April
is one of the most exciting months out of the
year. It is a time to plant seeds, to water them
and watch them grow. Flowers start to bloom and
everything smells good. There is a certain buzz
in the air and it's not just the bees or your
morning coffee... it's mother earth waking up
from her winter slumber and stretching her hands
above her head, smiling, feeling refreshed and
alive. This spring take a moment to really notice
and appreciate nature. Find some dirt and plant
something. Stop and smell the flowers. Lie in
a field of grass. Spring is a time of new beginnings
so let go of the old you and embrace all that
you desire. Plant a seed by visualizing exactly
what is it that you want, feel it at the core
of your body, and then expect it to happen.
Fire Groove
In
This Issue...
Pictured:
Imakokode
Photographer: Stephane Le Borgne
World
Groovenation
What's new? Upcoming workshops, classes
and performances!
Paris
on Fire Imakokode is traveling all the
way from Paris to offer LA four specialty workshops
in staff spinning. Read the interview and check
out the great pictures and video for inspiration.
Poi
Alchemy Heather Garrell, Fire Grooves
newest teacher in training describes the incredible
changes that poi has brought into her life.
Online
Store Officially Opens! Fire Groove has been making their
own spinning tools from the start. They've gone
from broom sticks and balled up socks to the highest
quality of poi and staves on the market. Today they
open their online shop!
Some
Like it Hot Kamala describes her adventures
with fire eating and gives details on the workshops
to be held later this month.
Miracles
Come in Circles
Alicia Danforth, diagnosed with breast
cancer, writes about how her poi practice has helped
her recover and continues to be a source of positivity
and light in her life.
Video
of the Month: "Naked" A beautiful video with melodic
lyrics by Renfey inspiring confidence and beauty
inside and out.
Free
Yoga at Runyon
Canyon in Hollywood
10:30 - 11:45 am every week! Sink your toes
into the grass as the sun smiles down on you
and the breeze sweeps away your stress.
April
8th
Specialty
Workshops
11:30 - 1:00 pm - Single
Staff - with Imakokode
1:00 - 2:30 PM - Contact
Staff - with Imakokode
April
11th
Specialty
Workshops, Continued
7:30 - 9:00 PM - Double
Staff I - with Imakokode
9:00 - 10:30 PM - Double
Staff II - with Imakokode
Free
Intro to Poi, Staff & Hoop Groove Classes
7:30 - 9:30 PM @ Dance
Studio #1
2037 Granville Ave, LA 90025
Curious about learning how to fire dance but
not sure if you're ready to commit? Wondering
which tool to start with? We invite you to
come down to the studio to see what it's all
about. In this class we give you a preview
of what the 7 week session covers, go over
tricks to learning, and teach a few basic
moves with poi, staff & hoop.
May
13th
New
Poi, Staff & Hoop Groove classes start! Jump
into one of our 7 week classes in Santa Monica,
Long Beach or Hollywood. Check the website
for details.
Paris
on Fire
We here
at the Fire Groove headquarters
are very excited to announce
the next round of specialty
workshops. Imakokode
is coming all the way
from Paris to offer Los
Angeles four unique workshops
in staff spinning. We
met Ima at Burning Man
last year and he has totally
inspired us in a whole
new direction of spinning.
For the past 6 years,
Ima has been studying
the geometry, angles and
numbers of staff spinning.
He believes in the importance
of balancing the body
by spinning with both
arms in both directions.
He will be teaching his
theory of the scales of
staff as well as incorporating
basic Maori and Kung Fu
moves. Ima will also be
teaching contact staff,
double staff, many throws
and catches, isolations,
transitions, and anti-spins.
He is one of the founders
of BurnCrew
Concepts which is
a well known fire arts
association who's goal
is to unite fire dancers
around the world. Beyond
his mad skillz, Ima is
just a really amazing
person who has so much
to offer. See for yourself...
check out the interview
and videos below!
Hannah:
I love your name, Imakokode.
What does it mean? Ima: Imakokode
is a Japanese word used
in Zen Buddhism, it means
"here and now". I went
to Kyoto 2 years ago in
a special state of mind:
try to enjoy everything
as it happen in the very
moment you live it, don't
look to much in the past
or in the future, live
truly and fully into the
present.
Hannah:
How long have you been
fire dancing and how did
you get started? Ima: I started
fire staff 6 years ago.
It's a quite classic story
actually: I fell in love
with it during a very
friendly juggling convention
near Olreans (2 hours
south of Paris). I borrowed
one staff from a guy named
Yogi and trained all day
with some basic kung fu
moves until the evening,
where I lit up for the
very first time, on a
small beach, with these
crazy Brazilian drummers
and about 50 other fire
jugglers.
Hannah:
About how many people
are spinning poi, staff
and hoop in Paris? France?
Ima: It's hard
to tell because we can
only speak about the people
that are connected through
the internet and that
we meet at the different
conventions. But I would
say about 200 around Paris
and maybe 2000 over the
whole Country. It's still
really new: less than
one year. It’s mostly
about poi and staff, and
I guess less than 2% of
hoop (unfortunately);
but much more fire breathers.
Hannah: What is
Burn Crew Concepts
and what is your involvement
in it? Ima: It is a Paris
association that proposes
to unify the various other
fire spinning associations
in France. It's also a
team of young professional
fire spinners in Paris
that organize national
fire spinning conventions
in France. I've been part
of the crew since the
very beginning (3 years
ago) as a special member,
performer and sometimes,
artistic advisor. Everything
stared from the incredible
motivation and passion
of "Das Master" one of
the best fire breathers
I've ever met.
Hannah:
What is Uber Paris
and what was your involvement
in it? Ima:Uber
Paris is the 3rd European
fire (and) spinning convention
mainly organized by Rob
(BlueCat). The convention
holds poi and staff workshops
all weekend ending with
a crazy party during the
evening. It's in Paris,
FRANCE: 15th to 17th of
June www.uberevents.org
Hannah: What is
it about the staff that
you love so much?
Ima: Erf …lots
of things that I cannot
explain, but I guess if
I have to describe it
with words I’d talk about
its spiritual side, like
the fact that it’s a balanced
object that can create
and develop energy around
you. Spinning it makes
it becoming suddenly lighter
and like a natural element
it needs to be precisely
controlled through this
new energy according to
your own one, otherwise
it can be dangerous, but
this danger comes only
from you. You have the
responsibilities of your
own moves; that makes
it a way to learn how
to express and know yourself,
body, movements, endurance,
balance, control, breathing,
etc. I’m not that attracted
to fire, but it adds the
energy of light, warmth
and risk so it’s pretty
exiting to me. For now,
what I like most is the
fact that 5 years ago
I thought I founded every
move I could with one
staff, and now I discover
I’m still very far from
the infinite possibilities
that this object offers.
It’s also very pleasant
to have social links with
people that feel the same
in the whole world.
Hannah:
What
kinds of things will you
be teaching in your workshops
in Los Angeles? Ima: I’m intrigued
by theatrical staff movements
according to geometry,
angles and numbers. I’ve
been searching for every
basic move from 1 to 6
beats, 2 directions and
2 sides of your body.
That makes some kind of
scales that are quite
important to know for
freestyle. I’ve met many
good staff spinners that
can only spin one side
and one way, I think it’s
very important to keep
the balance in your body
(work 2 sides) and for
your staff (work 2 directions).
I’ve also been taught
some basic Maori and Kung
Fu moves I’d like to share.
After this, I’d like to
introduce people to double
staff, contact staff,
throws and catches, isolations,
transitions, antispins
and passing. These are
the techniques I’ve been
learning from many European
friends and from my own
practice.
Workshop
Schedule: Specialty
Workshop # 1 ~
Single Staff
Sunday, April 8th 11:30
- 1:00 PM
Level: All
Specialty Workshop # 2
~
Contact Staff
Sunday, April 8th 1:00
- 2:30 PM
Level: All
Specialty
Workshop # 3 ~
Double Staff: Part I
Wednesday, April 11th
7:30 - 9:00 PM
Level: Intermediate /
Advanced
Specialty
Workshop # 4 ~
Double Staff: Part II
Wednesday, April 11th
9:00 - 10:30 PM
Level: Intermediate /
Advanced
Location:
~Santa
Monica~
Dance Studio
No. 1 (Map)
2037
Granville Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90025
At Burning
Man 2004, I saw a number
of luscious fire spinning
performances and I knew
that I had to learn the
skill. Shortly after that,
I began taking classes
with Hannah and Kamala.
Something about it felt
right. I rearranged my
work schedule and drove
through more than an hour
of traffic so that I could
get to their classes.
As I spent more time spinning
poi, I began to feel the
fire of my essential self.
Poi spinning and dancing
with fire catalyzed a
process of change in my
life that made me connect
with my deepest desires.
A few months after I started
learning poi, I felt a
powerful call to go travel.
I traveled to Thailand,
India and Bali on a mission
to learn about dance forms,
movement and the flow
of life. I studied Balinese
dance, Hatha yoga and
Ayurvedic healing. During
this time, I developed
a clear vision of my passion
and my calling for dance
and healing.
A
few months after I returned
to the US, I began the
teacher-training program
with Fire Groove. In the
last year I have observed
magical changes in the
students that progress
through the Fire Groove
classes. Their eyes become
brighter. They develop
a walk and a stance that
is alert and relaxed.
I see more beauty and
creativity in the way
they dress. There is a
quiet inner confidence
in these students. Observing
the experiences of others
and myself with fire spinning,
I have seen the power
of this art form. I have
come to understand that
spinning is a meditative
tool that allows people
to cultivate self through
the body.
As I began to teach and
spend more time inside
circles of fire, I think
a lot about the process
of this change. What happens
to our minds and bodies
as we spin poi? I find
that my scattered mental
energy becomes focused.
My monkey mind settles
down and disengages from
the usual concerns. A
sweet focus overtakes
my being and I relax into
movement. My inner calm
reflects in the flow of
the poi. The poi becomes
a feedback mechanism
whereby I can observe
my inner state. As soon
as I start to worry about
other things BAP! The
poi gives me a good smack
in the head. Through this
process I learn to be
present to what I am doing
with my mind and body.
It is magical
to watch other fire spinners
in that moment. It is
even more powerful to
be the one creating the
moment. It’s like being
pure electricity.
The next step for me is
finding the balance between
flow and challenging myself.
As I try to work out a
new move, I see the way
that my ego likes to try
to run the show when I
engage a new challenge.
I have a tendency towards
trying to force the results
that I want. When I try
a new move I often want
to muscle or speed my
way through it. Especially
if I think other people
are watching me. Yikes!
Poi Spinning gives me
the opportunity to practice
observing my ego and letting
go of its demands. Learning
a new move is always difficult
at first, but I find that
if I take a deep breath
and simply continue with
a gentle effort, I can
usually find it. When
I stop thinking, and start
feeling the energy of
my body and the poi, the
move just comes to me.
Cultivating my poi practice
has taught me how to utilize
mindful effort in every
area of my life.
With repetition of this
process, the instinct
for play develops in place
of the instinct to worry.
When my body opens up
into a new move there
is a moment of pure joy.
Learning new technical
poi skills opens more
exciting dance possibilities,
more wonderful moments
of flow, where the music,
body kinetics and the
tools become one gorgeous
energy. It is magical
to watch other fire spinners
in that moment. It is
even more powerful to
be the one creating the
moment. It’s like being
pure electricity. I believe
that when spinners have
this experience, it encourages
us to seek out the highest
joy in everything we do.
It helps us to seek and
move towards the calling
of our spirit.
After years and
years of work we have finally
launched our online store. So
now with a click of a button you
can get quality handmade practice,
glow, and fire toys shipped right
to your house. Ever since we started
spinning we have always tried
to make our own tools. My sisters'
first poi were
made out of yarn with socks wrapped
in tape on the end, and my first
fire staff was a curtain rod with
towels wired to the ends. Although
these weren't the best toys to
start with they motivated my sisters
and myself to set out on our quest
to find out how to make the best
spinning toys. Through our years
of research we have received feedback
from hundreds of students, fire
dancers from around the world,
friends from all different skills
levels and backgrounds, and of
course our beloved family, and
we thank all of you in helping
us develop these perfect toys,
it could not have happened without
you! Now our business is at the
point where we can offer our toys
to the world, so pass it on, and
know that every toy was made with
love by the Fire Groove Family.
In the coming weeks look for new
products to be added such as our
instructional DVDs for poi and
staff, fire safety blankets, dipping
cans, glow staves, and much much
more! To view products page click
on the shop button at the top
of the newsletter or click here.
Written by
Lester
Some
Like it Hot
The first time I saw someone
eat fire I thought… Oh wow that
must really scorch your mouth
and… what about oral hygiene,
gum disease, fowl breath and
all the other things that really
run high on my "things I strongly
dislike list". About 2 years
into my fire dancing, I saw
this beautiful belly dancer
eat fire at a desert festival.
She ate it very slowly and when
it was out… she would smile
and lock eyes with different
members
of the audience commanding their
attention. It was tantalizing,
and I was intrigued.
The
next week I was out at my friend
Raven McBride's house (an amazing
fire dancer from Los Angeles)
learning how to make fire poi.
One of his friends showed up
who just happened to be a fire
eater and offered to teach me…
It was on! After about an hour
I was eating fire like a champ.
It seemed much easier than I
had imagined it would be. I'm
sure that having a previous
relationship with fire and knowing
a little bit about how it moves
and is extinguished was helpful.
This was awesome! I was so excited!
I immediately ran home excited
to share this newfound fire
fun with my sis! She got it
right away too and we decided
to start incorporating it into
our performances. Shortly after
we found fire eating, another
amazing dancer Charisse a.k.a.
Cherry from Portland Oregon
came down to perform and teach
workshops with Fire Groove.
Low and behold one of the workshops
was on fire eating and Hannah
and I were the first sign up.
We were taught how to tunnel
(hold a flaming torch in your
mouth for a few seconds and
then blow a small fire ball
out), transfer (pass the flame
from one body part to another
by using excess fuel) and presentation
of your fire eating show. It
was a blast and gave us so much
confidence. I was loving the
fire eating!
The
one thing that was really bothering
me was the health issue… I hadn't
noticed any changes but I was
concerned about my gums and
teeth potentially cracking,
chipping or far worse… cancer.
I was really nervous when I
walked into Dr. Robinson's office;
he had been my dentist for the
past 10 years so he was very
familiar with the health of
my teeth and gums (which by
the way were exceptional, so…
needless to say, I wanted it
to stay that way). I sat waiting
with trepidation. I had been
eating fire on a weekly, bi-weekly
basis for about 4 months. One
of the jobs I booked, however,
(CSI NY) had me eating fire
for about 2 hours straight so
I was a little concerned. Finally
my name was called and I headed
in for my cleaning and checkup.
Well, I was shocked to find
out that my teeth and gums had
never looked better! I was so
stoked on hearing this!
Fire Groove has since taught
hundreds of people how to eat
fire and there have been positive
reports all around! I plan on
continuing to eat fire every
now and then, teach others this
magical art and continue to
research health issues relating
to fire eating. I love fire
and the ongoing, learning relationship
that myself and my Fire Groove
family have with it. It inspires
and entices us like nothing
on earth and we look forward
to sharing this gift with as
many of you as possible.
Fire Groove is currently offering
two workshops. Reserve your
spot now as we can only take
6 students at a time and classes
book up really quickly!
Location Rose Studio
216
N. Rose St. Burbank, CA 91505
(Map)
Reserve
Your Spot:
Workshops are limited to 6 people!
You must reserve your spot by
purchasing
the workshop or by e-mailing
reserve@firegroove.com
** Fire Eating should NEVER
be done without professional
training. It is extremely dangerous
and can be life threatening
if done wrong. You must be at
least 18 or be accompanied by
one of your parents to take
this class. **
When
you hear Shawn Barry sing… you
will be inspired, enlightened
and totally impressed with his
heartfelt lyrics and amazing
voice. Shawn sings for the world...
creating positivity and uplifting
everyone who surrounds him.
He sings everything from reggae
to the blues straight from the
heart. Oh and did I mention
he writes all of his own lyrics?
We here at Fire Groove love
his music and we invite all
of you to join us this coming
Wednesday, April 11th at the
Temple Bar for an evening of
soul soothing music!
“The nature of God is a
circle of which the center is
everywhere and the circumference
is nowhere” -- Empedocles
Poi and miracles go together in
my life. It started when I learned
the basic weave. I'd been trying
to master it for about 45 minutes
when a friend came up and told
me that my problem was clear to
him. I was wearing the wrong glasses.
He proceeded to place a pair of
Elvis shades with bright orange
lenses on me. In that instant,
I started to spin a perfect forward
3-beat as if I'd been doing it
forever. The revelation
that I was suddenly participating
in the same dance as all of the
heavenly spheres and each tiny
atom in every cell of all living
things changed how I participate
with life.
In the months that followed, the
benefits kept flowing. I was blessed
to meet Kamala and Hannah and
loved every minute I spent in
their classes exploring my new,
limitless poi-tential. My body
got toned as my mind got clearer.
I made dozens of new friends in
the fire arts community and soon
had a social calendar full of
poi-related events and gatherings.
Plus, I freed some of the constraints
of self-criticism and diminished
my stage fright. For the first
time, I felt the euphoria of expressing
myself creatively in a way that
felt so genuine and boundless.
Fire Groove classes gave me a
structure for mastering the basics
while encouraging my own style
to develop naturally. And, the
fire. I don't even know how to
express how awesome it is to become
more intimate with that powerful,
transforming element.
When I found out a few months
ago that I had breast cancer,
nothing made me cry until I realized
that I might not be able to spin
and dance with poi any longer.
By catching the malignancy early,
I saved my life and preserved
enough lymph nodes to continue
using poi. I'll just have to wear
a protective sleeve for rigorous
workouts. After each of four surgeries,
I ignored my physicians' advice
about waiting at least two weeks
before exercising. I had to spin.
I had to feel that connection
as part of my healing. Just doing
simple moves stilled my mind and
calmed my fears that my skills
were lost. By adding music and
more movement, I could always
escape a dark mood. My doctors
were surprised at the range of
motion I demonstrated during my
post-surgical follow-ups, and
we're all expecting a total recovery.
Poi has been a powerful healing
agent for my mind, body, and spirit
through every stage of this transformation.
Thank you Hannah and Kamala for
sharing this gift with me!
"Naked"
is Renfey's new frap video,
a free rap piece Renfey says
is about "the beauty within
each of us... that we are each
unique and beautiful naked or
adorned." Renfey is a singer,
beat poet and frap artist winding
storytelling and melodic lyric
around an emotionally driven
groove oriented dark alt rock
sound. Her partner and producer
on this music quest is Kor who
also directed the video.
What's
on Your Mind?
If you have any topics you'd like to write
about or any comments
about stuff we've written, please send us
an e-mail at info@firegroove.com
We
Want to Feature You!
We would like to highlight spinners, artists,
dancers and yogis from all around the world.
Please send us a picture and brief description
of who you are, where you are from and what
you do.
Dancing with Fire...
We'd like to hear about how dancing with
fire makes you feel or has changed your
life.
Shoot us a quick e-mail
and we'll include you in the next newsletter.
Subscribe
If you'd like to receive the Fire Groove
Newsletter, send us an e-mail
with the word "subscribe" in the
subject line. If you are already on our
list and want off, send us an
e-mail with the word "un-subscribe"
in the subject line.
Hannah:
How long have you been
fire dancing and how did
you get started? 
uch?
A
few months after I returned
to the US, I began the
teacher-training program
with Fire Groove. In the
last year I have observed
magical changes in the
students that progress
through the Fire Groove
classes. Their eyes become
brighter. They develop
a walk and a stance that
is alert and relaxed.
I see more beauty and
creativity in the way
they dress. There is a
quiet inner confidence
in these students. Observing
the experiences of others
and myself with fire spinning,
I have seen the power
of this art form. I have
come to understand that
spinning is a meditative
tool that allows people
to cultivate self through
the body. 
bers
of the audience commanding their
attention. It was tantalizing,
and I was intrigued. 
revelation
that I was suddenly participating
in the same dance as all of the
heavenly spheres and each tiny
atom in every cell of all living
things changed how I participate
with life. 
