Drex Learns Maori Poi Dance!

[@DrexFactor]

Thanks for all the love on this video, friends! Tash didn't want to share her socials, but if you'd still like to support her, her Cashapp and Venmo are @Pew3Design Thanks again, Tash, for taking the time to teach me all this wonderful stuff--there's more on the way! Once again, the shop I got my short poi from is Potiki Poi. They're a Maori-owned shop based in Aotearoa (New Zealand) and you can grab a set of your own poi from them at potikipoi.co.nz and yes for short poi you do need specialized sets of poi! The poi sold in the US don't work as well for this! Finally if you'd like to check out some of my other videos on the links between the Flow Arts and Maori culture, check out the playlist here: kzbin.info/aero/PLGRWu2f31dFWAQqNVb8MJlMH4FJ02_tak

[@horsepuncher95]

I grew up learning Māori poi and it was a weird adjustment trying to learn the contemporary style when I became an adult, and it was literally YOUR channel I used to learn and adapt to poi that I couldn't just smack into my head without pain. Seeing you checking out the version I grew up with all these years later warms my heart

[@gaberialla]

Omg this is so cool to see you learn and show up authentically.

[@DrexFactor]

Thank you! I had a blast doing this!

[@Jo3M]

Awesome to see! Kids used to make them out of scrunched up plastic bags in school when I was young (We don't have plastic bags here anymore so I don't know what is used now). Also the word Māori has a macron over the a to indicate a longer vowel sound :)

[@samanthaponga9278]

Loved the way you explained the poi basics Tash because I totally understand how hard it is to teach something that you learnt instinctively as a child. I loved how you explained it so that contemporary flow artists can understand it easier Drex and the sound effects I loved that you guys both had so much fun...

[@DrexFactor]

I definitely got lucky, here. Tash and I became friends for completely different reasons and the possibility that she could teach me some poi wasn't something I realized until we'd known each other for close to a year. It's always more fun to learn from people you get along well with and I'm just delighted she was willing to spend the time on this! More to come and I'm very excited to share it!

[@NemoOurName4ever]

It was fun to watch, and so lovely to see you laughing, teaching and learning together! I appreciate it so much. Thank you, Tash and Drex! I am really looking forward to the next episodes! Great to get to know more about the origins of this art.

[@DrexFactor]

It was super cold this day but we absolutely had a blast. I'm excited to share the rest of the series with y'all!

[@ronineidolon]

So very awesome! This was wonderful to see! Thanks, Tash!

[@DrexFactor]

It was wonderful to do, too! And yes: Tash is an awesome human!

[@bone-nut]

that was pretty awesome. I bet the sounds are even cooler in person.

[@DrexFactor]

Definitely does! I wish the mics had picked up a bit more of that sound but also glad they didn't pick up too much more of it because the park was actually quite noisy that day!

[@masterexploder83]

This was really awesome! Thank you so much for sharing this look at traditional Poi!

[@DrexFactor]

My pleasure! I'm glad you enjoyed it. We've got at least 2 more videos on the way, so keep an eye out for them!

[@preppysuperstar]

My very first exposure to Poi was the traditional way. It was an incredible thing to witness in person.

[@Pianoblook]

This was awesome! Such a cool and different approach to manipulating the prop - lots to learn :)

[@DrexFactor]

Soooooo different! It's almost like learning it from scratch all over again.

[@itsgeraldine8837]

This was fun to watch lol I was waiting for Tash to add the shoulder, maybe next time Ps great cameo from Drex's pukana 😂

[@DrexFactor]

The next one also does not include shoulder work, but I will put that bug in Tash's ear and see if we can't do a couple more lessons that do include some shoulder work! Re: pukana 😂😂😂

[@its.me.8]

Tash makes it look effortless. I loved this video, and am quite excited for this series! Also wondering how helpful those catch/pop drills would be for unlocking contact poi; they're the intended next step on my flow journey and spacial awareness isn't always my strong suit

[@DrexFactor]

So straight up: I have actually tried this stuff with contact poi and it functions very differently. Part of why I'm using a specific set of poi for this is it turns out most Western style poi are so heavy that it's difficult to do any of these moves at tempo or if you do it can hurt a lot.. I'm hoping to find ways to cross-pollenate a lot of this stuff but it's honestly doing to be a huge challenge given the differences in prop construction and technique.

[@diehosen8594]

Woahhhh im so early to this one! Love your videos drex they have been a huge help, thank you!

[@DrexFactor]

Sure thing and I'm glad you liked this one, too!

[@rrrosecarbinela]

Thank you!!

[@DrexFactor]

You're very welcome!

[@MeggoMama]

Thank you for this!

[@DrexFactor]

My pleasure! Thank you for watching this!

[@SnapDash]

Beautiful to see poi through the Kiwi lens- ...And gotta love that it brings a smile and a laugh :-)

[@dancingspirit_]

Wow... That's so cool

[@DrexFactor]

Thanks! I'm a big fan of this one, too!

[@seranes_silence]

Great to see the roots of the dance!! Is this, by any chance, at the library in Whangarei…?

[@raycervantes]

I want to see more of Māori poi, what other movements are there?

[@floorskin1]

Google and you tube are your friend.

[@WenWeAscend]

❤

[@christielines5324]

I7

[@floorskin1]

Takes me back to the eighties and primary school, when I first handled poi. 40 odd years later and I'm into fire. Good times.