Fire show
A fire show combines fire effects with elements from circus arts , dance , drama and performing arts . In contrast to fireworks (including stage fireworks ), a fire show focuses on the performance of one or more artists. Numerous props, techniques and fire effects can be used for this.
history
Even the ancient Aztecs performed fire dances in honor of the god of fire " Xiuhtecuhtli ". Today in Mexico these fire dances are still performed for tourists. The angel dance and fire dance in Bali , which are regularly shown to tourists, have their origins in ancient rituals. Both the fire dance and the angel dance come from a trance ritual sanghyang , a ritual dance that was performed to keep witches away during an epidemic. Fire dances and historical fire shows for tourists are also staged in French Polynesia , Antigua , Cuba and St. Lucia . The Siddha Jats from the Thar Desert in India perform traditional fire dances as part of the Spring Festival. There are several variations of this dance with fire; For example, men often perform a dance that involves walking over hot coals. To do this, a large fire is set up and left to burn until only a large pit of glowing embers is left. The performers then jump in and out of the pit, kicking the embers into the air, creating a shower of sparks while the women dance balancing with burning pewter bowls on their heads. Today this ritual is also performed mainly for tourists.
Types of implementation
Fire shows can be implemented in numerous ways and can therefore be very diverse. Still, certain approaches and styles are common:
Juggler / medieval fire show
For example, jugglers' fire shows are very common at medieval markets and events . The figure of the traditional, medieval juggler is taken up and artistically included. Similarly, fakir fire shows are very common. Fire shows of this type are usually not historically correct, but serve to underline a certain style of events such as medieval markets and the like.
Classic vs. contemporary fire show
Parallel to the development of the contemporary circus (French: Cirque Nouveau ), classic fire shows also experienced a change. In the classic sense, the fire show artist presents his burning props, fire techniques and special effects to the audience. This is usually accompanied by music to create a spectacular atmosphere. A fire show in contemporary style also combines this even more strongly with elements from dance and drama and tries to present an overall artistic concept to the audience in harmony with costume, stage design and often also story.
Fire techniques
For burning props, fabrics made of Kevlar are mostly used , which is then soaked in a flammable fluid. The various techniques that are used in a fire show can be combined with one another and therefore cannot be completely differentiated from one another. Poi, for example, are predominantly spinning props, but they are also juggled , used for spitting fire or redesigned for pyro and special effects. Nevertheless, the following terms are common among fire artists:
Fire spinning
These are burning props and play equipment from the field of spinning. In contrast to juggling , the props are not thrown in spinning, but whirled or swung around the artist's body. Here are a few examples:
- Poi: ropes or chains with a kevlar wrap on one end and a handle or a hand strap on the other end. The game with two poi is common, although it is also possible to play with three or more poi .
- Contact-Staff : A rod with a kevlar winding attached to each end. The stick can be swung, thrown or rolled over the body.
- Fire sword : a long Kevlar winding with a handle. There is usually a weight on the handle, which means that the sword can be played like a contact staff, but with an eccentric focus.
- Dragonstaff : A rod to which several smaller rods with kevlar wrapping were attached at both ends. The Dragon Staff can be played in a similar way to a Contact Staff, but it is slower.
- Double rods: Two smaller rods with a kevlar winding at each end.
- Fire hula hoop : A hula hoop to which several small bars with Kevlar windings are attached.
- Fire fan: A metal fan to which several Kevlar windings are attached.
- Fire umbrella : A metal umbrella or umbrella frame with Kevlar windings attached to the ends.
- Fire-Rope-Dart : Found its origin in the weapon of the same name (see Shéng Biāo ). Instead of a tip, a Kevlar wrap is attached to the long rope or chain.
- Fire meteor / puppy hammer : This prop was originally used as a weapon (see Liuxingchui ). Kevlar wraps are attached to both ends of the rope or chain.
Fire juggling
All props that can be thrown repeatedly in different patterns are suitable for fire juggling. Here are some classic examples:
- Torches : These are used as the burning equivalent of the juggling club .
- Balls: Since direct contact is required here, they are usually only juggled with protective gloves. An exception are balls in which the Kevlar is in a cage and is held in the middle by a construction.
- Fire diabolo : This is a redesigned, common circus prop (see diabolo ), in which the kevlar winding is in the middle of the shell. So that the diabolo shells do not melt when playing with fire, they are either made of steel or the diabolo axis has been lengthened in order to gain a greater distance between the shell and the Kevlar winding.
Other fire props
Further examples of burning props are unicycles with torches attached to their pedals, burning skipping ropes , burning headgear such as crowns or hats, but also burning trapezoids and other reconstructed devices for aerial artistry and acrobatics .
Body fire and fire swallowing
This refers to techniques in which there is direct contact with fire. A fluid with a low flash point and low soot development is used as fuel . The flame is drawn over the surface of the skin or suffocated with the mouth when swallowing fire .
Spit fire
When breathing fire , a flammable fluid or powder is spat through an open flame. Since this numerous z. Sometimes it also harbors life-threatening dangers and risks, it is less and less widespread in fire shows and is prohibited for participants at most scene events such as juggling conventions.
Fire and special effects
This includes all other effects that create visual effects with the element fire. Some of these effects can be attributed to pyrotechnics and thus to stage fireworks .
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Netelkos, Jason .: The crafts and culture of the Aztecs . 1st edition. Roses pub. Group, New York 2002, ISBN 0-8239-3512-4 .
- ↑ Yamashita, Shinji., 山下, 晋 司, (1948-): Bali and beyond: explorations in the anthropology of tourism . Berghahn Books, New York 2003, ISBN 1-57181-257-1 .
- ↑ Book a fire show without a fire eater - less risk for fire artists and the audience. In: LuxArt - Performance Art & Fire Dance -. June 25, 2020, accessed on June 25, 2020 (German).