In the Fall of 2012, I joined the Fire Arts Club on campus, without any expectations or knowledge, and it ended up becoming a really fun hobby. In May of 2013, seeing a woman using a long rope with a big fireball attached to it, also known as the poi ball, made me want to learn how to use it. That led me to get a large piece of rope, in which I attached a large sock containing two tennis balls inside of it. After practicing at home during the summer, supported by my dad’s excitement and entertained by my mother’s panic and consternation, I bought a fire rope dart.
I brought that fire rope dart to Dublin with me, and despite having no specific expectations, I ended up using it recently. A woman called Geraldine, who works in the same place as where my internship is, was organizing a charity event in Valentine’s Day and she invited me to participate in the opening ceremony by performing with the rope dart. The event was know as the St. Valentine’s Venetian Masquerade Charity Ball, and it took place at the Bewley’s Hotel, in Ballsbridge, inside the Thomas Prior Hall area. The venue was nicely decorated, as well as the guests and the ones who organized it. There were also many students who performed scenes from Romeo and Juliet, as well as a Venetian Music Ensemble and a professional dancer. I could definitely see how much effort they all put into the making of this event, and I was pretty grateful to be invited to be part of it.
I also got the chance to meet two professional Fire Dancers who were part of the show as well. They came all the way from Lithuania and they have been performing professionally for seven years. They told me that Fire Dancing is really big in Lithuania and that I should definitely visit one day. They used things such as the Contact Staff, the Fire Baton, Fire Fans, Fire Hoops and Poi. Using props such as the Fire Baton, the Contact Staff and the Fire Fans require a different set of skills regarding the need of more rigid and concrete movements, while using things such as the Fire Poi and the Rope Dart require softer movements and more flow, and I found their ability to switch between these two kinds of movements as a very impressive skill to have, which definitely proved their dedication and professionality regarding what they do.
Performing at the Masquerade was a lot of fun. I got to be part of a very important event and it was really nice to get involved with the Dublin scene in an individual manner and outside of the study abroad group and program. I would like to thank Geraldine, and also Roisin, my internship supervisor, who was very encouraging and supportive, and allowed me to practice in the park next to the college the day before the event. She even got students from her class and from other classes to see the practice!
I would definitely recommend others to get involved in events related to things that they like and that are outside of their programs, because personally speaking, this was a very fun experience and it allowed me to meet and connect with new people.
