Home of Poi: A History of the Fire Arts

Ummmm.... I don't really have a lineage.

I am 100% self taught. Sorry to be so boring.

I first saw single staff from a distance at a free concert thing in Sydney in 1996. I bought myself a broom handle and figured out the basic movements. Then, one day a few months later, I stumbled across a guy selling fire staffs at a tiny stall in my local markets. I asked him about fuel - he told me to use Kero. So, I bought a staff & some kero, went up to the flat rooftop of my apartment block and, with very nervous friends ready to douse any rogue flames, lit them up.

ROOOHAAAH!

I progressed slowly and never had any other twirlers to bounce off until 2000. That's 4 years of isolation! In those 4 years, I made some double staves and also figured out poi for myself, after finding the first incarnation of this website (1998 or 1999). I used to perform every Sunday night in Whistler, Canada at the Fire & Ice show - they gave me a seasons pass worth over $1500CAD for it! I also utilised some stylised staff spinning in my role as Nurse in a production of Romeo & Juliet whilst living there as well.

I returned to Australia in 2000, via 6 weeks in Fiji. I did my first doubles performance there one night in exchange for a bar tab. I was dismayed when I handed my doubles to a local who was way more impressive than I.

In very late 2000, back in Sydney, I hooked up with a few HoPpers - Berzerker, Frenzie & Finn. All of us were in the same position - didn't know any other twirlers. So, we formed a troupe called The Wick Effect and started performing at psytrance parties. We had a wickedly fun few years together....

In the midst of all this, I had started forming online friendships with other HoPpers - Pyrolific & Dangerboy in particular. I actually encouraged young Pyrolific to have a go at doubles and supervised his first attempt... now look at him!

Dangerboy (hailing from Canada) wanted to come visit Australia. I had never met him prior to meeting him at the airport. He stayed with me until he found a place to live, and we shared a beautiful friendship for the years he was in our fair land. He and I did a number of performances together as a side project to The Wick Effect, namely in gay clubs & fetish parties. We were a hit - neither of us afraid of sass & sleaze.

Dangerboy went back to Canada, the Wick Effect burnt itself out and I rarely pick up my sticks these days.

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