Poi Beginner Series: Unit 1

The tracks are your friends! All of the basics of poi are easiest to learn if you keep clear tracks. This is easiest if you actually have lines on the floor or another clear reference. Be creative! Tennis courts, the sides of a yoga mat, and playing in hallways are all easy ways to give yourself clear tracks.

Helpful hint:  Make sure your poi are always rolling towards the same direction in your surroundings, otherwise you will keep spinning the poi forwards relative to the direction you are facing.

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Commentary on Turning with one poi

Having trouble? Nick offers more guidance in turning with one poi.

Everything will be more difficult than it needs to be until you can control your planes. The best way to gain control?  Lose control on purpose and then look for control again! Don't rush through this, and feel free to make up your own exercises.

Most poi spinning involves the 4 main modes: Same time, split time, opposites, and split-time opposites. This also represents the main ways we move our arms.

Much of the beauty of poi dancing is in the way we transition between the modes.  Start to gain familiarity with these modes now -- we'll continue to develop them throughout the series.

Welcome to your first turn lesson! These are same time turns which are often called reels. 

This lesson will give you the foundation for turning and flowing with poi.

Now let's venture into the world of crossing our poi!

If you have trouble (which is common in the beginning), remember that you can use one real poi and one imaginary poi. Do this with each hand and then try two poi again.

Now let's try crossing in split time to create a 2-beat weave. 

Contrary to popular belief, this move is far more than a lead-up to the 3-beat weave! It's a fundamental skill that will open up a whole world of moves, so keep practicing it for the rest of your life with poi!

We kid you not: Playing with one poi at a time is worth it.

Here are some exercises that will take you far!