Thread: veil poi question

what's the quick and dirty way of making these? I was cleaning my basement the other day and found my practice poi (the ones that are like little bean bags with tassles, on the end of black cords), and then remembered a particularly amazing veil poi performance I saw in orlando, and thought... I need to try this.

so, how would you rig up a set of these? I thought of fastening one of my akai half circles somehow around one of my poi, but the bag part is as big as a tennis ball and that seems so big. thanks in advance!

Elisa thats what I've heard the dancers are doing..tyeing a corner of the veil..:)

maybe make a smaller bean bag and tie it in a corner of a veil? If you look at the front of Michelle-Joyce's dvd, you can see that she also has something tied into her veil, about the size of a tenisball.

Tennis ball size should be fine - the weighted things at the end of the poi that Michelle Joyce sells seem to be two D cell batteries wrapped in black fabric and hot glued together. I tie two knots along the shorter edge of my poi veils - one that leaves just enough room for me to slip the veil down the string of my poi, and another about six inches further down to keep the veil closed over the weight.

oh my lord. I'd hate to whomp myself in the head practicing with the battery get-up! lol!

thanks for the advice! lilya, I'll try the two knots. awesome. :)

Wasn't that beautiful?!?! (I think it was Any Massicotte. Yes?)

Originally Posted by elisagamal

and then remembered a particularly amazing veil poi performance I saw in orlando, and thought... I need to try this.

Ana? Any? she's a student of aziza's and she took my breath clean away. She was absolutely stunning. she made her own costume, too!

I loved how orit brought up her performance several times. Ana deserved it! :)

Aziza was selling the practice poi things at her workshop Last week, they were the size of tennis balls. So I would say use those.

Most I have seen use tennis balls with a chain attached.

I am dyeing veils especially for veil poi and will have them on my web site soon.

I believe DonnaDiva uses a rubber dog toy ball (like a kong). Then you can drill a hole in it to attach your chain/cord.
good luck!

Originally Posted by elisagamal

Ana? Any? she's a student of aziza's and she took my breath clean away. She was absolutely stunning. she made her own costume, too!

I loved how orit brought up her performance several times. Ana deserved it! :)

Any. Tiny Any. Love her :oP

Wow!!!
Ok now I am soooooo shy!!!
Thank you girls!!! hihi

Ok, so, Elisa? I am using Aziza's practice poï. They are soft (if you hirt yourself) and weit enough! In the uper right corner (if you are right hand user) a do a little knot close of the rope. And then I use safety pin to stay my veil at the same place and cover my Poï ball.

But I am working with a great artist to create silk veil design just for poï/veil performance!!! They are not available yet, but there is her website! Les Soies de Mini Fée, une expérience sensuelle de couleur et de texture


Thank you again Elisa and Kiyaana!!!Your comment really touch me!!!!
Any Massicotte/Zafirah
XxX ;)

I use a handful of birdseed in a double baggie. It is soft enough to not hurt (unlike batteries) and has a decent weight to it.

Edited to add link to video of how to make poi. It is easy to modify these into scarf poi, or veil poi.

[ame="http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=654030319209050578&hl=en"]Fire Manipulation Tutorials Introduction + How to make your Practice Poi[/ame]

thank you, any! I missed this when you responded - so nice to "see" you on bhuz! and don't be shy. :) be proud of how fantastic you are!

thanks, jaziri, for the video. awesome. :)

In addition to the great advice already provided, I'd add this:

-ideal weight for each poi (for the average build person) is around 125g-180g. Less than 125 is too light and gets unwieldy (or you have to spin FAST) and more than 180 and you have to put a lot of muscle into your spinning. If you have access to a postal scale, weigh your veil and then make a bean bag or sand for the difference of the weight you want to achieve. If you are using a very long veil or heavier veil, I'd recommend erring on the 180g side. (and if your veil is very heavy or consitutes 50% or more of the total 180g, you may have to up the total weight for each poi but you will have to muscle it through your routine.

-if you want to minimize tangling, go to your nearest fishing shop or hardware store and get a packet of ball bearing swivels. Use one to connect your poi head to the string. (For a truly free flowing experience, put one at the head and one at the handle). Ball bearing swivels are cheap, maybe 3-4$ for 3 to five swivels depending on the size you choose (and yes, this is a case of bigger is better *g*). BTW, make sure you get the ball bearing swivel and NOT barrel swivels. Barrel swivels are cheaper but they do not work nearly as well as the ball bearing ones.

As well, you can get a more controlled spin if you use a ball chain instead of a nylon string. Be warned however that connectors for that option are big n' ugly (that I could find anyway) and they have a maximum load (which depends on the gauge of the ball chain). Should you spin fast enough to exceed the maximum load that your chain can take, you may end up putting your poi head in orbit.

HTH

Originally Posted by elisagamal

thank you, any! I missed this when you responded - so nice to "see" you on bhuz! and don't be shy. :) be proud of how fantastic you are!

thanks, jaziri, for the video. awesome. :)

If you mean me, that's my kid there. (I am getting old)

I am hoping to do Med Fest with him one of these yrs. We do a good "generational" scarf/poi cane/staff knives/sword duo-thing. I provide the belly dancing and he provides the "omg did you see THAT".

He's due over here in another month for a workshop for local dancers. He is dancing/etc in Seattle these days, mostly doing fire dancing with poi and staff. In case anyone there wants a workshop, drop me a line.

I like to take things and modify them. Will be working doing that after his workshop (now, what else can I do and how can I make these).