Sep 24 2006
Well Now It’s Official…
My daughter received her first set of practice poi from our friends Kristin and Karl for her birthday last week so she is more determined than ever to be a fire-spinner.
She has decided against being a bellydancing fire-spinner though since there is a higher chance of catching on fire that way. lol. Gauzy skirts and veils with spinning balls of fire on the end of chains just don't go well together. So now she will just spin fire and do tricks with the poi. When she bellydances though she will now use burning fans.
*falling over laughing hard*
I know some of you are saying "How in the world can she think something like that is funny"? Well to be honest the whole thing scared me to death at first because my daughter is usually very clumsy. When she saw Karl spinning a spark lit up in her eyes but I just figured she could spin unlit and that would be the end of it. The thing is though that my usually clumsy daughter is very good at spinning. She also literally comes alive when she's taking her lessons from Karl and is so happy and in her element that it would be more negligent of me to not allow her than it would to allow her. I think knowing Kristin and Karl (mother and son) and seeing how it works for them has put me more at ease.
Yes, there is some danger and risk in it but I have seen that if it's done currently with the proper fire safety it is really very safe. Besides, for now she is learning to spin without fire and won't be allowed to try it lit until she and I both are sure she is ready. That could be in six months or a year or by then she might decide she's not so interested after all. We will see and that is another reason why I am taking it one day at a time.
The bellydancing with lit fire fans as shown in the pic here? Heck, I might just try that one myself! 
Oh,it sounds so neat!! Tell her to have fun and that I’m very envious. (no,I won’t tell Girl that - lol)
lol, well if you guys come out here for a visit you can bet Sis will show Girl how it’s done. hehe
Great activity!
That sounds really neat!
How cool is that? I’ve never even heard of this before.
What an awesome interest! Where do you live? I’m in Hawaii, and poi ball spinning is visible quite a lot. There is one amazing spinner who gets 4 going at once. My youngest has a pair but hasn’t mastered them yet!
I spent my 11th yr poi-crazed, after a family vacation to Hawaii and a brief lesson at the Polonesian Cultural Center there. My mom found a teacher in Philadelphia and I enjoyed a few clinics. Never made the jump to fire, but it as certainly fun and unique!
Oh wow, I knew she would find something she would love to do sooner or later, but I never imagined this!! Sis could be a star one day and I want front row seats to her first performance.. now don’t forget that ok :-)!! Maybe this will be something she sticks with!! Better buy some hair coloring to cover the grays when she does start practicing lit thingies!!
Kris- We live in NM but I truly wish we could come to Hawaii to witness poi spinning there. That would be so awesome! If your youngest ever walks to have a snail mail or email pal to talk poi with let me know. My daughter loves new friends.
Angela- I like you more and more all the time. Maybe you should start spinning again and light up.
lol
Connie- yeah, this is NOT what I imagined she would end up finding her niche in! Of course her Aunt Connie would get front row seats, ya silly.
Oh and I won’t need to cover any grays because I’ve decided to start learning how to use fire fans myself.
Hey there — I haven’t seen you online in a very long time. Just wondering how you were doing. Miss ya!
oooh! I’ve always wanted to try firedancing!!!!!!