Spinning

If you want to learn how to spin fire, here are a few places to check out:

• Home of Poi – This is a first resource for a lot of people. It’s a great community with a lot of good information.
• Play Poi – Good info. Good videos. Good people. The more I see of this site, the more I love it. …and if you go through their site, you might notice a mention or two that they’re related to Home of Poi.

Conditioning

I can’t say enough about getting into condition. Each prop you spin is going to use muscles you never even knew existed. Yoga, pilates, martial arts, weight training and the like can all keep you in top condition so you can keep spinning your props long after you’ve gone old and grey, lost major limbs, etc. 😉

Here’s a random grab-bag of sites I’ve picked up for just such a purpose.

• Yoga Journal – Lots of good information on yoga.
• Health at playpoi.com – The folks at playpoi put together a fantastic series of videos on fire spinning and health. If you at all spin, check it out.

Props

As far as acquiring a prop, here are (in no particular order) a few places to get started:

• Home of Poi – They’re all the way in New Zealand. So unless you live in the region, the props may take a while to show up at your front door.
• Fire by Riz – Yes. The web site is http://www.firewhip.com/ . Based somewhere in Florida, they’re one of my favorite suppliers.
• Dubé – This is a full juggling store. If you’re in NYC, you can even check them out.
• Fire Mecca – A wonderful selection of props out of Henderson, NV.
• Burning Passion – This one’s based out of Minnesota.
• Bearclaw Manufacturing – Based out of Hollywood, CA. I’ve never bought from them. But they have an amazing selection.
• Fire Groove – This is an LA based fire troupe that also sells props.
• Fire Toys – Another Minnesota shop.
• Trick Concepts – They’re out in Torrance, CA. Lots of cool props.
• Flow Toys – Based in Berkeley, California, they do glow props, and they’re awesome. Flow Toys claim to fame is their modular system. That ability to mix and match lights between different props makes them one of my favorites. I use their light modules in my glow canes.
• Neon Husky – A prop vendor out in Beaverton, OR with a strong emphasis on glow props. A contact juggling friend of mine swears by them.

Northeast Favorites

I have a few northeast US favorites. These are people I know and love in flow/burner scene. Some of them sell props. Some of them perform. Some of them are just fantastic. And far too many of them aren’t on this page.

• 3rd Earth Designs – This is the brainchild of Tara McMannus. If you need a custom piece of fire resistant clothing, Tara utilizes leather, stretch kevlar, and other fire resistant material to create whatever you can imagine.
• Ninja Pyrate – A fire spinning duo extraordinaire, Jeff and Krisstina are always cooking up something new.
• Lantern Smith – Take two amazing fire spinners from northern Vermont. Add a phosphorescent technology that allows you to “charge” a glow prop with UV light. Stir until well blended. The result is some crazy cool props that have to be played with to be believed. 
• Ravenbane’s Fire Craft – Ravenbane is one of those troupes with tight choreography and a leader who will light a fire breath off the crack of his fire whip. Really. That’s all I have to say. 
• Swirlz Hula Hoops – You never know when you’ll reconnect with a college friend only to discover that she’s taken up hoop dance and belly dance. Oh. And she sells hoops. I bought two of them myself. 🙂
• Hunnycreeper (Facebook Page, Etsy Page) – When she’s not teaching yoga, Jenn sells gorgeous upcycled outfits and accessories, a perfect way to stand out while honing your skills in the flow arts.