Fire dancers always have a safety person nearby with water and first aid in case of an accident.
Fire batons are just one piece of equipment used in fire dancing, or the art of Poi, which originated in New Zealand by the Maori people. It is part of tribal dances that use balls on the end of ropes in rhythmic fashion to develop agility and grace. Fire was added later by artists wishing to add spectacle to the performance. Equipment for fire dancing has also evolved to include batons. The baton techniques used in modern day fire dancing fall under broad categories, but these categories have complex variations that a dancer can add to her repertoire as she gains experience.
Twirling
The objective of all fire baton techniques is to spin the fire as much as possible. In a dark environment, such as at an outdoor nighttime performance, the fire leaves trails, giving the illusion that a dancer is painting circles of fire all around his body. The most basic way of twirling a baton is spinning it in one hand. The dancer uses a fishtail motion of the hand, with the head of the baton leading the hand in an figure eight. As the dancer the baton in front of his body, he also twirls it in circles with one hand, always being aware of the distance of the fire to the body. An experienced dancer can add many variations to this basic move.
Twirl Through the Fingers
The fluid movement of baton twirling is dependent upon the dancer's hand techniques. One of the most basic twirling techniques requires the dancer to lace the baton through the fingers. The twirl begins with the baton between the thumb and index finger. Then it is laced through the fingers, flipped over the back of the hand and caught.
Tossing
Tossing the batons is one of the most impressive techniques. The experienced dancer can make a fire baton toss seem effortless by using the momentum of a twirl to carry the baton into the air. The technique behind tossing is basic, but it takes practice to master. Mastery of tossing is especially important with fire batons, as a fumbled catch could result in a nasty burn.
Other Techniques
Fire dancing is a constantly evolving art form. Dancers are free to create techniques and moves according to their personal taste and mastery, so choices of techniques are numerous. For example, fishtailing is a technique that is used with both fire batons and fire staffs. The dancer uses the same fishtail motion from basic twirl but the baton is passed over the wrist, but with the palm of the hand. Another example is a move called the Matrix, when a dancer passes the batons over the shoulders and through the arms.
Tags: fire dancing, basic twirling, dancer uses, experienced dancer, fire batons