Change in Priorities

[shanmonster]

For this week, I'm abandoning the gym in favour of completing a new dance costume. It's been at least a year since I've made a new costume, and I've been itching to remedy that. I'm not working on the Tarzan/Rambo-style costume--yet.

For now, it's a hot little tribaret number in red tulle-bi-telli with gold accents. After finishing up with the skirt, I spent yesterday turning a lime-green bra into a halter-backed red and black top with gold and black tassel fringe and gold coins. It's almost finished. I just need to add chain swags, a strategically-located brass bell, and maybe a few more tassels. This morning, I cut out the template for the matching belt. Let's see if I can finish it all by Friday. If so, I have a pretty good inkling as to what I'll wear at snowy_kathryn and zero_design's wedding reception....

Today I began to experiment with layering movement with my poi spinning. I'm figuring out the physics of turns and level changes, and all of a sudden, I feel like I'm actually dancing instead of just spinning tennis balls around. I need to figure out which movements I can harvest from kung fu and raqs sharqi. I think I'll be able to scavenge more from the former than the latter, primarily with legwork. Hmm. I wonder how I can incorporate spinning crescent kicks? I'll save that for my next break, I guess.

Comments

You are a walking, one-woman course in kinesthetics

[montecristo.livejournal.com]

Fascinating. What is this "poi" thing? Spinning tennis balls?

Re: You are a walking, one-woman course in kinesthetics

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

You can see some demonstrations here.

Re: You are a walking, one-woman course in kinesthetics

[f00dave.livejournal.com]

A handle (leather strip, metal ring, plastic or wooden post), a chain (~18"), a bolt on a rotating catch (think dog collar attacher thingie), a tennis ball on the bolt. Swing a pair of these about your head, dazzle your friends. Better still, replace the (practice) tennis balls with kevlar wicking, soak them in an appropriate flammable liquid, light them on fire and REALLY dazzle your friends. (With all dure respect to safety, of course.)

For a starter link, see also: http://www.homeofpoi.com/

=]

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

Because of my work schedule, I just don't have time to do both work out and make a dance costume. I'll get myself back into the groove next week. I've done it before.

And yes, I'll post photos!