Circles 'round the globe

The Primer: just finished a video

PoiMei — Thu, 21 May 2009 16:02:43 GMT

This marks *almost* the end of a very long project: The Encyclo-Poi-dia volume 2. I finished the Free online content, with deleted scenes, unused interviews, and footage that wouldn't fit on the DVD. Watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4uVjgMCWeE&fmt=18 For those interested, here are other DVD related links: Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgK74EI4D9s&fmt=18 Sample from the DVD: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5uE--y4UtQ&fmt=18 Cover Art and info online: http://www.instrumentsofthenow.com/pages/instructvid2.htm Coolness. Much hard work has come to fruition. Now I'm going to go get some much needed sunshine and fresh air. Blessings.

Workshops in LA Feb 5

PoiMei — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 18:47:48 GMT

I'm headed down to Los Angeles next week, and am teaching what I think will be my best Poi workshops ever. It'll be a full on poi-knowledge experience. So come on down! Here's the link: http://www.firegroove.com/Fire_GrooveShop3.htm

Blacklight show footage!

PoiMei — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 21:01:56 GMT

This video has some poi, double staves, devil stick, hat, wand, breakdancing, contact juggling, what more do you want? It's the 3rd video from our tour. The first part is some news, then a big chunk all from our UV theater show. Watch it! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKT8rA6ucks

Second video from the road

PoiMei — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 01:55:22 GMT

The new update video from Tour Now & Then is out! It has more from our blacklight show, plus info about what we do when we visit a kids' diabetes summer camp. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnUhdtXaUjo We're on the east coast now. We've been through Montreal, Boston, New Jersey, and headed to Maryland. 6 shows in the next 6 days. We also crossed paths with the Extra-Terrestrial Circus Experiment for a few days of fun in Boston. I'll get some photos of the show up as soon as I get them uploaded. Missing all you west-coasters...I'll be back for burning man, camped at OMCC Paz y amor

New video: Tour Now & Then 2008

PoiMei — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 17:35:50 GMT

The first video for this year's tour is up. It has some sweet sample clips from our black-light stage show, plus shows our crew and the programs we'll offer this year as we visit diabetes summer camps across the country. It's the main featured video on our media-player: http://tournowthen.org/media/media.html Enjoy!

New website for Tour '08!

PoiMei — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 23:48:59 GMT

We've just launched a sweet new website for our 2008 motivational circus tour: Tour Now & Then Check it out at www.tournowthen.org Some good nebula graphics by our good friend Jeff Calafato. Stay tuned for video blogging updates starting at the end of this month. Thanks for your support, Zan

Poi Transmission: new video

PoiMei — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 22:30:35 GMT

I had a great trip to Arizona. Traveling, spinning, and....well that's about it. Made a sick video, though: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFez03GHpTE The future of poi tech, as dictated by interstellar communication. Hope you like it, Zan

Portland Circus Skills Weekend

PoiMei — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 18:51:40 GMT

This will be lots of fun. Run away and join the circus! Details below. Note: I'm teaching the poi and double staff, and the workshops I've planned out will be awesome. Take them, and your poi will thank you. The link at the very bottom has detailed workshop descriptions. ---------------------------- Date & Time: 2008-03-15 9:00 AM All Ages Circus Skills Weekend March 15 & 16 Flow Form Movement Studio 5040 SE Milwaukie Ave (at Mitchell St.) Portland, OR 97202 Featuring Zan from Instruments of the Now Join us for a fun and educational weekend of circus skills workshops! Learn from professional instructors while building strength, balance and coordination. Most classes are appropriate for all ages, so bring your kids! Take 1 workshop, get additional workshops for $5 bucks off each! Yoga not included. Family discounts available. To register, contact shireen@flame-buoyant.com. Saturday, March 15 9-10a Yoga 10-11a Handstands 11a-12:30p Beginning/ Intermediate Poi 1:30-3p Beginning/ Intermediate Double Staff 3-4:30p Stilting 5-6:30p Hooping Sunday, March 16 9-10a Yoga 10-11:30a Partner Acrobatics 11:30a-1p Intermediate/Advanced Poi 1:30-3:30p Red Nose Clown Participants in the Circus Skills Weekend are encouraged to attend the free Community Fire and Drum Jam on Sunday, March 16 For more information, go to: http://www.flame-buoyant.com/workshops/circus_skills.htm

Crop Circles: Poi class in Phoenix

PoiMei — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 01:44:42 GMT

CROP CIRCLES: A 5-hour Poi workshop with Alien Jon and Zan Moore! Thursday February 21, 6pm to 11pm~ at the Stage 6 fire jam location in Phoenix, AZ. Cost is $30 per person. For committed groups of 5+ ask about group rates. Also, if you REALLY can't afford it and want to come, please contact Alien Jon to work something out. We want to spin with you! This will be a combination of focused classes, collaborative free spin time, one on one attention, and participant directed exploration. We will cover foundation principles and forms, along with body awareness and the spin zones around your body.This will fill in holes in your knowledge, and create a mental map that will propel you towards complete freedom of movement and expression. From this foundation we can explore a variety of concepts, tricks and patterns from core poi knowledge to the cutting edge of modern poi. Some concepts you can explore with us: * Isolations * stalls * pendulums * compound circles * behind-the-back * split-time butterfly * under-the-legs * reels and crossers * inswings * inversions and introversions * tangles * atomics * plane bending and Trinity * polyrhythms * the poi unit circle * ellipses * cateyes * linear isolations * hybrids * composite spinning After all the learning and exploration, we will of course end the night with fire spinning, so bring your wicks and fuel! Alien Jons Bio: Jonathan Everett has been spinning things since childhood, starting with himself, and expanding to socks with tennis balls in them and sticks found in the woods of Maine. Starting with his first pair of devilstix in 1995, he officially entered the world of object manipulation. In 1999, from a foundation built on devilstix and drawing inspiration from T'ai Ji and Aikido, he began spinning glowing objects on strings or in socks at "all night dance parties". After meeting other spinners he learned that objects had been spun in a similar manner for millennia by ancient cultures from around the world. This gave rise to the discovery of fire spinning, and his dedication to the art of contemporary poi began. From devilstix and poi other object manipulation quickly followed: Sphereplay, staff, meteor, diabolo, and astrojax to name a few. These talents have been melded with a love of music and dance, including liquid, illusional, and funk styles. Jon loves to play and lives for the spark of innovation and creativity, while further honing his skill through diligent practice. Jon has performed at the Fringe Benefit for the 1st Annual Boulder Fringe Festival, the 1st Annual Boulder Juggling Festival, Ratuva Circus performance and workshops, COSM Fire, the 2007 Burning Man Conclave, and with the ExtraTerrestrial Circus Experiment. He has taught classes around the country in poi, sphereplay, and devilstix at the Double Rainbow Ranch, Boulder Circus Center, 1st Annual Boulder Juggling Festival, Shepherd Valley Waldorf School, SphereCamp East and West, Domba/Mystic Jewell Dance Studio, Wildfire (CT), Florida State University, and at Renaissance Festivals country-wide. He also teaches private lessons. Zan's Bio: Zan started performing in South America on tour with his brother Noah, and continues to burn with the same inspired passion as in the beginning. His training has led him far and wide, through a dozen countries and across the disciplines of spinning, dance, juggling, music, yoga, circus, martial arts, and acrobatics. Zan's specialty is dazzling fire performances, though he thrives on the challenge of a unique performance for each event, be it day or night. Whatever the occasion, Zan delivers pure entertainment with unforgettable class, style, and grace. Known for his expertise in the theory and technique of poi and staff spinning, Zan has given workshops around the U.S. and abroad.

L.A. Poi workshops with Zan

PoiMei — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 23:37:13 GMT

I'll be giving 2 90-minute workshops in L.A. at the beginning of March (the 3rd). One beginner/intermediate, one intermediate/advanced. I've been planning them for a while, and working out what to teach, and I'm excited. They'll be awesome. Check out the details and descriptions on FireGroove's site, here: http://www.firegroove.com/Fire_GrooveShop.htm#poi1 If you go, I promise you won't be disappointed. Also, the fabulous Noel Yee and Greg Maldonado will be there teaching staff and double staff. The details on these workshops are on the same webpage. My advanced class will be the formal teaching debut of Elliptical Flowers. So come upgrade your gray matter.

Tour video update #2

PoiMei — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 04:48:17 GMT

I made a video I'm really proud of, chronicling part 2 of "Tour Now & Then". Good footage of Noah and myself being goofy on the road, teaching poi to kids, and putting on motivational shows for diabetic summer campers. Do check it out, you'll have fun watching: http://www.noahsvoyage.com/pages/tour/videos.html#2 at the top of the page.

A new video, if you're interested

PoiMei — Fri, 18 May 2007 00:46:57 GMT

The first video installment of the summer tour came out today. They'll only get bigger and better. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5IlQbDOcyE Wish us luck!

I've been hard at work, now you can reap the rewards

PoiMei — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 00:38:05 GMT

I've been busy creating, then working for hours to put it on the computer for you to enjoy. All the goodness is available on my website. The real gems are some out-of-this-world photos taken on my recent East Coast tour by Abject Photo. See for yourself. Click around, and you won't be dissapointed: www.InstrumentsOfTheNow.com I think I'll get a new video up tomorrow. Noah and I are using our super powers to create the upcoming summer "Tour Now & Then", an epic quest through 12 states worth of diabetes camps. We'll be presenting a Thetrical/Musical/Circus show with an inspirational message about living well, and being in the Now. Find out all about it and when it's coming your way at: http://www.noahsvoyage.com/pages/tour/tourhome.html Thanks to all those who enjoy what we do, for your continuing support.

Shadow play

PoiMei — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 18:37:50 GMT

O lords of chaos, atoms of desire, Whirlwind of fruitfulness, destruction's seed Hear now upon the void my late delight, The quick brief cry of memory, that knows At the dark's edge how great the darkness is --Conrad Aiken

Offering love

PoiMei — Sat, 06 Jan 2007 18:41:19 GMT

I have plenty of time to think here in the snow, shacked up. Today’s high temperature will be 35 degrees, and we have an outdoor nighttime show. Hopefully we’ll be able to get there safely over icy roads in poor condition. I’m remembering why everyone lives in California. So why am I still here? It’s all a part of my master plan of offering. In order to reach my fullest potential and offer the best of myself back to the world, I need to make sacrifices. Sacrifices like living out a winter in the Rockies after nearly 4 years of following the endless summer around the globe. Things have worked out here in Boulder such that I have the time and spaces (gyms, roofs, mats, mirrors, and trampolines) to push myself as if fire-dancing were my Olympic sport. Eat to train, train to eat, repeat. So as much as I’m beckoned by wanderlust to the tropical beaches, I am equally checked by the power of my true dreams. If I don’t become capable of putting on the shows I know I can attain, no one else will do it just as I envisioned. This will be my offering. You will understand better when you next see me perform. So how have I managed to keep myself sane against the looming presence of cabin fever? With a recent remembrance that I’d like to share. While the pleasurable feeling we call love can come from external and material stimuli, LOVE comes only from inside each of us. It is only our beliefs and our separation of self from not-self that keep us from experiencing as much of this love as we want. So when I’m cold and alone, I reconnect with the love energy inside me, the same love energy that binds the universe. Each time I think I’m full of it, saturated to even the cellular level, I find there’s still more I can hold; the capacity for love is infinite beyond our wildest speculations. This is my new year’s offering to each of you, a gentle nudge onto the path of love. By focusing on being an open channel for love and expressing it in each interaction, all of my relationships with other people have become more joyous. Reach deep … and connect with love.

Setting up to coast

PoiMei — Fri, 21 Jul 2006 01:06:35 GMT

I've been caught up in the demented american work ethic, trying to get it all done as fast as possible with the vision of a leisurly future. I admit I was duped by a culture I attempt to transcend, but I also vouch for the method's success, at least in my case. After wading neck deep in the cyber realm, and putting in enough hours in front of my computer to nullify my status as a performer/manipulator, I think I'm almost in the clear. I've got a video made and a website running (www.instrumentsofthenow.com), and I think I can go back to playing and training like it were my last day on earth. A very grounding experience at the Dreamtime festival in Colorado couldn't have come at a better time. Just as my work was nearing completion and my achievment-obsessed mind was searching for something to do, along came Dreamtime. Being around so many centered people at a hub of channeled energy re-aligned whatever screw had come loose insdide and set straight my relationship to the modern culture of work, produce, comsume: I am an outsider. I'm looking forward to unplugging (sort of), picking up my yoga practice again, and generating some much-needed new performance material. (In a comically repentant voice..) "I'm sorry I sold out to the man! It won't happen again!"

Endings and beginings

PoiMei — Sun, 09 Apr 2006 16:27:07 GMT

The title is trite, but appropriate. Has anything stopped or started? Am I at the end of an era, or has anything changed from the truth of the continuous comings and goings of a wanderluster? I'm back in the U.S. after a nearly uninterupted 2 years in South America. The stories of the 3 months after my last blog post would run too long for even my practiced patience. It's colder and wetter here in April, but culture-shock has cesed to effect me, my daily experience being a wash of various cultures, beliefs, and outlooks, colored like a tragic mishap at a paint factory. The main difference I see this time around isn't in the people, or the attitudes, or any chance variation in the universal human desires, but in resources. People here simply have more money on the whole, because there's more of it to be had. I'm not judging, simply observing. Clearly, this surplus has brought about a value shift from focus on people (family and friends) to things (consumption). All the cars here are nicer. All the homes, all the flat screen TVs, and designer gadgets. And we call these improvements "quality of life." I would suggest that life is really the same in other parts of the world too, and that the quality in the contruction and design of possesions does not directly correlate with fulfillment. A cheap hotel and an expensive hotel both have beds, and how well you sleep might depend more on your peace of mind than on the new, state-of-the-art, digital remote control adjuter of the firmness of your matress. It's also not as simple as a single nation with its priorities in the wrong place. The latin people don't have it all figured out either. (The following is simply a critique of general trends, not a slur of a multi-national people) Their culture, art work, and history form a complex and jeweled tapestry, but my original fascination with the southern culture of family and a "relaxed" work environment has passed to be remembered as a naive idealization. There are many things about their culture that I also don't like. Am I destined to be a global outcast, always searching the horizon for the perfect community? The vast majority there enjoy the pastime of drinking with friends above all others. Excessive intoxication has been passed down to many campesinos AND cityfolk for generations. Again, I'm not judging, just pointing out my own mismatched preferences. Many people here enjoy the same guilty pleasure. With a new-found understanding of my body, I simply don't like alcohol any more, making the leasurly latin life lamentably no longer my dream of paradise. Also, Machismo and the reulting treatment and objectification of women is a despicable state of human rights in which "Sexual harassment" has no translation. I'll say no more. On my travels, the friends I became closest to and those who inspired me most in retrospect seem to be those who have most deviated from their social patterning. Maybe deviate isn't as good a descriptor as supercede. Can we do the same here? Can we zoom out on life to see ourselves from a new perspective with the aim of trancendence? What general trends do WE have to trancend? Selfishness, lack of community, blinders from the global situation, and the TV/Advertising/Consumption illusion that keeps us buying in the fruitless search for a meaningful life. Do we have it in us to look critically at ourselves, the ones we love, and the ones we hate to find the common thread of humanity and follow it back to a culture of sharing, community, selflessness, and love? The cultural transcendence revolution finds its ending or beginning with YOU. Make the choice, have a look at yourself.

Whirlwind in a war torn land?

PoiMei — Tue, 07 Feb 2006 17:29:00 GMT

Firstly, Colombia is not what you think. You don't need to get off the plane with a bullet proof vest and carry your belongings in a portable safe. These are lies taught to you by the U.S. media. If they are your impressions, you probably don't know anyone who's been there. Am I right? A land of loving and hospitable people with a few who give the whole place a bad name. I spent every last day of my visa's 90 running circles around the country from the mountains to the beaches, all centered around circus performing. I started in the beautiful costalcity of Cartagena in my 1 man fire street show, working the Carnaval-parade beat to pay my bunk room in Colombian Pesos. From there to Bogota, doing shows in the center, but now working in crystalcontact-juggling and telling stupefied onlookers that it was a magic ball dug from the geological depths of the himalayas. A professional clown found me and turned me on to the hospital performing scene, curing kids with smiles and magical feats of clowning. These kind souls told me with wide eyes about the ReVuelta a Colombia, a bus of international circus freaks touring the roughest and hardest hit areas of the country teaching peacefulconflict resolution and circus skills. I was on my way in 2 days and part of this magical tour, carried around on a wave of good enegry (though this was sometimes barely enough to get by on). This tour was a real eye opener.I made good friends quickly since we all (20 of us) sleep on the same thin mats in one room, drink the questionable tap water together, and share whatever we end up with for food. In our limited fre time we exchanged skills. I was the designated fire expert and gave workshops for lessons in club juggling, pantomime, and dance. After a few dreams weeks of poverty and social circus, I was invited to work with a contemporary circus/theatre production group in Bogota. These were three weeks of heavy training and yoga, paid workshops and fancy fashion show gigs. All the best the big city had to offer to a humble performer. Definatly a step upin both professionalism and quality of life from the Busker of times past. I'm in Ecuador now, looking for a beach to hunker down on and internalize all these new skills and ideas. Who new there was so much more to fire performing than skilled manipulation? Choreography, dance, body movement, and acting alltake a place that I'm trying to define in my own style while stillandvancing the technical end for its own sake. In other words, new inspiration has hit and I need somewhere to settle and channel it. Life is good.

Instruments of the Now credo (bilingual)

PoiMei — Thu, 27 Oct 2005 22:08:44 GMT

What would you do if you knew that this were your last day on earth? Do it. People are always planning for the future, working for it, but have you ever experienced the future? Take your time NOW to live in the present because the future is an illusion. All that will ever exist is THIS MOMENT. This moment is your whole life, give it the attention it deserves. Smile, have fun, be happy. Enjoy it NOW. There’s no time for hating anyone or being mean, only long enough to give hugs and spread love. Other people (and TV) will try to tell you how to live, dress, act, and to work for the future. Those people are not you. Only YOU can know what is right for you. Be who you want to be and do what you want to do, NOW! Be different. Show how you are special. Be creative and spontaneous because it’s much more fun than being the same as everyone else. Life is a gift, share its goodness with others: love them and teach them to be happy, unique, and compassionate like you! When should you love and teach? Now! There is only the present moment! If the whole world loved, were happy, and were NOW, there would be no hate, no war, no starvation. Do your part for a better world by loving, helping, and telling others to do the same. Play your life’s song in harmony with the Instruments Of The Now. We are an orchestra of uniqueness that needs every part of humanity playing its own spontaneous melody. To attain harmony in a band with so many different tunes, we must reach a new level of cooperation and consciousness. ------------- ?Que harias si este fuera tu ultimo dia de vivir? Hazlo. La gente siempre planifica para el futuro y trabaja para ello, pero ?has experimentado el futuro alguna vez? Usa el tiempo AHORA para vivir en el presente porque el futuro es una ilusion. Todo lo que existe, lo que puede existir, es ESTE MOMENTO. Este momento es toda tu vida, prestalo la atencion que merece. Sonrie, diviertete, se feliz. Goza de la vida AHORA. No hay tiempo para odiarle a nadie ni ser antip?tico, solo suficiente tiempo para abrazar y repartir el amor. Otras personas (y la tele) intentan decirte como debes vivir, vestirte, comportarte, y que trabajes para el futuro. Aquellas personas no son tu. Solo TU puedes saber lo que es correcto para ti. Se quien quieres ser y haz lo que quieres hacer, AHORA! Se diferente. Muestra como eres especial. Se creativo y espontaneo porque es mucho mas divertido que ser lo mismo que todos. La vida es un regalo divino. Comparte su bondad con otras personas: !Amales y ensanales como ser felices, unicos, y compasivos como tu! ?Cuando debes amar y ensenar? !AHORA! !Solo hay este instante! Si todo el mundo amara, fuera feliz, y viviera Ahora, no habria odio, ni guerras, ni hambre. Haz tu papel para un mundo mejor: Ama, ayuda, y diles a otros como hacer lo mismo. Toca la cancion de tu vida en armonia con Los Instrumentos Del Instante. Somos una orquesta de seres unicos que necesita que todas partes de la humanidad se unan con nosotros en tocar una melodia espontanea. Para afinar una banda tan grande hay que llegar a una nivel mas alta de cooperacion y conciencia. !Animate! !El espectaculo es AHORA!

Stepping South

PoiMei — Fri, 21 Oct 2005 19:02:03 GMT

My journey is long, destination unknown, so while I walk I watch each step. More important than where I'm going is making sure that THIS step is the right one. I have faith that my method will take me where I need to be. I stepped across the border from Costa Rica to Panama. Costa Rica was too much of a shock: I came looking for genuine adventure and found the trail too well marked, not to mention littered with partyers. To avoid the throngs of beer toting gringos I followed the vibe to the border. Spent some days on an archipelago in the carribean swimming naked and training with my fire toys day and night. Eventually the bug bites caught up to me and, scratching left and right, I hitch-hiked across to the pacific side then up into the mountains. The fresh air here is a nice break from the near-equator sun, and the rain washes my soul clean. Here I'll stay till I've had my fill of walking through fields and hills of coffee plants and flowers. South is my direction these days, and across the next border lies......Colombia. Land of a thousand unknowns. I get an inkling that the only feeling better than getting my passport stamped on the way in and knowing I've made it, will be the feeling of getting my passport stamped on the way out and knowing I've survived it. But, I'll take that step when its time comes. Thanks for listening. Parting thought: don't get so caught up in the road ahead that you forget to look down and realize just how wonderful it is that you have feet to take you there.

Change is my constant, OR Journey to the sun

PoiMei — Mon, 03 Oct 2005 23:37:55 GMT

The creative excitement that Burning Man awoke inside me continues to soar. My world was rocked by a series of fire shows that were the best I've been a part of. When my vision changed from trying to make a living with fire to just advancing fire-dancing as an art form eveerything exploded. A series of free shows in the park and street performing ensued because: the people must know. I continue to spread the all important NOW message, but will have to switch tounges when I leave the country in a week. I've been following summer for two and a half years and I noticed that the reason I couldn't go outside and play these days is the rain and the cold. I'm overdue for a move. The wanderer's journey never ends, all I can do is focus on the step I'm taking. Next stop: Central America and Colombia. Anticipating the heat, I'm planning on lopping of my dreadlocks, a decision that has carried with it a non-trivial ammount of angst. The Mission has many parts. 1) Expose the beaches of the Carribean and Pacific to a new standard of fire dancing. 2) Spread the knowledge and practice of living in the present. 3) Get to Colombia, find my girlfriend's birth parents, get out in one peace, and try to have fun in the process. I'll also be doing a lot of research on the philosophy of Poi and how to use the chains as a tool of conscienceness. If anyone has a vision or insight into Poi philosophy, I am your willing listener; please send me your thoughts. I'll share a last thought, an idea that transforms traveling into a shamanic type quest. Your world as you percieve it is your creation. You view and interpret it based on beliefs and expectations. Choose to live a new path upon which every day is an integral part of your search for self realization, every person and event has some message or meaning and you have not encountered it on accident. This world is as mysterious and wonderful as you are ready for. Fill it with love and you will only attract a similar and harmonic vibration. Peace