# Flaming Bowls of Fire
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flaming-bowls-of-fire/353722
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [April 22, 2006, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flaming-bowls-of-fire/353722 "2006-04-22T04:14:29Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@koawala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koawala)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2006, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flaming-bowls-of-fire/353722/1 "2006-04-22T04:14:29Z")
I saw on a Probot’s video a woman who had two pots/bowls that were lit and burning and she was twirling them around making a choreographed dance number. I remember a few years ago that Madonna had a guy doing the same type of thing during her performance on an awards show. What is this firepot form called and is there any dvds available highlighting it in performances?
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### Author:  [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2006, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flaming-bowls-of-fire/353722/2 "2006-04-22T05:25:07Z")
I don’t know of a more specific term than firedancing. Were the bowls at the ends of chains? This might have been [poi](http://www.mayoff.com/04-01Jeff-poi.html) , which I do. (That’s not me though. Just the first good page that came up when I googled it.) I don’t know anyone who does it with bowls - sounds like a dangerous prospect, what with fuel spilling out. Or were the bowls held in the hands? I’ve never seen this, although nearly everyone I know is a firedancer or eater. Lots of us do a Candledance, though, which sounds similar. It’s a very flowy dance with a lit candle in each hand, bringing the candles around in intricate patterns.
I can’t find bowls for sale on the major firespinning supply site: [Home of Poi](http://www.homeofpoi.com/shop/listItems.php). They may not be a specialty item, and may just be regular bowls adapted for the purpose. Or some people may be using [Fire juggling balls](http://www.renegadejuggling.com/Web_store/rev3k/index.html), but you’d need kevlar gloves if you weren’t keeping them moving off your hands.
If you like firespinning or dancing, check out [this listing of firespinning in movies.](http://www.homeofpoi.com/articles/movies.php)
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### Author:  [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2006, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flaming-bowls-of-fire/353722/3 "2006-04-22T06:08:49Z")
All this talk of fire eating makes me want to suck a frozen cube of ice.
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### Author:  [@koawala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koawala)
#### Post date: [April 23, 2006, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flaming-bowls-of-fire/353722/4 "2006-04-23T15:57:12Z")
> [@WhyNot](#):
>
> I don’t know of a more specific term than firedancing. Were the bowls at the ends of chains? This might have been [poi](http://www.mayoff.com/04-01Jeff-poi.html) , which I do. (That’s not me though. Just the first good page that came up when I googled it.) I don’t know anyone who does it with bowls - sounds like a dangerous prospect, what with fuel spilling out. Or were the bowls held in the hands? I’ve never seen this, although nearly everyone I know is a firedancer or eater. Lots of us do a Candledance, though, which sounds similar. It’s a very flowy dance with a lit candle in each hand, bringing the candles around in intricate patterns.
>
> I can’t find bowls for sale on the major firespinning supply site: [Home of Poi](http://www.homeofpoi.com/shop/listItems.php). They may not be a specialty item, and may just be regular bowls adapted for the purpose. Or some people may be using [Fire juggling balls](http://www.renegadejuggling.com/Web_store/rev3k/index.html), but you’d need kevlar gloves if you weren’t keeping them moving off your hands.
>
> If you like firespinning or dancing, check out [this listing of firespinning in movies.](http://www.homeofpoi.com/articles/movies.php)
The bowls are at the end of chains, a detail I forgot to incline- sorry. Thank you for the information. I would like to find videos with this. I am going to ask friends if they have seem this or know of anybody that does it- I think a live show would be incredible.
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### Author:  [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)
#### Post date: [April 23, 2006, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flaming-bowls-of-fire/353722/5 "2006-04-23T16:00:44Z")
Goodness gracious. Great bowls of fire?
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### Author:  [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)
#### Post date: [April 23, 2006, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flaming-bowls-of-fire/353722/6 "2006-04-23T16:14:17Z")
> [@koawala](#):
>
> The bowls are at the end of chains, a detail I forgot to incline- sorry. Thank you for the information. I would like to find videos with this. I am going to ask friends if they have seem this or know of anybody that does it- I think a live show would be incredible.
OK, sounds like a variation of poi, then. In poi, round, cubical or rectangular wicks made of folded or wrapped Kevlar are fastened onto the ends of chains. ([Picture of fire poi.](http://www.homeofpoi.com/shop/productDetails.php/72_53_Cathedral)) They are then soaked in fuel (kerosene, lighter fluid or lamp oil) and lit.
I’m having trouble envisioning safely spinning a bowl with liquid fuel in it, but I will admit fire people can be crazy.
[Here’s a great instructional video, with an additional hour of poi spinning.](http://www.homeofpoi.com/shop/productDetails.php/39_56_DVD_Poi)