LADIES AND GENTLEMANS
BOYS AND GIRLS
FORUMERS OF ALL AGES
GATHER AND SEE!
posted on August 25th, 2015
Hello forum, it's been a while. In my absence from the forums, I've taken up some hobbies, but one stands out from all the rest in how distinct and bizarre it is. Today, I'd like to share my new hobby with you guys: poi! Most people, when I tell them I do poi, have a very puzzled expression and ask "what's that?"
I still don't have a good answer.
What I can tell you is, is that it's a lot of fun, and it's a lot cooler to see it, than it is to hear or read about it. Without too many details (which are provided in this topic if you continue to read...) poi is a form of dancing, a performance art, a light show, exercise (as all dance goes), a therapeutic past-time, and in a way it can be kinda like yoga. 1,000 years ago poi was used by tribal men to strengthen their bodies for war, then women turned it into something that could be choreographed. Now, it has evolved into something so much more.
DefinitionDefine: Poi
Poi is a Hawaiian dish made from the fermented root of the taro, which has been baked and...
Hold up, wrong poi. Let's try that again.
Define: Poi
Poi refers to both a style of performing art and the equipment used for engaging in poi performance. As a performance art, poi involves swinging tethered weights through a variety of rhythmical and geometric patterns. Poi artists may also sing or dance while swinging their poi. Poi can be made from various materials with different handles, weights, and effects (such as fire).
History
Poi originated from New Zealand, and although there is no clear indication of how old it is, it has been estimated that the art of poi has been around for close to 1,000 years. The
Maori of New Zealand would use poi for a variety of different purposes: Men would use them to build upper body strength in preparation for war, and women would use them for wrist exercises, which eventually developed into dancing for entertainment purposes. In the past 100 years, tourism dramatically increased to New Zealand, and as a result the Maori peoples had an opportunity to earn some income for the art that they had been practicing on their own. People were enchanted by the simple art, and took it back to their own countries, thus the spread of poi began.
Modern Poi Now
Modern poi has taken on a life of it's own in comparison to the Maori people's poi. Now there are plenty of different variations of poi, ranging from flags, to LEDs, to fire. There is also a large difference in price, as well, depending upon the complexity of the poi. For example, the simplest of all, sock poi, can cost anywhere from $5 to $10, and the most advanced poi on the market, pixel poi, can range from $500 to $1000+! Poi has largely become popular at dubstep concerts,
Burning Man, clubs, and is progressively spreading (Now it's on the forum!)
One thing I am going to steal from the wikipedia webpage without any form of regret is the following statement-
Unlike many physical arts, learning poi does not usually involve formal education. Most spinners learn from each other or teach themselves using DVDs or online resources. A strong sense of community and self-teaching are key elements of modern poi.
Glad you asked! If you are interested in starting poi,
watch this video first. The guy hitting himself in the background is Nick Woolsey, a very talented poi spinner, whom I hope to one day be half as talented as. If, at this point, you are serious about poi, subscribe to Playpoi on youtube, and bookmark
http://www.playpoi.com/. Right now.
Once you've done all that, you're going to want to check out
Playpoi's beginner series. It goes over lots of the details that you need to know, in order to actually USE poi. At this point, if you are 100% set on the idea that you would like to take up poi as a hobby, you are ready to acquire your own poi! There are multiple sites that sell poi, but I have three personal favorites, which I will list at the end of this section.
If an advanced poi section is requested, then I will put in more details for stuff like customizing your sock poi with LEDs, flag poi, tailed, fire, all that good stuff.
GALLERY
Back to Index!
top: pixel poi, it's a collection of 60-100 smart LEDs that can be programmed to form any pattern, in synch with music or timed to a dance. EXTREMELY expensive. top row left: close-up of some LED poi. top row right: Sparky poi! They use steel wool in a metal cage, and as they spin they produce LOTS of sparks! bottom row left: fire poi! bottom row right: bottom: Ninja V4 poi, the LED poi I use. Bottom: LED sock poi.
Videos!
Adin's favorites!
2nd 1st 3rd
note: the top left video isn't actually poi, it's glow-sticking! It's very similar, but at it's core it's just a glow-stick tied off to some string. Used in the same fashion, just a different name is all.
P.S. I might post a video of myself doing poi soon