Fire fans
Fire fans are fans that are usually constructed of solid metal and wick tape. They are used for fire dance and fire performances.
Construction and use
Fire fans are fans that are primarily used for fan dance performances with fire. They burn with three to seven flames at the end of the bars / struts. The ends of the struts are wrapped with wick tape that is dipped in fuel such as lamp oil or petroleum . The fuel burns after ignition. The wick band often consists of aramid-containing fabric, which does not burn itself, but rather absorbs the fuel, which then burns like an oil lamp . After the first firing, the fabric turns black. The flames burn for about 3 to 6 minutes, depending on how much fuel the wick tape has absorbed. Before igniting, the excess fuel should be thrown out with the help of a swing-out container, a kind of vessel with a string (can or similar), for reasons of environmental protection and to avoid contamination. The wick band consumes slowly when it burns. Similar to other fire juggling items (fire poi etc.), the fire fans can be ignited up to 1000 times depending on the quality of the wick tape.
Types of fire fans
A distinction is made between fixed compartments and folding compartments.
Fixed fire fans
Fixed fire fans are built in different designs. They vary in the length of the struts, which can be between 40 cm and 60 cm long, as well as in the number of wick windings on the struts. This is between three and seven. The different flame sizes depend on the width of the wick band. The solid framework is usually made of steel or aluminum. Sometimes one or more rings are installed in the center or at the bottom of the fan . This allows turning around the middle finger (spinns) or thumb. The rope fan is a special type of fixed fire fan. Here a wick ribbon rope is attached between the ends of the individual struts, which burns as a whole.
Folding fire fans
The folding compartments can be folded up and have no ring. Rotation around the finger is not possible with these fans. Folding compartments offer the possibility of opening them up during a performance and folding them back together so that a large flame is visible at the beginning, which then fans out into many small flames and vice versa. Some folding compartments can be opened up to 180 degrees. You can create a circle of fire, also known as the “sun”, with two compartments that are held opposite.
Many fire players build their own fans and vary in this. There have been some attempts to construct a hinged sturdy fan.
Tricks
The possibilities of the fan game are diverse. Dance elements combined with technical tricks result in a total work of art. Some variants of playing or turning bars or turning double bars are also possible with fans.
Circles
The fan is turned half a turn in front of the hand and then the wrist is folded back and the turn continues behind the wrist, then it is turned again in front of the wrist. The movement creates a small circle of flame. The circular movement can be made clockwise and counterclockwise. The counterclockwise direction is unusual and therefore a bit more difficult to play. Variation: The movement is extended through the arms, so that large circles are created.
corkscrew
Similar to the windmill when playing poetry, a fan is pulled up in front of the body for the corkscrew, turned behind the head and the other fan follows. This creates a fluid movement that looks very impressive, especially with flames.