Playing with fire

Heated form of dance challenges, stimulates the mind and body

Ana Maria Trujillo | The New Mexican

4/5/2008 - 4/6/08

On the beaches of Maui, Santa Fe-based fire dancer Michelle Voss learned about fire dancing.

"I saw it on a little beach in Maui, and I just fell in love with it," Voss said. She decided then and there that she would learn to perform.

She started dancing first with glow poi, glowing balls on the ends of cords, rhythmically moving to music and using the glow poi as a visual addition. The glow poi make the dancing even more visually stimulating as, much like sparklers, they make designs in the air.

"I'd put my music on my CD player and I'd just play. I'd find an open space that was private, I'd go to the beach, to the park, or anywhere I could find that was outdoors," Voss said. "I would just go and work things out with my body and with the poi."

The staff, or stick with the fire on the ends, came later, Voss said. "For the first year or so, I just practiced by myself," Voss said. "It became a meditation for me, something to do on my time. It opened up my body, and I started noticing my strength and enhancing my flexibility."

Although it became a means of meditation and getting in shape, Voss said there were a few challenges along the way.

"The challenges were bruises, sore muscles, black eyes, bruised and bloody noses — lots of physical challenges," she said. "With the fire you burn yourself, you can burn your hair and you burn your skin. It's not for the lighthearted, that's for sure. It definitely takes a little while to get comfortable with it.

"There are challenges between right and left brain, and right and left body," Voss added.

In learning the craft, Voss said she realized that her right arm was stronger than her left and her left arm and wrist were more dexterous.

"It's really kind of an ambidextrous challenge," she said.

You wouldn't think she faces any challenges while watching her perform. She twirls the staff seemingly effortlessly in front of her and around her back as she moves rhythmically to the music.

She said this sort of dancing originated in New Zealand as a "warrior's exercise" for the men of the Maori tribe.

"It started as a martial art for the warriors to strengthen their arms, their shoulders and wrists," Voss said.

"Eventually, it kind of cruised over from New Zealand to the Polynesian Islands, then to Hawaii," Voss said. "Now it's kind of worldwide."

Voss teaches and performs with fire staffs, glow sticks and glow poi. She teaches students of all levels at the Railyard Performance Space.

"It was fun and something for me to do by myself, so teaching it, I'm able to bring it to other people," Voss said. "(The students) do really well. The students I have now are the most accelerated I've had and they pick it up really fast."

Although her beginning classes are over, anyone who is experienced enough to enroll in her intermediate and advanced classes can visit www.myspace.com/fyrfleye and send her a message regarding enrolling, or they can show up at the Railyard at 3 p.m. Mondays. Classes are $10 per session and Voss provides the equipment.

In addition to teaching, Voss is a performer.

"In the past, I've done fundraisers and benefits for certain dance companies and for different ceremonies," Voss said. On March 7, she performed at Wise Fool.

She's performed with many fire-dancing groups, including the DNA Project of Santa Fe and Controlled Burn of Reno, Nev.

"I just encourage that anybody get into it," Voss said. "It opens up a lot of doors in your own minds and bodies. It's extremely different from anything anyone does ... working with poi and staff really challenges your whole being."

Contact Ana Maria Trujillo at 986-3084 or atrujillo@sfnewmexican.com.