Get started with Poi Instruction on your own or through customized 1:1 coaching via Zoom with GlitterGirl who has been teaching people how to take balls to the face gracefully since 2002!
Start Here: Poi Fire Dancing
Beginner Poi Performance Boot Camp (Zoom)
The Beginner Poi Performance Boot Camp is a program designed to help new poi artists go from no or low skill to their first performance in ~4 months. The program includes 12 one-on-one private lessons customized to each student's needs as well as 2 downloadable video courses.
Practice Poi <$50 Review for First Set of Poi
For beginning poi students, this article addresses the best first set of poi for artists pursuing poi fire dancing and explains relevant factors to be considered both when making and using poi.
New Advanced Beginner Follow the Flow Video Downloads Available Now!
These short sessions are designed to help students practice transitioning between moves using both video demonstrations paired with audio call-outs from GlitterGirl and are modeled after our in-person class warm ups. Download the videos now!
Wall Plane Behind Back Flower & Drill Download available now
Because not all of us can have POIfect lines, this lesson features wall plane behind the back drills for the “Grand” flower pattern; reels; low body tracers and more.
Identity Shifts Through time
As we evolve, our practice evolves. Taking on new identities can help keep us inspired to remain in connection with and return to the practice.
Why Outdoor Classes Are Less Than Ideal
Why outdoor classes don't work well for poi instruction and aren't worth your money.
Our Method
Curious about our classes and what's behind them? Here's a fantastic short film Aaron Sesker put together featuring school and community members sharing their craft along with Temple of Poi Founder, GlitterGirl, talking about the fundamental approach we take at the school using the Flowology Mindset. https://youtu.be/Z-Chi2Q9gYk
The Calling of The Temple
This article reminds me of my own complex relationship with “god” and “calling”. For those who somehow don’t know, my business, called Temple of Poi, is in fact something I view as a deep calling. It has, over the 17.5 years I’ve run it, required an ongoing commitment to and faith that nothing in my... Continue Reading →
What Is the Ideal Poi Length?
I get this question a lot: what is the ideal length for my poi? I took the time to write out an answer to someone on Instagram this morning (if you’re not following me, you can on my PoiPriestess account or if you’re into Mandalas, on my PoiPriestessMandala account ) and thought I’d share it... Continue Reading →
What is Practice?
I was recently in conversation with clients about what they gain through the practice when we all know it can be such a frustrating and painful challenge while also being time consuming and sometimes hard to motivate toward doing. Certainly one focus is to learn the mechanics of movements/ideas/concepts/frameworks/drills/tools because practice is the continued application of... Continue Reading →
Beginner Fan One Minute Lessons
If you're new to fans and looking for some quick direction on how to get started, we have some help for you. This summer, GlitterGirl took some time to get some easy to follow beginner fan videos on line on Instagram. In case you haven't seen them, here's you go! Part 1 of 3: Intro... Continue Reading →
Dealing with Finger Chafing, Blisters and Calluses
When you think about taking up poi dancing, and especially if you're looking to spin fire, the first thought in terms of safety most people seem to have is either about setting themselves on fire or simply how much it hurts to get hit with the poi. Lesser known but perhaps more annoying because of the... Continue Reading →
Expose this! [The Vilification of a Needed Form of Commerce!]
The topic of exposure comes up on a regular basis in the flow arts community which makes sense since much of the community is built on entrepreneurship which requires individual negotiations and non-externally defined rule sets. One of the great things about working for someone else is that you don't have to do a lot... Continue Reading →
“Oh… That Consent is So Sexy!”
I was at the GlowFlow jam last night and was giving an impromptu lesson to a random new student who borrowed some poi and had joined in with her friend. At a certain point, I turned to the student and, wanting to correct her form through manual manipulation of her hand, I asked, "May I touch... Continue Reading →
6 Ways to Make Poi out of Household item
Are you just starting out with poi and want a quick, cheap way to practice without making a huge investment? Or are you starting our Intro to Poi Drop-in class or Beginner Moves series and need a set of poi to use in class? This article is a do-it-yourself quick start guide for those new to... Continue Reading →
LED Gig Pricing
If you thought this article was about hiring us to perform, try this link instead and book us now! A friend approached me with a question about LED gig pricing and, having taken a moment to send some good feedback, I thought my answers might be useful to other artists looking to set their rate... Continue Reading →
What Class Should I Take?
last update 03/23/2016 Here's your quick and easy guide to figuring out what class to take or take next. If you're looking to: get performance ready by Burning Man next year, take the Beginner Poi Boot Camp [first class, Beginner Poi Moves, starts April 21, 8 pm] get the best value for the lowest cost to... Continue Reading →
How my 3 Year Daily Practice Changed my Life
If you had met me in my 20s, there's little chance you would do anything but laugh at the idea of me exercising and sweating daily for any duration of time, let alone three years. Knowing myself, it's perhaps even more surprising. Yet, it's good to know after these 36 months that yes, you can teach... Continue Reading →
Are you being scammed by your so called poi/hoop/staff instructor?
Today I had what seems like an unbelievable interaction because it's so far from what we create here at Temple of Poi, I was harshly awakened to a reality I find very sad: there are actually flow instructors out there who are scamming students. A colleague shared a story about how ze was paying for... Continue Reading →
How the Internet Ruined Education
Catchy article title, huh? Yeah, I think so too. And in some ways, it's utter bullsh*t. At the same time, it also aptly sums up so much of what has transpired in the last decade. Why? Because the internet makes it possible for anyone anywhere to represent themselves as a subject matter expert with little ability... Continue Reading →
11 Tips for Filming Better Fire Videos
From time to time the question of shooting quality video comes up and we get asked what to do to assist in the process. We took some time to share these 10 tips to help you film better fire videos: Wear a costume that will show up well in the low light. Things to consider include... Continue Reading →
5 Ways to Develop Your Look as A performer
Today's question came from a comment on one of my recent blog posts on becoming a pro flow performer: How did you come up with your look? Especially when you’re performing with fire. Didn’t you feel limited in the beginning? Just curious about your process. What a great question and one I really wish I'd... Continue Reading →
14 Signs You’re Ready to Go Pro as a Performer
As artists grow from fledglings to professionals, along the way there is the gap between knowing enough to be entertaiing and not being confident enough to command money for it. If you're one of those people in the early phase of your professional career -- perhaps even just trying to figure out now if you're... Continue Reading →
Our 13 Most Read Articles over the last 13 Years
As we continue to celebrate our 13 year anniversary at Temple of Poi, here's a look at 13 of the most popular (highest read count) articles we've released so far. Coming in first is the recently released hit, The 6 Most Dangerous Ingredients of Fire Performance. This particular article focuses more on mindset than it does on... Continue Reading →
10 Tips Soloprenuers Can Implement to Improve Facebook Efficiency
Over the past few months I've been maximizing my time on-line, figuring out ways to use tools more in a manner that feed me rather than drain time from me and I've codified some of that here. For the small artistpreneur, flowpreneur, soloprenuer or entrepreneur who uses Facebook as one of their (possibly primary) marketing tools who... Continue Reading →
10 Fire Poi Performance Moves That Make Non-Spinners Applaud
As our modern fire poi dancing is a nascent art form in its very early toddler years of development, a few things have become clear to me over the years watching audiences: what artists like to explore because it challenges them may be (and often is) lost on the average audience full of non-spinners at... Continue Reading →
How to Sell Your Show without Selling Your Soul
I'm not sure if you've experienced this also -- where someone accuses someone of selling out in a way that really feels like a negative accusation. I look around the community and I consider the possibility of someone having actually sold out and it occurs to me that no one is making nearly enough money for that to... Continue Reading →
The 6 Most Dangerous Ingredients of Fire Performance
Most people easily consider that the fire itself is dangerous, which of course is accurate, particularly if you're undereducated about how to handle and extinguish it safely. If they are people that are qualified to be performing, we also hope they are considering other things that go along with that like placement of the depot, spin... Continue Reading →
8 Approaches to Choreography
As with any practice, choreographing a work consists of degrees of granularity, in this case where the movements are matched to the music with increasing degree of precision as the choreography becomes more refined. This encompasses a wide range of experiences and approaches to the creation process. This article endeavors to present some commonly utilized concepts... Continue Reading →
Teachers: 10 things to Consider when Competing with Other Bigger Name Artists
Here's a question that came up lately on a teaching forum, a question more and more people will be asking as time passes and the industry becomes bigger. Does anyone teach in a town or city with a way more advanced hooper than you? I'm feeling a lot of insecurity about developing my hoop... Continue Reading →
Zoom Mixed Level Flowers, 8 PM Tue Pacific, 2/15/22 – 3/8/22
Join us for this 4 week Mixed Level Flowers class starting June 22, 2021 8 PM pacific.
Zoom Mixed Level Flowers, 8 PM Tue Pacific, starting June 22, 2021
Join us for this 4 week Mixed Level Flowers class starting June 22, 2021 8 PM pacific.
Out of the Box, 8 PM PT Tuesdays on Zoom starting April 20, 2021
Join us for this poi turn class focussed on getting dancers out of the box poi can feel constrained to until they learn the rules of turning and how to break them.
Transition Flair, Tuesdays 8 PM PT, Starts February 9, 2021
Join us for 4 weeks exploring how to add poi patterns and movements designed to level up your performance flow by adding fun, expressive, performance flair to your poi repertoire.
Zoom Beginner Poi Moves M/W 4:30p PT/7:30p ET starts February 1, 2021
Begin your journey with this offering, our Beginner Poi Moves 6-week series teaching over 50+ different moves and combinations plus 25+ unique drills to support your practice. This zoom based class is appropriate for those with absolutely no experience through early beginners with a few moves but not a lot of vocabulary, comprehension, technique and confidence.
Poi Classes, Fire Safety & Flow Lessons 