Oct 26 2009
Fire Dancing – The Old and the New
Anyone who hasn’t been living under a rock – or maybe the Antarctic where you might not be able to build a fire – has no doubt watched a fire dancing performance once at his life. It’s fascinating because it’s dangerous and if you want to know how this life-threatening art came about, read on.
Maori Poi
The Maoris are a native tribe from New Zealand and have been largely credited as the original inventors of the art of fire dancing. Traditionally speaking, the dancing sequence they make using poi balls do not involve the use of fire but the moves, however, are similar to what you’d see being used by today’s modern fire dancers.
Maori poi balls are both dancing and musical instruments. More specifically, it’s used like drums when making music. These dances are used not only for storytelling but they are also good for exercising the body. All those swift, rhythmic, and complex moves develop a person’s coordination, strength, and flexibility especially in the arms, hands, and wrists.
Hawaiian Sword Dance
Another traditional dance that today’s modern fire dancing is based on is the knife dance from the Samoans, a tribe native to Hawaii. Everyone knows that Hawaiians are very good dancers. Their dancing styles are unique and famous all over the world and many songs have been made popular simply because they are often used for Hawaiian dancing.
It was only in 1946, however, that Hawaiian dancing had been combined with the use of fire. Then, Letu Olo Misilagi was at San Francisco’s Shriners Convention for a performance. He happened to watch a baton twirler and fire eater perform and was summarily inspired, enough to create a fire knife dance. The rest, as they say, is history. He even has a book out about it, not to mention spawning an annual competition for fire knife dancers from all over the world held at Oahu.
Bulgarian Fire Walking
It isn’t dancing per se, but it’s close enough. Fire walking is still a dangerous and thrilling performing art and one that originated from the mountains of Bulgaria. History specifically points to Saint Constantine, whose feast day is celebrated by the locals by walking on fire. Needless to say, do not attempt to do this without professional training. Tourists haven’t been as cautious in the past and they ended up injured.
Today, it’s not infrequent that you’ll find fire dancers performing all of these and other styles for your entertainment.
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