Poi Dancing: The Beginner Series
Poi Dancing: The Beginner Series
Essential Information
3/3 activities done
Week / Phase 1
3/15 activities done
Swinging, spinning, and controlling the plane of one poi
Crossing one poi forward
Crossing one poi backward
Turning freely with one poi
Same-direction same-time turns: high and low
Same-direction same-time turns: poi down behind the shoulders
Same-direction same-time turns: poi up behind the hips
Crossing both poi together, forward and backward
Crossing poi forward split-time (2-beat weaves)
Give backward split-time crossing a try
Using the world around you for poi feedback
Summary of phase ONE
Week / Phase 2
0/16 activities done
Introducing Poi-Fu, starting with "Poitruvian Arms"
Turning back-and-forth with arms circling split-time same-direction
Circling your arms in opposite directions
Stall and reverse #1 - Getting started
Exploring the modes of poi movement
Bending planes, and split-time butterfly
Smoothing out the same-time turns
Practicing all the variables of same-time turns
Learning same-time butterfly, starting with the arms
Exploring same-time butterfly further
3-beat weave lead-up #1
3-beat weave lead-up #2
Keep exploring freedom with one poi
If you are having trouble controlling your planes... find the Berlin Wall!
Summary of Phase Two
Week / Phase 3
0/15 activities done
Poi-fu: Turning with arms in split-time same-direction
Stall and reverse #2 - Getting smooth
Introducing Jiggies
Crossing one poi front to back, over the head
Introducing Reels (Looping the same-time turns)
The forward 3-beat weave
Backward 2-beat weaves
Backward 3-beat-weave lead-ups
Split time turns in front
Controlling poi with the arms crossed
Getting cozy with the super important thumbs-inward-behind-the-back position
Exploring how to circle the hand and poi on a plane
Q&A: Developing backward split-time rhythm
Summary of phase THREE
Week / Phase 4
0/16 activities done
Practicing turning footwork
Practicing poi-fu: opposites and same direction split time
Reviewing turning in a circle: How many steps? Where's the weight?
Stall and reverse #3 - Wall plane
Practicing the reels and chase the sun
Adding poi to poitrivian
Introducing crosspoints
Backward 3-beat weave
Split-time turns behind
Threading the Needle with Butterfly
Further with split-time butterfly, inward and outward
Tips on not getting dizzy
When to whirl and when to shuffle
Q&A: Answering a great question about crosspoints
Summary of phase FOUR
Week / Phase 5
0/16 activities done
Poi-fu: Introducing split-time opposites
Learning the split-time reels
Exploring the 3-beat weave
Following the weaves with your body
Butterfly over the head
Getting started with Mexican Wave
Getting into windmill from poi passing the toes
Learning corkscrew
Corkscrew and windmill... are basically the same thing!
Turning between the weaves from hanging poi (if the last approach didn't work)
Turning between the weaves... by hugging little teddy bears
Turning between the weaves: Troubleshooting a common mistake
Q&A: More on keeping poi same-time
Q&A: Keeping planes controlled while turning with reels
Summary of phase FIVE
Week / Phase 6
0/14 activities done
Pirouette progression continued
Poi-fu: Split time opposites: getting ready to turn (the secret!)
Keep working on reverse right, reverse left patterns
Turning with poitruvian poi
More in-depth video for learning split-time hip reels
Split time hip reels, counterclockwise!
Playing with reels, chase the sun, and extensions
Further with Mexican Wave
Further with thread the needle
Slowing down and beautifying corkscrew
Keeping your shoulders safe during big movements
Q&A: More tips on poitruvian and turning
Summary of phase Six
Week / Phase 7
0/15 activities done
Footwork: Pirouette progression part #4
Thoughts on knee safety when turning on cement
Knee safety on cement continued
Stalling and reversing one poi inside a spinning poi on wall plane
Once you start reversing left, reversing right... let go of picking-a-direction
Poi-fu: split-time opposites: Turning from inward to outward
Developing circle and plane control while learning buzzsaw
The 6-beat fountain
Jiggies into pirouettes
Split-time butterfly: crossing one poi out and back
Beginning to whirl with the reels!
Freedom with opposites
Q&A: Making sure thread the needle is smooth both ways
Summary of phase SEVEN
Week / Phase 8
0/14 activities done
Whirling with full pirouettes, getting ready to add poi
Turning 180º with split-time butterfly
Fountain with full windmill
Looping the fountain-with-full-windmill so you can follow along
Split-time butterfly: taking it further with turning
Crosspoints above the head close to a wall
Butterfly behind the back
More on butterfly behind the back
Giant butterfly
Sky Camera: forward and backward weave plus turning
Sky Camera: turning in the weaves next to a wall
Sky Camera: threading the needle
Summary of phase EIGHT
Week / Phase 9
0/16 activities done
Keeping body comfortable while hands are behind back
Reviewing the fountain counter-clockwise
Freedom with butterfly and opposites
Freedom with butterfly and opposites continued
Transitioning between butterfly and weaves
Freedom with opposites more continued
Split-time butterfly: turning all the way from wall plane to wall plane
Turning continuously with weaves
Turning with poi between the arms
Going further with threading the needle
Split-time chase the sun
Working on left/right dexterity with stalls and transitions
Lockouts and crossy-crossy (which I now call switchy-switchy)
Sky view of jiggies and pirouettes
The BIG REVIEW of all the moves so far
Week / Phase 10
0/15 activities done
Playing along the tracks and switching modes
Shortening the poi while spinning: wrapping around your hands and fingers
Turning with split-time buzzsaw
Whirling with shoulder and hip reels
More on Butterfly behind the back
Using walls to master windmills, watermills, and reels
Exploring a butterfly sequence
Windmill, forward and backward weaves from neutral
Using the neutral matching point to connect windmill and the weaves
Turning freely with windmills and the weaves through 4 directions in any order
Turning freely with opposites through the 4 directions
Playing and Turning with Buzzsaw
When playing freely with the 4 directions... notice what you're avoiding!
Learn the 4X4 Fountain (no excuses!) :)
Week / Phase 11
0/11 activities done
More on reverse right/left as foundation of transitions
More on playing freely with same-time
More on playing freely with split-time opposites
Playing along the tracks with each mode: The matrix between the moves!
Mirrored Progression: shoulder reels to 4X4 fountain
Playing with Lockouts from weaves
Two-in-Ones (the silly Peru video version :)
Transitions between weaves and butterflies step 1
Transitions between weaves and butterflies step 2
Transitions between weaves and butterflies step 3
Week / Phase 12
0/10 activities done
Weaves into whirls
The importance of left/right speed changing independence
More on mastering turning with Buzzsaw
More on mastering butterfly
How do you learn to dance freely with poi?
Final thoughts on left-right independence
Final thoughts on playing with planes
Opposites sequence
Congratulations: You're ready to go beyond the basics!
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Join UsIntro
Welcome to Leviathan Studio on Ede Island! This is where your poi adventure begins. In this lesson, we’ll focus on play and creativity, encouraging you to explore poi movement with curiosity and freedom. If you’re new to poi, this is the perfect time to embrace the joy of discovery and let your imagination guide your practice.
What You’ll Learn
- The importance of starting with a soft poi to build confidence
- How to play and explore poi movement creatively
- Why letting go of technique fosters inventiveness and fun
Things to Practice
- Playfully swing your poi in any direction, like a child discovering a new toy
- Experiment with bouncing poi off your body, legs, or even your head
- Explore creative ideas: pretend your poi is a superhero tool, a pet, or a scientific instrument
- Let your poi swing under your legs or around your body without focusing on precision
- Take time before every practice to let go of learned techniques and just play
Skill Progression
This video contributes to your Foundations skill. Building a playful, exploratory mindset sets the stage for mastering poi techniques with ease and enjoyment.
Categories
- Foundations
- Play and Creativity
- Beginner Exploration