In 2004 the Lightning Tree interviewed Hannah and Kamala, two young fire
dance teachers in the U.S to find out why they have such a passion for fire.
So what is fire dancing and what are its origins?
There are many different forms of fire dancing including fire hula hoops,
staves, fire fingers, fire eating/fleshing, and poi which is our specialty.
Poi dancing comes from the Maori tribe of New Zealand. They use poi for training
their warriors in keeping dexterous and strong. The Maori women use poi to
lull their children to sleep. Practice poi are made up of cords with handles
that you hold and a bean bag or ball attached to the end. Fire dancing is
a fusion between yoga, dance, and martial arts.
It's not your run-of-the-mill keep fit activity What is it
that 'sparked' your own interest and how did you get involved?
Before we were teaching and performing with fire, we were producing events
together and we were working on an huge concert in Seattle WA. We hired a
DJ who brought along fire dancers for his set. They just happened to be from
our home town. We saw the show and it was one of the most beautiful things
we had ever seen in our lives. It didn't occur to us that we could actually
learn how to do something like that. About a year later we were at a video
game conference walking around and I (Hannah) suddenly had a very strong vision
of Kamala and I dancing with fire. I shared my vision with Kamala and together
we experienced one of those moments where you know nothing will ever be the
same again. The feeling was so strong that we couldn't ignore it, we went
home tied socks on the end of yarn and started to spin them around. We searched
for someone to teach us but could find no one. Finally we found a group of
people who met once a week in downtown LA and we just started the journey.
We taught ourselves most of what we know now. We practiced for about 6 months
before we decided to light up.
You're now both teaching poi in the centre of Hollywood. What kind
of people come along to your lessons?
We get all kinds of people in our classes. We get a lot of actors who want
to add a little something to their performance repertoire. We get a lot of
people from the Burning Man community who want to light up on the playa. Many
of our students are from our yoga classes who are looking for a new type of
moving mediation or dance. Some people have normal 9-5 jobs and are just looking
to add some spice in their lives. No matter where our students come from,
each and everyone of them goes through the most amazing changes in our class.
Is fire dancing dangerous?
It can be dangerous but with training in fire safety and guidance from an
experienced dancer, you can minimize the risks and enjoy all the benefits!
As one of the four key elements, fire can be viewed as a very primordial
force. How do you feel your relationship with fire has evolved through
fire-dance? Can it be described as spiritual relationship?
Before I was a fire dancer, I loved the warmth and light of fire but I didn't
understand the properties of it and that led to my fear. As a fire dancer,
you are on an endless journey with the element. It's best to start slow, take
your time as you build your relationship. If you move too fast, or get over-confident,
you could hurt yourself or someone else. Each fire dancer has developed their
own relationship with the element, and you can see it when they dance. Add
this to their background (dance, martial arts, yoga, etc) and you'll understand
why there are no two fire dancers alike. My personal relationship with fire
has evolved from one of fear and awe into one of balance, trust, and energy.
BALANCE. As a fire dancer you must remain balanced with the other elements.
Ground yourself down with the earth, hydrate your body with water, and cleanse
your spirit with the wind. I see so many dancers who forget about this and
let the fire run their lives. TRUST in yourself and the fire. As a fire dancer,
we are always working with edges... how far can you go before you feel it?
This is a slow and gradual process but over time, you can really start to
understand and trust how far you can go with the fire. ENERGY. I remember
the first time Kamala and I danced with fire. We both experienced the most
incredible surges of adrenaline and the most amazing thing about it all, is
that you experience this increase of energy every single time you dance with
fire. As an experienced dancer, when the fire gets really close to your body
and you can really feel the intense heat, instead of freaking out like we
used to, now we pause, take a deep breath, and allow that energy to move through
our bodies.
What is it about fire dance that is so good for well-being and what can it
give to people?
This list is taken from our and I can't say it any better!
Improved co-ordination.
Better spatial awareness.
Exercises both sides of the brain.
Prevents and manages high blood pressure.
Boosts energy level.
Helps manage stress.
Releases tension.
Improves the ability to fall asleep quickly and sleep well.
Improves self-image.
Counters anxiety and depression and increases enthusiasm and optimism.
Increases muscle strength, giving greater capacity for other physical activities.
Provides a way to share an activity with family and friends.
Good for the heart.
How does fire dance and yoga tie into the rest of your lifestyle?
We are very health conscious. If you want to dance with fire, I would strongly
recommend doing yoga too. Many people don't realize that dancing with fire
includes dealing with hazardous fuels and fumes. It is very important to cleanse
your body of any toxins accumulated. Yoga not only increases your flexibility,
strength and peace of mind but it also clears energy blockages and toxins
from your body.
How can someone begin to learn to fire dance?
If you're in Los Angeles, you can of course take our 7 week beginning, intermediate
and advanced classes. We also travel the world teaching workshops. So if you
are interested check out www.indrayoga.com
and e-mail us!
There are also some really great websites that can help you get started.
www.homeofpoi.com based
out of Australia, online community and basic lessons
www.flammaaeterna.com
based out of Arizona, USA sells high quality fire toys for a great price!
www.luxotica.com based
out of Canada, sells great toys and lists worldwide lessons
www.spinpoi.com based
out of London, a really great book!
What are your key philosophies on life?
We are dedicated to building an environment where like-minded individuals
may come together to express themselves through dance, yoga, and mediation.
An environment where we can share our experiences, offer encouragement, and
provide support and love to one another through all of life's challenges…
community! We want to provide a place that inspires each of us to begin realizing
our
life paths, turning dreams into realities, and bringing love and laughter
into each of our daily lives.
Hannah and Kamala, thank you so much for talking to us!
Indayoga website can be found at www.indrayoga.com
Disclaimer: It almost goes without saying.
Please don't experiment with fire unless you're working with someone who knows
exactly what they're doing.
