POI Mania

WOMAD 2002

27th-29th July 2001
Rivermead, Reading, Berks.

Poi-mania at WOMAD

If you want to be hip at this years festivals you must get yourself some poi. They are balls covered in streamers on long ropes that talented types swing around their bodies to produce beautiful effects of spinning wheels and butterflies. I bought some over the internet from New Zealand last year after seeing a few people with them at Glastonbury Festival and hoped to learn well enough to use ‘fire poi’ this year (where the streamers are replaced by fire balls on chains and look fantastic when spun). I couldn’t find any to buy at any of last years festivals, but this year at WOMAD they were everywhere!

The skill of spinning poi is much harder than it looks as my shins are testament to - having whacked myself repeatedly trying to learn some tricks. Needless to say I have not got the confidence to try fire yet and fortunately I was able to defend this by the fact that there was a strict no-fire policy at WOMAD. I am lucky enough to own some ‘lit poi’ though which are balls with small LED’s in them on ropes which look quite pretty in the dark. I tentatively got these out one evening and had a go at some simple tricks while listening to DJ Derek by the Siam Tent. Almost as soon as I’d spun them I became a magnet to Poi Fetishists. People kept coming up and asking where I’d got the lit poi from and asking for a turn with them. I happily obliged and watched some very talented people spin the lit poi with great style and skill.

So, if you want to look cool, learn poi and if you want to feel very popular all of a sudden invest in some lit poi which will bring numerous people to your feet begging to give them a try.

PS. We found poi sold by fly-pitchers on the outskirts of the festival mainly, rather than in the main arena. You can get them in varying shapes and sizes, most have tennis balls at their centre, but some have sand to weight them, which is great to use. They cost between £10 and £15 at WOMAD, but can be purchased over the internet from some lovely people at www.juggling.co.nz cheaper than this. This website also gives you loads of information on how to use the poi and has a message board to chat with other poi fans.