Poi ball dance of Maori, Polynesian Cultural Center, Oahu, Hawaii
This unused postcard is another IMPACT “Life Like Photo Art” publication, 1979. John Wagner is credited with the color photograph. At the lower left corner on the reverse is #1570-H.
The Maori are indigenous people of main land New Zealand (Aoteraroa) who originated as settlers from East Polynesia and arrived in New Zealand in several different canoe voyages between 1320 and 1350 AD. Due to their isolation, they developed their own culture, language, mythology, crafts and performing arts independent from the other easter Polynesian cultures.
The poi performance art is named for the equipment used. Poi is a skill toy that involves swinging tethered weights through a variety of geometric and rhythmical patterns. The performers may also sing and dance while swinging their poi. Different materials, weights, handles, and effects (like fire) can be used. Poi originated with the Maori people where it is still practiced today. The word poi can be used to represent the object, the choreography or the music. Sometimes the outer shell had a pattern based on a fishing net or were dyed yellow to form diamond patterns. Most spinners learn poi from each other. Legends say that men first used poi to develop wrist flexibility for the use of hand weapons but no evidence has been uncovered to substantiate the story.
For additional information, see:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C4%81ori_people
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poi_(performance_art)
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