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Issue date: 8/2/05 Section: Community

Media Credit: Denise Andra A group of fire dancers spin poi, creating circles of fire around them.

Fire spinners captivate bystanders at Liberty Park with their dazzling displays every Sunday evening. SLCC student Brandon Elfring, who is thinking about being a firefighter, is among these skilled fire dancers. He enjoys spinning poi and fire staff. Essentially, poi or "fire chains" are weights made of fiberglass on the ends of strings or chains which are spun around. A long, metal staff is spun with flames at both ends.

Elfring and his group of friends enjoy getting together to practice every other week. According to his friends, their group came together with a shared interest in learning and developing their hobby. They simply enjoy "getting together and spinning some fire". "I've been spinning glow sticks at the clubs about four years and started spinning with fire five months ago", says Elfring.

Some of the materials these fire spinners use are handmade from scraps or items bought online. Bright-colored flags, glow sticks tied at the ends of strings, and even tennis balls can be used for "practice poi", which are recommended substitutes for those who want to practice without scorching a few hairs and eyebrows. Anyone can learn how to spin poi; however, it is advised not to try it at home! Fire spinners never spin fire on their own, as it is difficult to tell right away if the hair or clothing catches on fire.

Coleman fuel, or "white gas", is used to light the ends of the poi. Lamp oil is used for "spitting fire" out of the mouth because it only burns in the air, so it won't burn the face if any of it falls on the skin. Fire spitting creates the illusion that the person is breathing fire like a dragon. Another trick with fire is mixing certain chemicals in the oil to change the flame colors, like bright neon green.

One trick that especially appeals to viewers is what appears to be poi that creates several flying sparks of fire in the air when spun. This type of poi is made with baskets of chicken wire with steel wool inside. The steel wool creates the flying sparks effect, lighting the sky on fire.

Another group of fire dancers, known as the Wanderlust, practice at the park for actual paid performances. They perform for annual arts festivals, including the Burning Man Project located in the Black Rock Desert, which is 120 miles North of Reno, Nevada. They are seen practicing just about anything such as fire spitting, poi, staffs, and hula hoops with the rhythm of drums and trance-style music.

Modern fire spinning originated from traditional poi dancing used in Maori tribal rituals. Poi dancing acts as an "external magnification of the body's inner mechanics", which is similar to practice techniques of Tai-Chi and other movement disciplines. The hands and wrists make circular motions similar to figure eights, which are movements also used in many cross-cultural dances. Poi has developed into the art of dance, balance, flexibility, body movement, and meditation.

"Fire poi is also extremely humbling," exclaims Ben, a friend of Brandon Elfring's who is also extremely talented. He goes on to explain that when he tried spinning poi with fire for the first time, he thought he was ready after plenty of practice. Then as soon as he was holding the burning poi, he thought..."I don't want to do this!"

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