04.24.07
Playing with Fire
I’ve wanted to learn something special for a very long time. Poi. To be more specific, I’ve wanted to learn the art of Fire-Dancing. I’ve been on a class schedule mailing list for the last 18 months for the Portland area and I just haven’t worked up the nerve or the backbone to commit. Since changing my diet and starting to work out, I’ve developed a lot more energy as well as some new courage these last few months – so yesterday I went and purchased a starter set for beginners.
No fire, yet. That won’t come until I learn to spin the poi and dance without braining myself with the weights or igniting any vital body parts. I went into the back yard where there’s a large flat stretch of paving and practiced for about 40 minutes last night and by the time I finished I was dripping sweat and I thought my arms would fall off.
I barely managed in that time to keep flat planes and concentric circles. It was a lot harder to look graceful than I thought. I bought the video as well and spent the evening admiring the beauty that is fire dancing. I’ve wanted to do this for years so it’s about damn time that I get started.
For anyone in the Portland area who is interested in Poi, there’s a spin-off at Dante’s on Sunday night and I plan to be there. It’s one of the most passionate, erotic and energetic forms of dance that I’ve seen.
I have to admit I can’t wait to get home tonight and take my little beanbag practice Poi out into the yard and break a sweat again. With some serious work and a lot of luck I hope to be playing with fire by the end of summer.
