Spinning "in character"

So I'm getting to the point that I know enough solid moves, some variations, and enough transitions to move between most of them that stringing them together differently seem to feel like different styles, even though all the basic elements don't change. Obviously a different mood of music, or atmospthere, will evoke different styles, but even without music it seems like just the basic order of the moves - or the order of tempo-changes - seems to create distinct styles.

Then again, I think a lot of it might be an overall change in body-motion, too, e.g. moving the feet more broadly or more narrowly, crooking the elbows up or down, and so forth.

So does anybody who's been doing it for a while has different "characters" that you use while spinning? Kind of like traditional jugglers might do a "jester" style or a "street" style, the real changes not being in the "style" of juggling, but the actions of the performer?

Ummm.. I think definitely I have a 'sexy' style, a 'I'm just listening and flowing and dancing to the music' style, a 'ballet/contempory' style...

Sexy style
- would include .. Oh god, this is where I should really know NAMES for moves... ok, so you're in butterfly and you go behind head, front, behind back, alternating hands... - that one leads to really great hip wiggles,
- butterfly behind the head - body undulations.
- weave kneeling on floor , maybe also bend back and place head on floor - can be changed for buzzsaw if you want...
- lot of hands still at hips, cheakily looking over shoulder... :P

Ballet/contempory style
- I think you have to know when the music has pauses.
I stall a lot, even just to the sides, larger swings, lots of sideways movement... It is about using your whole stage.
- if the singing is about being tormented or confused or there is a buildup, horizontal above head windmill/corkscreww/whatever people call it with spinning to show confusion and turmoil...
- and I'd always change move/plane/timing at a chorus/verse change.

And I guess you can always change in a routine, starting with smaller, slower moves then becoming more sure of yourself, expressive, moving around the stage with open arms...

Hope this is what you were after!

Yeah I do because we perform at different themed events.

My character for Ren Faires is bouncy and flakey, and her style represents that. It's not patterned, alot of change involve, lots of turns, lots of talking with the audience and reaching through the box and such.
My Vaudeville character is tighter. Her movements are closer to the body (partially because I have to perform that indoors alot), and smaller.
My Dickens fest character is *very* childlike and more slapstick, her style is eratic, start/stop, lost in thought, intentional hits and knots to play with and just fun. There is alot of body and expressive raction for her more than spinning....for example.

When creating a character I personally find it easiest to start with and idea of the demeanor I want to convey. Innocent, sweet, shy, sexy, etc. Then watch other people, note the ones who convey that demeanor. What part of the body do they lead their movements with? Or I can even practice myself to get a feel for it. Lead with the chest, the shoulder, the pelvis, the nose for a couple turns in the yard. I can *feel* the change in my body, and 'tude.
I also note in my people watching energy levels. How people move within that energy, that leading.

Then I adopt the physicalities I am comfortable with and practice my arts within that. Make a costume that fits that, including a make-up and hair design. For me it's about a complete package being presented.

Hope this helps you, or even makes sense

Hmm, tough call. Personally if it were up to me I'd ban any move involving bending backwards whilst doing a buzzsaw, whether on the knees or not.
Especially doing this back-to-back with a partner.

Kneeling is acceptable as long as it's done artisically

(I'd just like to point out I'm being very over cynical and you just keep doing whatever you're doing)

Haha Durbs I hate to say it but those bendy moves are crowd-pleasers! When I first figured out the Leaning-Forward-With-A-Buzzsaw-And-Bringing-It-Around-And-Behind-Your-Head-Then-Overhead move I kinda thought it was fun to do, but then I realized I was in danger of becoming more flexible!

Thanks for the responses, guys! The great thing about HOP is that there's every kind of expert here, so you get every kind of opinion.

I love ballet poses with Poi, leg raises and posing. This works well with character/contempory stuff and from what i have seen, not many spinners can spin & dance well at the same time. Its about time all this stuff was included in some of the festival workshops.
People love to see dance with Poi, its just those that can't dance that have a problem with it!

Mucky - there are several other crowd pleasing moves which aren't sooooo tired.
And people only like it cos it shows off lady bumps

Bernie - I like to see a specific style of dance with poi, whether ballet, bollywood, body-popping or boogaloo (Alliteration FTW!). It's a really nice contrast to the generic semi-dance that many spinners use, it also (to stay on topic) portrays more of a character if you're sticking to one particular style.
I can imagine ballet working really well - in my mind conjuring the same energy as tai-chi with poi...
Personally, i'm working on body-popping/liquid with poi.. Botting/ticking too, but that's really hard without stalling the whole time

Have studied various forms of dance from a young age. For me Ballet is central to all forms. It is great for posture and flexibility, and lot's of it can be transfered to other styles, contempory, Jazz, Modern theatre, ball room Poi etc. Basic par de bra's can teach you so much to do with presentation. My dance teacher always said that ballet helps all styles of dance, and I'm inclined to agree.
I love Street and Tap. Much of the foot work in Street derives from Tap, just with more body pops, and butt shaking.
Personally, I'm not keen on mixing Street with Poi. All you can fit in is a few body pops, Air walks etc. Street should be left alone. As a dance form it is perfect the way it is.
Contempory dancing with Poi is beautiful because its all about style and grace. How long have you been dancing Durbs?

"pas de bras" - wasn't that one of your others posts?
[/poor french jokes]

Er, dunno... been vaguely learning waving/popping/liquid for 4 years-ish but with very little discipline and 90% self-taught. I mostly use it with CJ, but am trying to incorporate it more into poi. I already use floats and glides for footwork, but there's a lot of potential for body waves and isolations whilst spinning... arm waves tend to mess up the way the poi are spinning, so i've been trying to make this happen on purpose e.g. taking the energy out of a spin into a stall into a wave. Should look nice once it's actually solid.

Lol! I thought you were professionaly trained by the way you talk about dance.
Less talk, more dancing me thinks.x
I can always spot a spinner who has had professional dance training. Not only do they have style, but they also learn quickly.
Oh and the french term means a carriage of arms, with head movements. It helps a dancer develop good presentation in all styles.
When you have danced for a long time, dancing is becomes more natural and instinctive.
For me my Poi is an extention to my dance, not the other way round.x

Have a look at some Flame Oz vids. They are quite character-based; from 'serious martial arts' to cheesy disco to 'spiritual centred' to burlesque.

All I know is I was at a festival 3 years ago and I'd seen spinners before but I just automatically passed it off as something I'd never be able to learn, and was comfortable being a spectator.

One night this girl came out and there was a drum circle going. She was spinning fire so slowly and perfectly in sync with the drums and incorporating some belly dancing moves. She looked so graceful and beautiful...her hair was down and she was so confident with the moves she was doing...I decided then and there I wanted to learn and well...here I am! My friends scoffed at me but now I spin circles around them haha.

I'd really like to take some bellydancing classes!

im more of just a costume guy myself. although its not all that different to normal dress.

googles and some thai pants and heaps of chains covering my body. also i use replica guantlets when performing with twin swords just coz it looks awesome and protects my hands from burn.

I try to dance in character, depending on the discipline I'm performing. For Fire Breathing I use a dance that is slightly dragon like, with swoops of my upper body and sudden jerks and bursts. Noting the fact that I use a fire poi as my torch, I do some simple swings with it while breathing. For poi I tend to step a lot with my feet, bend my back and dance in a more tribal way.

I'm still learning staff, so I don't have a dance style for that yet...

i love going into ninja stylee
been doing martial arts for quite a while, that probably got me into the staff, so love the rapid martial arts inspired moves....kilik from soul caliber has some sick moves

although is does depend on what music im listening to, theat completely determines the flow

love listening to rodrigo y gabriela and spinning
any fans out there??