What is poi?

Poi is a performance art which involves swinging tethered weights through mesmerizing geometric patterns of circles around your body in a manner that enhances dance and rhythm. Originating from the Maori culture of New Zealand, modern poi spinning borrows heavily from other disciplines: martial arts, dance, club swinging, and other forms of object manipulation. Poi is dynamic and ever-evolving; it is enjoyed all over the world as both a hobby and an art form.

 What you’ll learn in the Poi Fundamentals – Beginners class:

The number of modern poi moves, tricks, and styles is continually growing and changing. This six-week class is intended to provide a strong base of central, foundational moves and concepts, from which you can begin developing your own spinning style (and later build on with more advanced moves, if you choose). Suitable for a complete beginner, the focus is on the following basic poi movement, rhythm, and trick concepts:

·      Planes of movement

·      Timing and rhythm (same/together time vs. split time)

·      Basic stalls

·      Turning

·      Shoulder and hip reels, reel carries

·      3-beat weaves (forwards and reverse), 3-beat weave turns

·      Butterflies (forwards and reverse), butterfly turns, butterfly lock-outs and behind-the-head

·      Windmills, corkscrews, and the 3-beat fountain

·      Intro to choreography, linking moves, and flowing with your poi

Our Poi Fundamentals class is on hiatus at the moment, but check back for updates to the schedule!