Tools
Object Manipulation is a form of performance or skill play in which a performer interacts with one or more props as they dance and can be considered a fusion of dance, juggling, sport, and martial art.
Revolutionary Motion focuses on four tools for its performances:
POI
Poi consists of a weighted lead connected by a leash to each hand. The lead may take the form of a ball, LED and power source, or kevlar-wicked fire head. The art in its current form is a fusion of traditional Maori poi dancing from New Zealand, classic club swinging from Europe, and glow-stringing as found on dancefloors and raves. Poi performance is centered around the movement of body and hands in a way that pulls the poi head through a number of geometric patterns reminiscent of those created by a spirograph or ribbon dancing.
HOOP
Hoop is a weighted toroidal object that is usually swung around the hips. In its most basic form, hoop dance shares much in common with the classic hula hoop, but is heavier and adds layers of dexterity to its use by having performers attempt to swing the hoop around other body parts and change the plane it is swinging on. Hoop performers create graceful dances through the mutual exchange of circular gyrations between the hoop and body.
BUUGENG
Buugeng are a pair of curved staves that are held and rotated at their midpoint to create hypnotic swirling patterns. They are usually constructed out of either carved wood or bent steel rods and occasionally are manufactured with kevlar wicks at each end for fire performance. This art is comparatively new in the object manipulation community and there are very few practictioners of it.
DOUBLE STAVES
Double Staves are a pair of 3 to 4 foot long staves that are held in each hand and rotated in compound geometric patterns. Similar in some respects to poi, doubles allow performers to create gravity-defying patterns that even poi cannot.