Fire Non-Starter

Please bring the heat to the dancefloor some other way.

While fa la la frolicking at a festival, dancing amongst the enchanted woods, I encountered a real and present danger that, until that night, hadn’t come to light. To set the stage, this unique event brims with pure unadulterated bliss and freedom of expression amongst a like minded community. I’d say the vast majority of attendees feels the same way. And with that comes as many modes of manifestation as there are colors of the rainbow. And I’m here for it. All of it. Each year, I’m challenged to expand my own nature, finding inspiration amongst the sounds, stars, trees and ki ki’s with those I adore.

As I pranced on the earthen dancefloor carved out in a clearing, I smiled and let out a sigh of contentment as I peered off into the picturesque landscape that went as far as my eyes could see. Which though I was tripping, was quite far. Joy, happiness and then….fire!! OMG fire. One of my biggest fears was immediately ignited. And this wasn’t one of the contained bonfires at the periphery that made me hungry for s’mores. No, this fire was jetting around the dancefloor at a proximity to others which could have easily singed the hair off someone’s arm, set a hair spray laden wig up in flames or…I don’t even want to think about it. My friends and I fled to the fringes of safety and got a better view of what was happening.

My relief was short-lived when I saw that the hot flames spanning 5 feet were wielded by a performer. And it didn’t look like it was their first rodeo. They gripped a staff aflame at each end spinning and twirling the rod 360° and then some. The dancer had all the panache you’d expect in the circumstance. So just why were my nerves aghast you might ask?! Well, they were right next to people on the dancefloor, moving in seemingly indiscriminate directions.