About the Film
Fire Dance presents the emerging art form called fire dancing, as practiced in the northwestern United States. The dancers explain their attraction to "playing with fire", how they learn and create new forms of fire dance, and why making their own equipment gives them a sense of pride. The film explores how fire dance plays a role in community rituals, story-telling performances, and creative dance pieces. Featuring: The Cabiri, Circus Symbiotic, Pele’s Element and Pyrosphere, fire carousel by Innis Phillips. This documentary was produced as the terminal project for a Masters of Arts degree in Folklore at the University of Oregon.
The practice was inspired by the Mauri tradition of swinging Poi, the Maori word for "ball" on a cord. Poi is a form of juggling where the balls are swung around the body. The word "Poi" is both plural and singular. (I have one Poi, he has two Poi). Click on the Home of Poi website for more information about fire twirling.
