcourse ;D). Because I don't expect you guys to want to blabber like I do, I'll go ahead and throw out my performance theory, whether you want to or not, it's cool. This performance theory was actually written yesterday. My English Teacher ran into me performing at a park with a bunch of people around. He ended up asking me if I could write a lecture about performing and Poi. This is what I wrote for the opening statement to give my definition of "Performing"

"Performing isn’t just moving and dancing on a stage. It isn’t just making money for doing something as simple as “playing” with an object, so everyone would say to me. Performing is so much more than that… It is not the ability, but the opportunity to spread the beauty of what you love, inspiring people, and possibly influencing their lives. Depending on the emotion portrayed from the performance, it can remind people of those times that are connected with that emotion.

I can’t help but to ask the question “where are the inventors of our generation?” I ask this because we need those people. We need to be reminded of our potential as human beings. We need to be shown of our capabilities, and how they can be pushed, and with that we can learn new things. I hope to be an inventor - One of those people who can inspire people to new things. And I think being performer gives me the advantage. Being given the opportunity to share what I love doing on a stage, with tens, hundreds, or even thousands of people watching. The number is meaningless. All that matters is that one of those hundreds, or thousands, is inspired. This is my path to becoming that inventor.

Performing doesn’t run in my blood. I don’t believe it is why I was born, and what I am meant to do in life. Instead, I think it is something I am breaking the chain for. It’s something that proves my commitment – having the will to change what generations of my family have done. That’s what makes performing such a special thing; it is the passion it requires. I am willing to do anything to perform, and be that person. I am willing to give my life if it meant me inspiring at least one person – to give them that passion. With performing, your passion is your tool. Your ability to show the feeling that your skills bring to you is the passion. And if you can show the audience that feeling, you have the ability to be the inventor. You have the ability to be the one to inspire and influence."

With happiness,

Sunshine Performer

((the previous was in response to Pete))

an undefinable style is a noble compliment..

Baz's description sums me up pretty well also, my movement background being mostly martially oriented. i also am starting to focus more on dance, i move fluidly and with poise, but i kinda get stuck in the dramatic warrior thing too much. depends a lot on the music i am spinning to, i guess i tend to pick more dramatic music(TOOL) but when chance has it that i am spinning to hippy jam band music, i get dancier.

i think Yuta has been my single biggest influence with poi style, there are so many i have learned from, or even just borrowed a trick or two, but beyond his physical grace and precision, he has a sense of timing within the dynamics of his overall performance that makes the whole thing comprehensive, digestable, and memorable.
i like to light up with heavy wicks, no spin-off, and play for the first minute with slow spirals and pendulums, letting the huge flames lick all over my body. i like to let centrifugal force in my turning give momentum to the poi, and follow them without effort where they lead.
i tend to do a lot of flowers, and lately, have found myself with an audience on all sides while performing. something i gleaned from a
Nick Woolsey vid a while ago, is walking in a large circle, while turning around and around with compound circles...fun way to get around a stage! i like goofy flowers in particular for this, but they all work.