Prop Styles:
Curious to know the types of apparatuses I work with? Take a look below to learn more!
Dragon Staff
The Dragon Staff is a type of staff prop.
With a shaft in the middle covered in grip tape, the purpose of the grip tape is to help the artist with “contact” tricks.
Contact tricks are tricks that involve the staff touching the body, usually in the form of rolling fluid motions.
The weighted ends have 3-10 extra “dragon heads” that are shaped as spokes.
The rolling flow of the dragon heads give the performer an extra dimension of fluidity to work with.
Certain flow prop makers like to get creative with their dragon heads; sometimes unique 3-D printed shapes can be used at the ends.
Fire Battle Axe
You read that correctly! I have a fire battle axe in my circus guild of props.
As the name states, it comes in one form: fire.
This particular prop is great for medieval themed events, or anything Viking/ancient warfare related.
Personally, this is one of my signature props, and I am known throughout the fire community for the battle axe.
Contact Staff:
A contact staff is a stick prop with slightly weighted ends and grip tape around the shaft.
The weight on the ends and the grip on the staff is designed to allow the prop to roll around on the artist more efficiently.
Hence why the word “contact” is in the title of this prop.
A combination of martial art spin moves, and hypnotic body contact movements create an alluring experience that captivates the eye.
Rope Dart
The Rope Dart is a an ancient Chinese martial art weapon that was invented during a time where long range weapons were rare.
It is a flexible weapon that consists of a long rope with a weighted object attached to the end.
Nowadays, it is used as a performance prop.
With a similar theme to the contact staff, the rope dart adds more explosiveness and combat style to a performance.
Swords
Whether they are fire swords or circus swords, I wield them.
A similar them to the Battle Axe and the Rope Dart, the Swords add that touch of danger to them.
Igniting the torch of excitement in the audience!
Double Contact Staffs
Double Contact Staffs are the same as the single Contact Staff accept double the fun!
Adding an extra staff to the performance brings a more juggling style movement piece.
There are certain things that can only be done with a single staff, and there are certain things that can only be done with double staffs.
3-Section Staff
Have you noticed by now that I love spinning weapon props?
This one has the same roots as the Rope Dart: its an ancient Chinese weapon.
A 3-Section Staff is a staff that’s broken up into 3 pieces.
The section in the middle is connected with two other staffs at the ends by rope or chain.
With a similar flexibility style as the rope dart, and a similar spinning style as the contact staff, this prop adds an extra layer of explosiveness and power to each performance!
Contact Juggling Ball
Do you remember that anti-gravity ball everyone used to rave about when we were kids? What was that called? Oh yea! A Fushigi Ball!
A Fushigi Ball is basically a Contact Juggling Ball, and no, it is not something you can master within minutes.
A Contact Juggling ball is a great performance prop to add to an event because it adds an energy of magic and whimsy.
Unlike most of my other props (combat fighting styles and fluid tai-chi esq movements), the Contact Juggling Ball can add diversity, slowing down the momentum to revel in the curiosity of the prop.
Acrostaff
The Acrostaff is the same as a Contact Staff accept with an added twist: the weighted ends are also two giant rubber bouncy balls.
This allows the performer to do acrobatic tricks off of the staff.
Kind of like circus meets pole vaulting!
My specific style of Acrostaff has a rounded peg on each end.
This allows me to step on the staff and do different tricks.
Another dynamic prop to wow the crowd!
Poi
This prop is one of the most common props in the Flow Arts world.
All that it composes of is small rope with a ball at the end; it comes in pairs.
Poi is a type of ancient Polynesian martial art form.
Used for warriors to defend their tribes and ritual dances.
Nowadays, many artist around the world use it to entertain crowds all over the globe.
Fans
You ever see the beautiful Fan dances of Eastern Asian Cultures? This is where the root of fans in the Flow Arts world.
Fans bring that sensual movement with a balance of grace and strength.
Another popular prop in the flow arts community; fans, just like poi, come in pairs.
