AY Honors/Māori Lore/Answer Key
Poi is a form of juggling with balls on ropes, held in the hands and swung in various circular patterns, similar to club-twirling. It was originally practiced by the Māori people of New Zealand (the word poi means "ball" in Māori). Women used it as an exercise, also to show off their ability to be a good wife, and by men to increase strength in the arms and coordination. It developed into a traditional performance art practiced mostly by women. This art in conjunction with others like waiata a ringa, haka and titi torea form the performance art of Kapa haka.
Modern poi
Today, poi extends far beyond the original māori culture. In juggling circles, a whole subculture has sprung up in some places, surrounding poi spinning as a hobby, exercise, or performance art. Poi are considered a form of juggling, and poi dancers can often be found performing alongside jugglers, staff spinners and other similar performers.
Practice poi
Many people start out using a simple pair of practice poi. These are usually constructed from something soft, in order to lessen the chance of beginners suffering the inevitable minor bruises. Rolled up socks, bean bags or small soft toys on strings are often used. Generally, poi spinners start out with very simple moves, gradually learning to involve more complexity and (eventually) a full performance routine. Many find it helpful to practice spinning their poi to music, in order to keep a good rhythm.
Performance poi
Dancers and performers use brightly coloured poi, home made or bought at juggling shops, or a number of online stores. Fluorescent coloured tails and streamers attached to the poi allow a number of beautiful patterns to be created in the air by the performer, and many spinners pride themselves on the patterns they can make, and the accuracy of their spinning. A number of different forms of poi can be bought, from brightly coloured cones, to cloth blades that can look like dragonfly wings.
A variation on this is with 'Flag poi', consisting of large sheets of lightweight fabric which can be spun round in the same way as regular poi. Often made of reflective or UV-sensitive material, these spin quite slowly and can create the effect that the performer is wrapped in sheets of rippling fabric. The weight and drag created by these flags, however, necessitates the spinner to ensure precision of movement and timing. Consequently, they are difficult for the beginner to grasp.
Glow poi
Glow in the dark poi are available from a number of places, as can glow in the dark gloves, UV sensitive poi and poi containing LED lights that make them shine. Different types of poi can be used to create different effects, depending on the setting. Poi containing small strobes, for instance, can be used to create special effects.
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