FLEX Poi Spinning & Poi Juggling How to Spin Poi Like a Circus Pro 4W2
What's included
4 pre-recorded lessons
4 weeks
of teacher support1 year access
to the contentHomework
1 hour per week. Each week, there will be approximately 20 - 30 minutes of homework assigned to help participants develop and apply the ideas taught in class to their own lives.Class Experience
US Grade 7 - 9
Beginner - Intermediate Level
The class "Poi Spinning and Juggling: How to Spin Juggle like a Circus Pro" is designed to teach the basics of poi spinning and juggling to beginners. The class will cover various techniques, such as proper posture, timing, and coordination, needed to spin and juggle poi like a professional. Through a combination of in-class demonstrations and hands-on practice, students will learn how to control the poi, build endurance and dexterity and develop their poi spinning and juggling skills. The class will cover topics such as: -Introduction to Poi Spinning: Understanding the basic concepts and history of poi spinning and the different types of poi. -Safety and Proper Technique: Learn how to hold and spin the poi safely and correctly, and how to avoid common mistakes. -Basic Movements and Patterns: Learn and practice basic poi spinning movements, such as weaves, flowers, and butterflies. -Juggling with Poi: Learn how to combine spinning and juggling for more advanced routines and transitions. -Building Endurance: Learn how to build and maintain the stamina needed for long poi spinning sessions. -Combining Music and Movement: Learn how to match poi spinning movement with music and create a synchronized performance. -Performing and Choreography: Learn how to create a choreographed poi spinning routine and how to perform in front of an audience. -Poi spinning and juggling Tricks: Learn various tricks and more advanced moves and combine them with the basic movements to develop unique performance The class is suitable for beginners with no prior experience in poi spinning and juggling, and will provide them with a solid foundation in this circus art form. By the end of the class, students will be able to perform basic poi spinning and juggling patterns and have the knowledge to continue practicing and developing their skills at home. The flexible schedule (Flex Class) allows your learners to watch the pre-recorded videos and do them at a time that is FUN for them! You can also spend extra time on the topics your child is most interested in. Since this is a flex class with no live meetings, students can log in at a convenient time to complete the week's lesson. We will be going through each week as a group and I will post the lesson weekly (depending on which day you started). In each section, I will teach different staff tricks in each of the four videos. I will show all the required information needed to understand the best way to perform the tricks. After learning each Poi trick, the student will then film themselves performing the tricks for the homework, which will be sent back weekly. These videos will then be commented on by the teacher and used in a discussion for the group. After watching each video and completing the homework assignments, students will be provided with feedback and the specific next steps to make their show even better. The students will then share their videos / projects for the other students to watch and comment on. This will allow the learners to help each other and share ideas and thoughts about each show. Sharing these projects will allow other students to learn from each other. The art of spinning Poi originated with the Maori people of New Zealand. It is not known when Poi dancing was created by the Maori, but it pre-dates their first contact with Europeans in the early 1800s and likely goes back to as far as 1500 A.D. Poi is still practiced by the Maori, but for this class, we will focus on Poi as it intersects with the broader juggling, circus world. Time-frame for the Week: Saturday - Teacher will post the video for the week. Sunday - The teacher can answer any questions from the students regarding the tricks in that week lesson. The students will need to complete the homework and submit the video. Wednesday - Students need to have all tasks completed and uploaded in the classroom. Thursday - I will provide feedback to the students about the homework. Students will also be able to take part in a student to student comments and review on the tricks they learn and video to be able to discuss how they best perform them with each other. Friday - I will be available for questions and feedback. Session 1: Introducing the Poi How to hold your Poi How long should my Poi be Some other types of Poi Session 2: Single hand tricks to teach planes and control. The Basics Parallel Time: small circles, planes, big circles, carry turn from forwards... and back again, inward and outward circles Reels : shoulder reels, rewind, hip reels, reel turn from forwards... and back again, linking reels, linking using the matching point, continuous turns, hitting yourself and getting tangled. Split Time: small circles, big circles, split reels, linking split reels, the windmill, the giant windmill Session 3: The Weave: breaking the planes, counting beats, not circles, the weave, the giant weave, the backwards weave, developing your style, wave turn from forwards... and back again, non-turning turns, the fountain Opposite Directions: small circles, big circles Topics in session 4 will include: The Butterfly: Angel wings inwards, angel wings outward, giant angel wings, butterfly turn, Maori Poi spinning, some Maori moves, perfecting your spinning How to create a show with music using the tricks and props made in the previous classes. Please note, I will not be teaching any tricks with fire in this class. Working with fire is very dangerous. I will cover this and explain why they must become master spinners before they can ever think about working with fire. Just so it is very clear, I will not be including the use of fire in this class. No required experience or previous knowledge is needed by the learners. ▬▬▬▬▬▬ Schedule Requests & LIVE classes ▬▬▬▬▬▬ This is the flexible version of my course, I also teach all of my classes LIVE. Please see our profile page for a full list of all the classes we offer. ▬▬▬▬▬▬ Concessions ▬▬▬▬▬▬ For parents/families who feel their child would benefit from this course, but their budget does not allow for it, I do offer a number of discounts for families of lower income. Please message me with the course, dates and times you are interested in to learn more about the discounts I might be able to offer.
Learning Goals
Understand the basics of poi spinning and juggling, including proper posture, timing, and coordination.
Be able to safely and correctly hold and spin the poi, and avoid common mistakes.
Be able to perform basic poi spinning movements such as weaves, flowers, and butterflies.
Learn to combine spinning and juggling for more advanced routines and transitions.
Build the stamina and endurance needed for long poi spinning sessions.
Learn how to match poi spinning movement with music, and how to create a synchronized performance.
Learn how to create a choreographed poi spinning routine and how to perform in front of an audience.
Be able to perform various tricks and more advanced moves
Be equipped with the knowledge and skills to continue practicing and developing poi spinning and juggling at home.
Overall, the class aims to provide students with a solid foundation in the circus art form of poi spinning and juggling, and empower them with the knowledge and skills to perform basic movements and patterns, and continue to develop their skills with the poi spinning and juggling.i proficiently without hurting themselves and how to enjoy a new activity that is artistic and creative.
Syllabus
4 Lessons
over 4 WeeksLesson 1:
Introduction to Poi Spinning & Juggling
Get started with the basics of poi spinning and juggling, including history, different types of poi, and an introduction to safety and technique.
Lesson 2:
Mastering Basic Movements
Learn and practice fundamental movements such as weaves, flowers, and butterflies, focusing on proper posture, timing, and coordination.
Lesson 3:
Advancing Your Skills: Juggling with Poi
Combine spinning and juggling for advanced routines and transitions. Begin to develop your unique performance style.
Lesson 4:
Building Endurance for Performances
Techniques and exercises to build and maintain the stamina necessary for longer spinning sessions and complex routines.
Other Details
Parental Guidance
The student will need space to spin. If you are taking this class inside please make sure the ceiling is high enough for you not to hit it, I recommend a minimum ceiling height of 9 foot or more.
The same goes for the space around you. Please make sure you have enough space to move around and spin your poi without hitting anything. This space should be approximately 8x8 feet.
If you can I would suggest taking this class in as spacious an area as possible; gardens and garages are great.
If you have limited space, not to worry, I will teach students much smaller tricks that don't need so much space. These are core skills and can be scaled up, so they're good to practice later in a more spacious area.
Please note there are risks involved with this activity, including injury if the student hits themselves with the equipment while practicing. To limit this risk, the equipment/poi we use initially to practice are made out of tennis balls and socks so the student can learn without any real injury. (They may hit themselves in the head a few times with the tennis balls while learning, as everyone does.) I, the teacher, will not be responsible for any damage or personal injury caused by the student during or after this class.
Just so it is very clear, I will not be including the use of fire in this class. I will not be teaching any tricks with fire in this class. Working with fire is very dangerous. I will cover this and explain why they must become master spinners before they can ever think about working with fire.
Supply List
We will make our first practice poi, and you will need the following: 1 pair of long (colorful) cotton socks - they need to be the kind that you can pull up to your knee and without any holes. 2 x tennis balls Students will need a set of poi for the class and to practice with. If you have never bought poi before and are unclear which is right for you, please contact me and I will advise. The poi you buy or make will depend on your height and the types of tricks you are looking to learn. This will be explained in more detail during the class. It might also be good to have a few different types of poi to play with to help you decide which you prefer, but these are optional.
Language of Instruction
English
Teacher expertise and credentials
1 teacher has a Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's Degree in Science from Brighton University UK
Jonathan has been a martial arts expert since the age of 9. From the age of 16 he worked with various circus teams where he learned many skills. He has travelled the world performing for audiences including Formula 1 events, royalty and international superstars. He is a fully insured fire performer with many skills including bubbleology, staff spinning, juggling and stilt walking, to name but a few.
As a serial entrepreneur who founded three successful companies before the age of 30, my drive to succeed in life began in my teens when I realised the power of positive motivation. I was lucky enough to have a good mentor who guided me through the intricacies of financial management which helped me to understand the value of money, how to identify and seize opportunities to make money and how to manage an investment portfolio.
He holds a Bachelors degree and also teaches conversational English to children and adults across the world.
Reviews
Self-Paced Course
$25
weekly or $99 for all content4 pre-recorded lessons
4 weeks of teacher support
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1 year of access to the content
Completed by 1 learner
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Ages: 9-18