Congratulations to Wolf Bukiet, and Frank RopeDart Hatsis for being chosen as FAI’s Instructors of the month!
Wolf:
Tell Us A Little About Yourself.
I grew up in New York City. After I graduated college, I spent two years in South America making jewelry and learning to spin fire. I spent the next eight years traveling.
Today, I live in Brooklyn where I help run NYC’s first legal fire jam and full time flow arts education space, the Floasis. Over the next few months, I plan to set up a juggling supply store at the Floasis called the Flowtopia Spin Shop.
I teach beginner and intermediate level double staff series classes in which I emphasize feeling and learning the natural momentum of the prop the translating it into the entire body. My classes are divided in to “tech time” which is strictly VTG based and “flow time” in which I instruct students to forget everything I’ve taught them and explore the prop via the sense and the music.
I also offer shamanic doula services (www.cosmicserpentbirth.com)
What Are Some Interesting Statistics or Unique Talents That You Have?
*I have spun fire on 6 continents.
* I am the world’s leading authority on the intersection of kink and flow arts. (www.shewolfshakti.com)
*This year I created Flowtopia, a sister event to Equilibrio in El Salvador. We brought 20 flow artists to the most beautiful beach in the world where we jammed out, played, explored and created group choreography for four days. Once Equilibrio started, we all taught classes.
How Did You Come Into Flow Arts?
I was traveling in South America making jewelry to sustain my adventures. The people who travel as artisanos down there are the same ones who travel as street performers, so I was surrounded by flow arts. Finally, I made myself a set of poi.
In Latin America you can make a reasonable living by spinning your prop in 30 second bursts in front of a red traffic light. It’s a great way to train because you get to just practice doing low-stakes shows all day and you get good fast. For artists who are young and free and just want to practice all the time, I always have the same advice: go to Latin American and find some nice traffic lights.
When I came back to the US in 2008, I discovered Wildfire and it blew my damn mind. Since then, I’ve been finding flow friends and trading tricks all over the world.
What Props Do You Use And What Props Are Your Favorite?
I’ve spent some serious play time exploring fans, dragon staff, buugeng, rope dart and hoop. Each new prop filled me with joy at imagining all the untapped possibilities. For a long time I considered myself a flow toy anarchist with a special passion for dual props.
Just over a year ago, I reconsidered my “spin all the things” attitude and decided to focus on my most consistent prop : double staff.
This commitment changed everything about how and why I spin – I am now more interested in realized potential than I am in hypothetical room for growth. This deliberate limiting of my flow world in order allows for a more through exploration of a small space. I am a firm believer that boundaries enhance creativity, so taking on more of them seems liberating rather than limiting.
Today I am driven by curiosity to find out where else my relationship with double staff can possibly go. I’ve seen such amazing things happen to my flow in the time I’ve spent playing with this prop. What kinds of crazy things will happen when I double the number of hours I’ve already spent exploring it?
Where Have You Taught And Where Will You Be Teaching?
Performed and taught at Equilibrio in El Salvador Feb 26-28th
Performed in NY Flow Show April 3-5th
Taught at ALPHA April 24th-26th
Taught at Kinetic May 14th-17th
Taught at Fahrenheit May 29th -30th
Organized Flow Arts Classes at Figment June 6th-7th
Taught at PEX July 3-5th, Helped orgainze/MCed PEX Flow Show
Organized fire performance at Gratitude Migration, July 16th-17th
Shin of Empire Fire Collective, Camp lead of Vulcan Empire at Burning Man, Vulcan Empire offered flow arts classes every day from 10 am till 5 pm.
Taught at Spin All the Things in Toronto, April 22nd-24th
Performed at Ignite in Brooklyn April 27th Intermediate Double Staff series at the Floasis, beginning May 4th
Taught at NE Fire Fest in Connecticut May 13-15th
Instructor Liaison at Fahrenheit June 9th-12th
Organizing a Flow Zone at PEX July 1st – 3rd
Organizing a Flow Zone at Grattitude Migration July 15th – 17th
Teaching at New England Flow Fest August 11th-14th
For more follow Wolf on Facebook and follow her on Instagram.
Frank:
Tell Us A Little About Yourself.
It’s been about 2 years now since I resigned from my school teacher position to pursue my goals of spreading the rope dart. It was a leap of faith, however, I thank God everyday for the courage to press on.
What Are Some Interesting Statistics or Unique Talents That You Have?
Ranked #1 in the world with a Rope Dart.
How Did You Come Into Flow Arts?
I had been studying martial arts for about 20 years and the flow arts (specifically fire) felt like another avenue for the Rope Dart for me.
What Props Do You Use And What Props Are Your Favorite?
Currently, I enjoy spinning Rope Dart, Sword, Spear, Nunchucku and Three Section Staff.
The Rope Dart is my favorite across the board (teaching, spinning, etc.)
Where Have You Taught And Where Will You Be Teaching?
Flame Instructor, Georgia 4/16
NEFA Instructor, Connecticut 5/16
Kinetic Instructor and Performer, Ohio 5/16
WildFire Instructor and Performer, Connecticut 5/16
Fire Drums Instructor, California 6/16
Fahrenheit Instructor, Pennsylvania 6/16
Lust Performer, Brooklyn 6/16
ICMAC Instructor and Performer, Florida 7/16
NEFF Instructor, New Hampshire 8/16
Anything Else You Would Like To Mention?
The level of support shown by the flow community, specifically FAI, is a dream come true
For more follow Frank on Facebook, and also follow him on Instagram.
Photo & Video Credits:
Jill Laurie Goodman
Thomas Egan Photography
Sky Wild Photography
Ely Kay
BangOn!NYC