Styles of Dance
Ok folks! Let's get this going.
Too often I've seen the dance side of poi left in the dust, to be trampled on by crazy hyperlooping-eight beating- reverse split time under the leg standing on your head- wibblers. All good stuff mind you, and I applaud all who have mastered such amazing skills and those who pursue them, but let's look to the dance.
I know there are plenty of you out there who ask "how do I dance with poi?" and all you are met with are "just feel the music". Well if you ask me, that's a lame answer. As a dancer myself, the whole feel the music thing only comes after you somehow discover what music even feels like, and usually you're too focused on feeling it that you turn into stone, with no feelings whatsoever. So, this particular thread is to get our creative juices flowing. What style are you wanting to pursue in your poi? Are you more of a funky bboy type person, or maybe you're heading for more interpretive dance. Want to get the amazing contrast of sphercular poi and rigid robotic man? Or maybe you just want to know how to go with the music and not be boxed in with all the new moves you've learned. Or just as possibly you want to look like a monkey who just got off a merry-go-round. That's good too! Talk to us! Anything and everything!
So the question first and foremost is : What style are you pursuing?
Post your answers here, and let's start talking of how to incorporate your particular style and influence into your poi. It's easier than you think, but it does take some focus.
Under the stars,
Catherine
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Styles of Dance
I've been trying to evolve a kind of taiji based style, nice and slow, taking inspiration from the movements, hand positions and poses.
After reading an article about dancing though, it made me realise the relative value of holding a pose, leading me on to the idea of spin, hold pose while spinning, then turning while holding the pose.
I think the most difficult thing I find is the footwork. My biggest problem is getting clean lonarm pirouettes: I have a tendency to lose planes, and go off at a tangent. However, lately Karen pointed out to me that I lose my centre of gravity when I try to do a fast pirouetter (spin on one foot) so now I'm trying a new style of turning where I keep one foot out in front of me just above/on the ground while I turn, while keeping the other leg bent (think a bit like a figure skater pirouette but not as graceful)which seems to be helping. And my spotting (?) is terrible)
Lately I've been trying some kind of liquid dance without poi(the one where your hands follow each other all over the place, and interact with your body) and one thing I've noticed is that sometimes hands and feet emulate each other.
so yeah, at the moment I want to move nicely in clean planes