He kanikani mā te poi - Poi choreography

Explore the resource collection, Te Ao Kori

This activity resource from "Ngā mahi poi - Poi activities", is part of the resource collection Te Ao Kori.

Ngā mahi poi - Poi activities collection
Background information
Te Ao Kori collections
Tātaiako: Cultural competencies for teachers of Māori learners

Intended outcomes 

Ākonga can: 

• explore the use of poi while moving different parts of the body, at different levels, and in different directions 
• perform and respond to poi dances 
• respond to and interpret music through experimentation with patterns and structural composition devices using poi as percussive instruments 
• perform poi dances responsively to music
• learn others' poi patterns and create their own patterns to share  
• use choreographic devices to create an original poi dance based on a theme 
• demonstrate consistency and control of movement when using poi in creative activities 
• demonstrate a willingness to accept challenges and learn new skills when developing poi activities. 

Suggested approach 

Review history and protocols whakapapa, tikanga, and the basic skills practised in the he poi roa, tapatahi (single long poi) activity. 

With a pair of long poi each, ākonga experiment with and attempt to perform the following actions: 

• circling the poi at the sides of the body while standing, walking, sitting, lying, and kneeling 
• spinning the poi above the head, down low, in front of the body, to the side of the body 
• alternately crossing the arms and opening them to the sides while circling the poi, that is, figure-of-eight 
• spinning one in front and one behind the body 
• swinging the poi about the hips 
• windmill 
• butterfly

Practise ways of moving the legs while swinging the poi in any of the above patterns – step and point, step-touch, takahi, step and kick whana, step-close-step-whana, runs, skips, slides, gallops, and grapevine. 

Ākonga reflect on how manipulating a single long poi is different from manipulating double long poi. 

Create simple combinations of poi movements for the class to copy. 

Ākonga in pairs assist each other to practise and acquire new poi skills. 

Ākonga work in small groups to create a sequence of six to eight different poi movements/patterns – with or without music.