Intro to Poi Spinning/Make Your Own Poi

Learn how to make your own set of beginner friendly poi followed by instruction on basic techniques. What are the flow arts and poi spinning? Flow arts is the term for a type of movement based expression that blends dance, juggling, and prop manipulation. It’s name is derived from the flow state which is a mental condition where a person is fully immersed, energized, and deeply focused on a task, often referred to informally as being "in the zone". The practice of these skills naturally leads to entering this heightened state of consciousness. Poi is one of the props used by flow artists. The name (meaning ball on a string) and the basic concept originated with the Māori people of New Zealand. The modern version has developed into its own system of techniques and culture of its own. In this class we will each make a set of poi to keep so you can continue to practice what we learn in the second portion of this class. Once the poi are made we will learn the terminology used by poi spinners, basic timing and direction of spin, and some simple moves. This fun class will be a great way to begin your exploration of the flow arts and poi.