When I hear the word “dance,” I envision girls in pink tutus, melodious tapping, elegant ballroom or spicy salsa.
“Fire dancing” conjures the tribal and ritualistic.
Although modern fire dancing has roots in tribal cultures, it has been adapted to create a new cross-cultural, exciting, visually rich art form.
Redding artist and dancer Micah Ree was inspired to dance with fire by an Obsidian Butterfly performance in Sacramento. She brought the art form to the North State and launched Angelfire Sudios, where she teaches fire dancing and fire safety, belly dancing, yoga, pilates, tribal fusion and tap.
At Angelfire, students learn Micah’s unique fusion of belly dancing and poi. To perform poi, a dance originating with the Maori tribes in New Zealand, the dancer holds the end of a chain with an oil-fueled wick at the other end, and spins the lighted wick, or poi, around themselves, creating visual patterns.
(See great examples of poi spinning at playpoi.com.)
In addition to poi, fire dancing tools include spinners, palm torches, fans, fire whips and finger wands. Micah and her troupe, the Fire Dolls, perform fire dancing with these tools throughout the North State.
Fire dancers follow strict fire safety laws, have spotters, and carry insurance and permits for performances. There is other gear at flowtoys.com that offer awesome effects without fire.
For information about the Fire Dolls or classes at Angelfire Studios, visit artdanceandyoga.com, email micahree@yahoo.com or call (530) 515-4261. Angelfire’s full schedule is also available at artazine.org.
Raette Meredith is a mother of three, artist, website developer and Americorps Vista volunteer for the Shasta County Arts Council. She conceptualized and developed Artazine and Artazine.org, an extensive directory of art classes in the North State.
