Poi balls are objects used in a form of juggling and dance often associated with the Pacific islands. Balls made of various materials are swung around the body on cords in an entertaining dance-type routine that is often seen at Hawaiian luaus. The word poi actually comes from Maori culture and means "ball." You can make your own poi balls to participate in this activity.
Sock Practice Poi
Using a soft practice set of poi balls made from socks is a good way to learn the skill. Gather two pairs of long socks or stockings and another pair of socks of any size, according to HomeOfPoi.com. Add weight to the second pair of socks by adding some rice and roll the socks into tight balls. Push the rolled socks down into the long socks or stockings until they reach the toe. Pull the open end of the long sock tight and tie a knot in it. This will give you a handle to hold while swinging the practice poi.
Simple Maori Bag Poi
Make a simple Maori bag poi set using tennis balls, cord, colored fabric and scissors. Cut a length of strong string or flexible cord that is around 30 inches long. You may wish to twirl different colors of string or cord together to make a better-looking cord, according to HomeOfPoi.com. Tie one end of the string around a tennis ball securely. Cut the desired colored fabric into a one-foot square and pull it up around the tennis ball as if forming a bag around it. Gather the fabric at the top of the ball around the string and cut another short piece of string to tie the fabric together to form the bag. Use the scissors to trim the excess fabric above the knot. Tie a loop or knot in the other end of the string to use as a handle. Repeat the process to make a second poi ball and you are ready to spin.
Fire Poi
The most dangerous of the poi ball routines is the use of flaming poi balls. These objects make for a spectacular show when the lights are low, but they must be made of particular materials and will need to be refurbished often. For each fire poi ball, get a five-foot length of Kevlar wick that is about two inches wide and 1/8 inch thick, according to Luxotica.com. Fold the corner of an end of the wick over on to itself to match up with the side of the wick. Think about how you fold a paper football. Continue to fold the wick into a square until you reach the end. Hold the wick together tight and drill a hole through the center by inserting a cotter pin. The end of the pin that protrudes from the other side should fit tightly into a washer. Use pliers and a hammer to bend the ends of the cotter pin to secure it to the wick bundle. Attach a heavy-duty split ring (the type used to make a key ring, only stronger) to the looped end of the cotter pin. Attach a chain with welded ends to the split ring as well and attach finger loops or a handle to the other end of the chain. Repeat the process for the other poi ball.
The wick bundles will be soaked in fuel and lit on fire. They will burn for five to seven minutes without being re-fueled. Ask an experienced fire juggler for advice before attempting to light your poi balls.
Tags: according HomeOfPoi, around tennis, around tennis ball, colored fabric, long socks