Vancouver, BC, Canada | April 24 - May 10

I had the good fortune to make a partner-poi video with the LOOOOP group in Germany. Grab some friends and learn!

In these videos our friend Srikanta shares his knowledge of acrobatics applied to poi and staff. If you don't know already, Srikanta spent years performing with Cirque Du Soleil! He's been through the best training of any fire performer we know! 

If you want to learn more, check out his upcoming poi and staff retreat in Costa Rica!

In this video we look at Split-time Hip Reels, also known as Watermill. Really watermill and windmill are the same basic pattern, just done at different heights. 

Ever wondered what "good posture" really means? Kinesiologist Sarah Hamilton answers that question and explains how it will help us avoid injuries. 

Speaking of stalls, here's Nick's Favourite Stalling Pattern! Stalling patterns are a great way to learn freedom of movement!

Want to learn stalls? Then find a wall! 

A crosspoint is the point where the flight path of a poi intersects itself. Playing with crosspoints is a way to observe, understand, stabilize, and interact with the poi. 3-beat weaves when performed randomly don't look like anything from the front, but by stabilizing the crosspoints it can become a beautiful helix. Crosspoints can also be used for spotting when turning and whirling in virtually any pattern. (It is easiest to work with crosspoints if you have light emitting poi!)

In this video we look at turning with behind-the-back weaves.

In this video we look at buzzsaws; how to learn them, how to turn with them, and how to make them look good. Filmed at the inspiring Don Valley Brickworks, well worth checking out if you love the idea of nature coming back to major cities.

In this lesson we keep the poi spinning on a wall plane while we turn through a full circle. This teaches plane control through a full range of motion. Great for developing freedom to dance!

Once you know both the crossed-weave and the various 3-beat weaves with your partners, you can start to change positions. Here's how.

The crossed weave is a fun partner poi pattern because you can transition into the various partner weaves.

Although it may feel like you're doing a Chase the Sun type pattern, it's also a forwards and backwards partner weave at the same time. But most importantly it's fun :)

Once you've learned the basic 3-beat partner weaves, the next step is to learn them facing away from each other. This will allow you to step through different positions from the 4-beat cross-weave. This will all make sense soon.