Teaching is a very special way to volunteer at WildFire.
Have a 50-minute class, discussion, or gathering you'd like to facilitate?
Please fill out the workshop application form!
Have a 50-minute class, discussion, or gathering you'd like to facilitate?
Please fill out the workshop application form!
May '23 classes confirmed so far:
We are receiving applications to teach, and have a number of teachers and classes already lined up.
Here's a list of what we have as of March 4:
Here's a list of what we have as of March 4:
Dresden & Sterling Partner Rope Dart
Love rope dart but feeling a little lonely for something more? This class will teach the basics of partner rope dart play, including negative space play, horizontal and vertical plane wraps, leashing, tension acro and tosses.
Dresden Blue & Sterling Fire Partner Double Staff
Double double, California Style! Love making shapes? Wish you could make geometric shapes but you only have two hands? This class teaches you the basics of partner double staves, including: grid work, negative space play, leads, and how to incorporate partner dance movement.
Dresden Blue From Tai Chi to Tango: Fun Footwork for Flow Artists
Your feet deserve some tech too! This workshop will cover techniques curated from a wide variety of different partner dance and martial arts disciplines to spice up your moves in the fire circle.
Dresden Blue Photography for Flow Artists
Surrounded by circus monkeys and not sure how to get that perfect picture showcasing their spectacular selves? Sick of relying on sheer dumb luck to capture that magic moment at the flow jam? This class will start with the basics of how cameras work then dive into compositional theory and how to apply take candid photos in the field - literally. All levels are welcome to attend.
Dresden Blue Rope Dart Groundwork
The class will start with movements inspired from props with established groundwork tech - primarily contact staff and hoop pathways - and then progress to techniques that are unique to rope dart - ground shots, static strap play, breakdart, windups, and more.
Sterling Bishop Rope Dart Cradles & Horizontal planes
This class teaches you how to use your rope as a prop of its own, and manipulate the dart with rope on rope friction. Use bounces, weaves, stalls and shots in the horizontal plane to create compelling movement phrases with a large visual footprint!
Sterling Bishop Dancing with Sword Flowers
This class starts with the pattern of the 4 petal anti spin flowers, and expands on it into a full body pattern with footwork. As the class progresses, this pattern evolves into a framework for dance. Students will leave the class with a specific sequence, as well as concepts and ideas to create new patterns.
Sterling Bishop Intro to Sword Dance
This class teaches the building blocks of fire sword dance. Starting with basic sword movement & footwork, building into larger patterns.
Jason Lulejian Embodied Imagination for flow arts -Incubation
Embodied imagination is based on ancient arts of dreamwork that work to use memories and dreams as ways of forming new physical knowledge that can be used to enhance flow arts, creativity and vitality
Jason Lulejian Embodied Imagination for Flow Arts-Dreamwork
This session builds on those that worked on memories and/or dreams in the first session and return to continue work and explore experiences or to work on dreams created by incubation in the first session
Jillian Danskin Hoop 101
Building your tricks up with hoops so you know how to connect different tricks while dancing.
Jillian Danskin Nature flow
A walk in nature while spinning flow props.
Mat Costanzo Getting Started with Nunchucks
Nunchucks are light, fast and beautiful. The art of moving them is both intricate and smooth. They’re underrated and by trying them out you’ll see what makes them amazing props to spin and low with. This workshop will introduce you to the nunchucks, teach the fundamental techniques and instruct you in involving your whole body in moving with the prop. And if you’re experienced already, intermediate flow exercises will be offered.
Jehr Walking forward fishtails
Based from forward fishtails going over and exploring the pathways for continuous flow. Steve, halo, angel, and snes will be of focus from forward fishtails
Jehr Let's play catch
Learning tosses for continuous flow Steve, toss into Steve variations depending on how you catch the staff. That's where it gets fun
Also go into Halo, toss into angel
Peter Anton So you wanna be a dragon?
The workshop is part 1 of 2, and is required if you intend to take part 2, or to take your first breath at WildFire this weekend. We will discuss the science behind fire breathing, the choices in tools and techniques the we use to make fire breathing as safe as possible.
This first class will be discussion only. Note that we require that you take a COVID test daily before you take these classes, or breathe fire at WildFire. Tests must be brought to the event - we will likely not have free tests available.
Peter Anton So you wanna learn how to breathe fire, Part 2
In this second class, we will learn the technique behind safely breathing fire. This class will use a water-first track, introducing the method using water first.
We will move on to the actual fuel, practicing without igniting. If possible, we will have our first lit breaths. However, we almost always have our first lit breaths in the evening's burn, after performance.
Lars Matthew Rieck 8 Rings 101
A Beginners guide to 8 Rings! Participants will learn fingerspinning, isolations and Timing + Direction patterns
Jillian Danskin Silk fan intro
Learning how to cherograph moves with silk fans instead of doing the same move for the white song.
Lee Sussman Whippersnappers
Ever cracked a whip? Want to learn? This will be the place! An introduction to what whips are, the different kinds of whips, the mechanics of how they work, and how to use them!
Lee Sussman Whipcrackers
Ok, you can get it to make some noise, now what? Take your whip to the next level and learn more advanced cracks, technique, and flow!
Lee Sussman Fire Crackers
Getting pretty good with that whip? Starting to wonder how to make it even MORE impressive? Set it on fire! Come learn the principles of fire whip- how to use one, how to fuel one, how to safety one, and what we can do with one!
Lee Sussman Dry Fuel Fire Breathing
There's more ways to breath fire than just UPLO! Come learn how to breath using dry fuels- this class will cover the types of powder fuels we can use, the risks involved, how it compares to liquid fuel, technique/how to do it, and safety.
Cole Pyland Tie Dye & Bleach Dye 101
I will DYE for you! please bring a garment of your choice (Natural Fibers) to be DYED during this class. Come learn the FUNdamentals of garment DYEING
Amelia Aglow Pizza Yoga
Pizza Yoga is a collaborative exploration of feeling delicious within our bodies. We will make shapes,
breathe, and move to connect with the yummiest parts of ourselves, so we can radiate our best flavors to the rest of the world.
Spark Converyor Belt Variations
Side conveyors, horizontal conveyors, conveyor belt tosses, conveyor 360’s - more conveyor belts than your body has room for! You had no idea this move had so many cool variations. We’ll cover a lot of transitions and variants that you can throw anywhere into your contact spinning.
Spark Zippo Tricks
Learn to light your props with a bit of flair! This is an informal class where we'll learn and share some flashy Zippo lighter tricks. We'll have plenty of lighters, so no need to remember to bring one
Spark and John Intro to Balisong
The Balisong or "butterfly knife" has a huge amount of interesting tech associated with it, but it is largely overlooked in our community. We will start with safety procedures and terminology. Introduce the basics-ricochets and windmills. We will introduce rollovers and chapmans. We will discuss tosses if the class seems ready. We will have loaner practice (dull) knives for those who don't have their own.
Spark Intro Traditional Staff
Traditional staff spinning involves holding the staff in a hand while spinning, as opposed to contact staff. This class will cover basic moves such as two and three beat weaves, windmills, horizontal spinning, and turning while spinning. Come as an absolute beginner and get a good introduction, or come with some experience and clean up your fundamentals.
Finlay Stewart All the fishtails!
working up to and mastering fishtails and reverse fishtails and why mastering fishtails is great to flow. I will also be teaching drills to incorporate fishtails into their flow.
Finlay Stewart Mastering the Chi Roll and the Philosophy of the Dragonstaff
This is an intro to dragonstaff course Where I show how to work up to and drills to master the chi roll. I also talk about the physics of what makes the dragonstaff roll the way it does, and talk about how to work with those physics to enhance one's flow.
Finlay Stewart Footwork and flow
This is a workshop that will help people of all props... and that's with footwork.
Kai Devilstick - Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced, whatever
All things devilstick. If you don't know how to use it, we will teach you. If you know some tricks we will find something new for you to work on. All skill levels welcome
John Ostwald Intro Nunchuck
Learn the basics of nunchucks: shoulder bounces and passes, various hand rolls, figure 8 weave. Fountains if we have time.
Eliza Tea time
Join Elīza, your friendly neighborhood Brujita, for afternoon tea time. Here we’ll discuss Gong Fu style tea brewing, different kinds of tea, taste whatever is in her brewing vessel and relax with some meditation and open conversation. This is more of a gathering than an structured workshop. All are welcome, and if you have a tea cup or tea pet- please bring it!
Chris McDonald Wushu Fans
The Chinese fan… often seen as movements of grace, beauty, and hidden power. Using martial arts movements and the Chinese fans (which can also be used with silk fans) participants will learn how to manipulate the fan to include opening and closing the fans, blocks and strikes, and tosses and catches. Since the fan has a martial arts basis, martial arts stances, kicks, and strikes will be incorporated into this session. Finally, participants will learn how integration of the body movements can enhance the effectiveness of the fan.
Chris McDonald Fire Sword Flow
The fire sword… is still a sword; it is a weapon. Frequently, the weapon aspect is all but forgotten when used in the flow arts. This workshop will focus on the basics of martial arts stances, sword cuts and blocks, what to do with the dreaded empty hand, and how to tie it all in to one cohesive flow.
Marysia Walcerz Balance That! How to Put Things on Your Face and Keep Them There
Learn the basics of balancing props on your body with this workshop designed to enhance and elevate your object manipulation skills. We’ll cover the mechanics of simple prop balancing, how to level up from hands to face, and work to develop balance transfers that add dynamism to your sequences. This workshop is suited for object manipulators of all levels, and particularly good for beginning jugglers who want to develop a secondary skill set that involves slightly less picking things up off the floor.
Whatever your level, you’ll leave with the tools and mindset to look at any object and think “I could put that on my nose.”
Marysia Walcerz Handstands for the Absolute
Interested in seeing the world from a new perspective? In this workshop, we will develop the fundamentals required to start your handbalancing journey, focusing on the mechanics of shifting weight from feet to hands, and finding the entrance to handstand that makes the most sense for your unique body. You’ll leave with a toolkit for safely continuing your inversion practice and a new appreciation of what your body can do.
Marysia Walcerz Finding and Refining your Handstand
Interested in seeing the world from a new perspective? In this workshop, we’ll cover the building block fundamentals for developing ease and comfort in your handstand. We’ll focus on the mechanics of shifting weight from the feet to the hands, and how to keep that weight centered and within your control. You’ll leave with a toolkit for safely continuing your handbalancing practice and a new appreciation for your physical control of your body.
Marysia Walcerz Acrobatic Handstand Entrances
There’s more than one way to get upside down! Dive into the world of dynamic movements that pass through or stall in a handstand with a workshop designed to break you out of your usual kick-up patterns. We’ll cover moving weight transfers, flowing into and out of inversions and unique ways to travel while upside down.
K-Fire Introduction to Fire Sword
Learn basic moves with Fire Sword. Special attention will be given to how to fuel, light and extinguish a fire sword. We'll discuss and practice eastern and western sword styles. Learn how to adapt martial arts moves into flow forms. Students will also be introduced to a widely practiced 10-count stage combat shorthand and do some partner work. What's not to love here!
K-Fire Release the fireflies: Charcoal Ember Spinning
This class will be an introduction to charcoal ember spinning. During the day we will process (i.e., cook) wood shavings in metal cans to create our own charcoal. We will discuss prop construction for holding hot embers and what to wear to protect yourself while spinning. At night we will spin our embers.
Once the event is underway, the schedule will be on display in the dining hall, available for all
We are still accepting workshop applications (CLICK ME!), or be spontaneous and add something during the event!
The schedule below is shown for illustrative purposes... it was the Fall 2022 schedule as it stood before the event started. It will be updated with current workshops closer to the event.
- to see
- to edit,
- to peruse while eating bacon,
- ...or to lament before while you agonize over whether you want to take the Advanced Fleshing class, the Partner Breathing class, the Fire Whip class, or the porch napping affinity group
We are still accepting workshop applications (CLICK ME!), or be spontaneous and add something during the event!
The schedule below is shown for illustrative purposes... it was the Fall 2022 schedule as it stood before the event started. It will be updated with current workshops closer to the event.
