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.