Forums > Beginner Poi Moves > What makes a good spinner?
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Location: Edinburgh
This is probably a thread that has been done to death, but what the hell
This is an extension of a conversation I was having with MCP today. I asked her at which point she considered someone to be good at spinning.
Basically we discussed three "levels" of spinner defined as follows:
1. beginner - learning all the basics including how to handle poi, keep plains straight, three beat weave, butterfly etc.
2. Intermediate - Learning more advanced tricks that fill in the gaps between the weave and butterfly, like stalls, isolations, waist raps etc...
3. Good - Being able to move with confidence.
Now we decided that the difference between being Intermediate, i.e. the kind of spinner that you wouldn't look twice at in a crowd of spinners, and someone who is Good, the kind of spinner that would stand out, is not a matter of tricks but of movement.
If you have a good trick does that does not make you a good spinner but if you have style, people will rate you.
If we all learn or fully realise one thing a day, then this is what I realised today
Just thought I'd share IMPORTANT: Any views or opinions are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of a sane person.
"just get the f**k on with it and make me the anti-christ already!"
Basu gasu bakuhatsu - because sometimes buses explode
1,584 posts
Location: Angels Landing, USA
Yup, that's about right.
There are plenty of marvelous spinners out there.
But it's funny. With higher and higher amounts of spinners at good technical levels, I find myself drawn more to spinners that move, move in a way that captivates me.
And I hope I'm not going too far off-topic, (but it's an observation I want to throw in for discussion) female spinners do this a lot better than their male counterparts. (I'm generalizing, but there are few exceptions to the rule especially on HoP) But in real life, this is what I've seen.
They add just a small wiggle or a slight bob of the head or a sway here and there, and the audience is captivated O_o
To do: More Firedrums 08 video?
Wildfire/US East coast fire footage
LA/EDC glow/fire footage
Fresno fire
member
81 posts
Location: sweden,stockholm.
For development in movement try doing arpoing while focusing on movements you like.
POSING FOR THE PUBLIC:D
the only thing worth dying for is life itself
Carpal \'Tunnel
3,750 posts
Location: Europe,Scotland,Both
A guy said to me in the piazza
"you better than her, you got more tricks, but she better, because she dont care, she likes to play and dosnt mind about looking good, she better than you. and remember, this is not because she is a she, its because she dosnt care so much"
T
p.s. the guy was drunk, but the syntax is more because he was speaking basic italian with me...
This is a post by tom, all spelling is deleberate
-><- Kallisti
HOP librarian
1,841 posts
Location: Prague, Czech. Republic
I was thinking yesterday about it,
have spun in every trousers
.:R
POI THEO(R)IST
with added berries
1,365 posts
Location: Manchester, England (UK)
Ahh, the old, 'don't worry if you mess up just wiggle your bum meaningfully and no-one will notice' trick. I remeber my dance teacher taught me that when I was wee and did dancing!
Kael, thats an interesting point. I'd say that you find more guys that are technically brilliant, and more girls are better movers. I think it depends what level you're talking about. Out of the spinners I know, who are mainly begginers, with a few intermediates, the girls are more likley to move around than the boys.
anyway, personally I think that at the end of the day, poi is a performance, and should look like one, meaning that it is accesable, as well as being competant. When I see spinners that are into the really technical like hyperloop after hyperloop, I just switch off, generally, this is not performing. However, when I see videos from people like Nick and Yuta, I just think wow! Because they utilise all the 'expressions of the poi), including fast/slow, long arm big moves, short arm small moves etc.
This however, is just my personal taste and opinion, and I'm sure there are many people who would argue that the opposite is true. What you like and what stands out reflects your personnal motivaions for doing poi in the first place.
Anyway drifting off topic and ramblimg compleatly, bed-time I think!
Live like there is no tomorrow,
dance like nobody is watching
and hula hoop like wiggling will save the world.
“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
HOP librarian
1,841 posts
Location: Prague, Czech. Republic
What about pairs? One time Isaw pair they made perfect sinchronized conbinations with Poi.
:R
POI THEO(R)IST
Stream Entrant
2,829 posts
Location: Melbourne, Australia
No, No, No. Not this “female spinners do this a lot better than their male counterparts” again please.
I think it depends on the situation, and the best spinners are the all round spinners. Like, teckkie might be appropriate for a circus type show while dancy might be required for that big corporate event. Also, sometimes at fire circle, people might be “practicing” and not performing for the crowd.
I think Nix got it right with - try not two worry about looking good
If we as members of the human race practice meditation, we can transcend our fear, despair, and forgetfulness. Meditation is not an escape. It is the courage to look at reality with mindfulness and concentration. Thich Nhat Hanh
Basu gasu bakuhatsu - because sometimes buses explode
1,584 posts
Location: Angels Landing, USA
Stone, Nx may be right, but the girls I know never cease to enjoy hearing about how they do things better than guys.
Pricklyleaf: yup, I know many dancers in different diciplines who say that. Guys tend to be 'techy' and girls 'showy'. Way to enforce stereotypes eh?
To do: More Firedrums 08 video?
Wildfire/US East coast fire footage
LA/EDC glow/fire footage
Fresno fire
Stream Entrant
2,829 posts
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Good point Kael, and I agree. I suppose I would like to see men encouraged to dance, because I think the inference that “men can’t dance” tends to reinforce the stereotyping.
I’m actually going to run a community workshop called "Dance Like Everyones Watching". It's realy about learning some stagecraft. I got the idea of Australian Idol
when they brought in a choreographer to teach the contestants how to work a stage and other other tricks of the trade If we as members of the human race practice meditation, we can transcend our fear, despair, and forgetfulness. Meditation is not an escape. It is the courage to look at reality with mindfulness and concentration. Thich Nhat Hanh
Member
232 posts
Location: United Kingdom
*Reinforces the stereotype* I can't dance, i'll just spin and enjoy it.
"I'm quite good at darts, though i often miss" - Kylie
"I'm not a bad driver, I just panic when theres other cars around" - Sarah
Flying Water Muppet
5,276 posts
Location: Edin-borrow., United Kingdom
another point difference between beginner and competent: not having to think about what move you're going to do next while doing a holding pattern.
"the now legendary" - Kaskade
"the still legendary" - Kaskade
I spunked in my friend's aquarium and the fish ate it. I love all fish. Especially the pink ones. They are my bitches. - Anon.
199 posts
Location: Edinburgh
The best movers I know: Bluecat and Alex "the Hippy" Gant both blokes and both first class poncers
IMPORTANT: Any views or opinions are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of a sane person.
"just get the f**k on with it and make me the anti-christ already!"
15,417 posts
Location: South Wales
"another point difference between beginner and competent: not having to think about what move you're going to do next while doing a holding pattern. "
big and good and broken
7,330 posts
Location: lunn dunn, yoo kay, United Kingdom
i think meg's point is closely connected to how often you spin - if you take a while off spinning that 'not having to think to spin' becomes less and less automatic.
or, in normal language "good flow is an element of a good spinner. the less you spin, the more you lose your flow".
cole. x
"i see you at 'dis cafe.
i come to 'dis cafe quite a lot myself.
they do porridge."
- tim westwood
147 posts
Location: Cardiff
moving is what its all about!(for me anyway)
All that is solid melts into air
Basu gasu bakuhatsu - because sometimes buses explode
1,584 posts
Location: Angels Landing, USA
Stone:
The reason I mention it are in hopes that more guys will "dance" as well, a point I have made on glowsticking.com many times to the amusement and annoyance of others. But I have seen too many people with feet glued to the ground and body stiff with rarely any arm movement even.Meg:
I recently saw a video of andy spinning for the first time. And I was more impressed by the flow of moves rather than the moves themselves, even though quite a bit of them were difficult on a technical level. SPOILER: andy's a guy
Good spinners don't just have moves, they know how to use the moves in exciting ways.
I guess that's safe to say?
Or does it sound kinky?
To do: More Firedrums 08 video?
Wildfire/US East coast fire footage
LA/EDC glow/fire footage
Fresno fire
member
110 posts
Location: Scunthorpe, United Kingdom
slightly off topic but is there any chance of getting a link to one of andys videos? would that be possible seen as though he is being used as a stereotypically "good" spinner.
How do paracetamol know where the pain is???
147 posts
Location: Cardiff
I like to dance
(while spinning...not just in general, although i do enjoy just dancing sometimes...when i've drunk way too much normally) All that is solid melts into air
1,376 posts
Location: London, UK
What's the point in spinning if you can't tart around while you're doing it?
"Moo," said the happy cow.
147 posts
Location: Cardiff
hehe 'tart' around? is that like mincing?
All that is solid melts into air
member
110 posts
Location: Scunthorpe, United Kingdom
mincing is ace!
How do paracetamol know where the pain is???
577 posts
Location: Oregon, USA
Dancing and spinning just go together... one of my favorite things right now is to spin myself in various directions and circles while doing 3bt weave low and high.. fun stuffs
Definition of poi- A Hawaiian food made from the tuber of the taro that is cooked, pounded to a paste, and fermented.
Ahnold discussing poi - "It is naht a toober!"
147 posts
Location: Cardiff
yupyupyup, dancing, mincing and tarting around while spinning is what its all about!
All that is solid melts into air
Member
140 posts
Location: middle of the outback, Australia
A good spinner: someone who doesn't look at the ground whilst spinning and is smiling.
hm, pinecones, my favourits!
5,300 posts
Location: everywhere
*sigh*
Holistic Spinner (I hope)
199 posts
Location: Edinburgh
Written by: coleman
"good flow is an element of a good spinner.".
cole. x
Yes! This is what I was thinking, well put!
Though I have to think that sometime when I'm practising too much I loose the flow in the detailed study and it's only after leaving my poi/staff for a while that I regain it.
Oh yeah and everyone who is talking about "tarting" and "I like to dance" that is for the social chat forum.
IMPORTANT: Any views or opinions are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of a sane person.
"just get the f**k on with it and make me the anti-christ already!"
577 posts
Location: Oregon, USA
Sigh.. I never smile.. guess I will never be a good spinner
<- see, no smiles from me.. Definition of poi- A Hawaiian food made from the tuber of the taro that is cooked, pounded to a paste, and fermented.
Ahnold discussing poi - "It is naht a toober!"
199 posts
Location: Edinburgh
Written by: Suibom
Sigh.. I never smile.. guess I will never be a good spinner
As long as you have movement then the
is not necessary. I think my face usually looks like IMPORTANT: Any views or opinions are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of a sane person.
"just get the f**k on with it and make me the anti-christ already!"
Me
607 posts
Location: London/Bristol, United Kingdom
Written by: Zauberdachs
Though I have to think that sometime when I'm practising too much I loose the flow in the detailed study and it's only after leaving my poi/staff for a while that I regain it.
That's not a bad thing in my books. I can spend hours on a single move just to get it clean and feeling like second nature. After all It's hard to make a move flow if you can't do it in the first place
Maybe I should change this too something abit nicer, humm no I still think your all C
t
Member
9 posts
Location: NE London, United Kingdom
I've been spinning for 2 1/2 years and this has been an area of ongoing internal discussion for me. I've just started going to the Spitalfields tuesday get together and this has brought me into contact with lots of really good people who have taken Poi to a whole different level. As such I've got into what I call 'slow poi' with socks and I had a moment of clarity where I finally got it.
A good poier is someone whose body moves with the poi rather than setting up an unatural path where you are having to force it around. There is a 'natural' path for the pio to travel in its spiral and your job is to put the poi in it. You should be in control of the poi at all times and the path should be as close to the sine wave as possible.
So going from a beginner to an intermediate is learning that one way of moving is the same as another but in a different plane. Going from intermediate to good is learning that it is not about different moves but continuing the spiral. The body movement comes when you stop fighting the poi and move in harmony with it. This is why it is sometimes the simplest move which gets the audience "oooohing" rather than the difficult. You do not need to poi to know this - it is a matter of smooth movement of both poi against messyness.
As for the boy vs girl thing - it may be that men find it harder to look 'girly' and wiggle where women have more body movement confidence and don't have the macho/poncy image problem to deal with. Just think of teenage disco's and how hard it is for men in western societies to get up and dance compared to women.
It might be interesting to look at if gay men are more wriggly than straight men when they poi.
Anyway that's my thoughts on the matter and I'm really pleased that it isn't just me who gets deep as to the the whole body poi interaction thing.
Capitalism kills. Kill capitalism.
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