Editor’s note: Scarlett is the coolest, most amazing, awesome writer that I have had the pleasure of working with. She rocks new articles for all of you just because she can! Take some time to head over to her Facebook and thank her for all of the awesomeness that she has provided. Hopefully we will see you on the Burn!

Heya, Deadites! It’s been a crazy last few weeks for those of us here at DXD, and for a large portion of our devoted and delightful readers as well, I’m sure! The last month before the burn is always a time to plan, panic, and prepare, although not necessarily in that order.

As most of you are aware, Nath and myself, as well as a crap ton of other DXD regulars and guests are headed out to Burning Man in the next few days. As for myself, I’m leaving Saturday morning at dawn to begin my trek.

As a result, DXD is going to sit silent and ignored for the two weeks. I promise, however, that once I return home and have had a few days to recover that I’ll be posting some awesome photos from the Playa, as well as a some fantastic stories about the amazing time that I already look forward to having.

For those of you who won’t be going out this year, perhaps you can take some time while we’re gone and think about all the things that really matter to you in your life. It’s a good time for self reflection and growth, not just on the Playa, but everywhere and for everyone. I don’t know how many of you are into that whole astrological prediction thing… but I don’t think necessarily it can be a bad thing to use the information available to us from all sources.

Most people do the whole “new” me thing at New Year’s Eve, and we all know how well those changes tend to stick. How about making a new tradition and doing what you can to be the change you want to see in the world at the summer’s end instead? We’re about to start spending more and more time indoors as the weather changes, so now is a good time to start implementing those personal and professional changes in ourselves; now before we find ourselves in close quarters and tempers flare while we try to readjust to being less free for the duration of the freeze.

For me, going out to the Playa is a spiritual, emotional experience. It’s not just a big party in the dust – it’s a time to reflect upon the things I have done, and wish to do. A time to plan and recharge my soul, cleanse my energy of negativity and open myself up to that which the universe has in store for me. I’m taking a few things from my past out with me to place inside the temple before it burns, including a journal I have been writing in for ten years. Out with the bad, rejoice in the good memories, and create beauty from chaos.

I send wishes for joy, love, transformation and affirmation for all of us, and a safe journey to and from the Playa for those of us bound for the dust.

Scarlett became a part of DBD at the very beginning, and brings a passionate nature and an unflinching honesty to our community with her articles.  She as had no formal journalism or editorial training, but has always been fascinated by the English language.  Scarlett has been an active participant in the burner community since 2009. She is a native of Denver, and can’t imagine living anywhere else. You can contact her her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/MonsoonScarlett

Editors Note: Two awesome Shorts came in today! One from Scarlett and one from Brian Pinkham! For future note a Short is a short article that is informative, relevant, and is most likely time sensitive.

Ticket to Burn by Scarlett O’Malley

Heya, Deadites! There’s less than 30 days left until it’s time to leave Denver for BurningMan. Wait, less than 30 days?! Shit, man, already? Yes, already.

Panic!!!!

It seems so far away and then, poof… it’s almost on top of you and it’s crunch time. So, to help keep your panic on the lowest levels possible, this week I thought it might be useful to provide a check list of needful things as we impatiently count down the last couple of weeks and days until it’s time to go Home.

First thing’s first – how about your ticket? You have that squared away already, right? You were one of those bright and eager folks waiting in the queue for the first tier tickets when they went on sale in the Spring. No? Well…  Tickets are still available online for purchase and shipping to your door, or you can have it waiting for you at Will-Call. Will-Call isn’t a bad way to go… a body can’t forget a ticket that they haven’t ever touched! However, call me old fashioned, but I prefer to have my ticket in hand. (No, I don’t want to hear a word about forgetting my Apo ticket from the Peanut Gallery!)

Naturally, the BurningMan Org would prefer that you purchase the highest pricing tier that you can afford. As the three lower tiers have already sold out, that means if you’re still scrounging up cash to get that all-important entry voucher, you’re going to be paying that higher price. Right now, you’re looking at a $300 price tag for the ticket alone, not counting shipping if you have it sent to you; that can run up to $29 on top of the $300. Don’t forget that mail-in orders are already cut-off (as of 6/30), so you have to order online.  Folks who are still needing to get that squared away can get more information and order their scrap of pretty cardboard at http://tickets.burningman.com/

So just in case you haven’t gotten yours yet, here’s a photo of what it’ll look like, more or less. Don’t be jealous, just get one!

The Galactivation Station by Brian Pinkham

The Galactivation Station interactive sound and light installation will be making it’s Denver premiere this Friday the 6th at the Art Walk at the intersection of Santa Fe and 7th Street right alongside the Whomp Truck.

The Galactivation Station is a super sensory experience of light, sound, touch and play. It’s a 12′ pyramid portal to another dimension. As you step inside, the installation creates extraterrestrial music and sounds, directly corresponding to the motion of your body. You will likely find yourself moved to dance, as you experience a total shift from the paradigm where dance is created by the music, because in the Galactivation Station, the music is created by your dance! The music activates a full color LED array covering the entire installation surface, creating a fully immersive torrent of color and light all of which pulse and throb in resonance with the sounds produced.

Galactivation Station / Whompilator Interactive Art Installations from PhotonicBliss on Vimeo.

Come out and play!

Fire dancing is an art form that is performance based using, well… fire.  There are many ways in which this art form is performed with the most popular being Poi.  Poi, which is both singular and plural, are two roughly arm length chains or cables with ignitable wicking, usually a Kevlar/cotton blend, on one end and various types of handles or grips on the other end.  The wicking is then soaked in a flammable fuel source, ignited, and spun around the body in a multitude of patterns very much like a choreographed dance.

In fact, most prefer to dance their performances to music, the most popular being multiple drum beats like those in drum circles.  This allows for a synchronicity to the movements that adds fluidity to the performance.  Add the flames and you have a high energy performance that is an adrenaline kick for both the dancer and the audience.

Other popular performance equipment includes staffs, swords, whips, fans, and much more.  Fire juggling is another popular form of fire performing which adds fire balls and torches among other things to the mix.  The generally agreed upon rule in the fire performing community is; if you can light it, you can perform with it.  The only limitations are the creative levels of the individual performer. Two of the most interesting items I have personally seen were an umbrella frame and a tuba.  Both performances were quite entertaining to watch.

Fire performing has been a part of many cultures for a very long time with the origins of Poi believed to have come from the Maori of New Zealand who use them for action dancing and story telling.  In the ancient days it was believed that learning and mastering the Poi Toa, as the Maori call it, developed skills and reflexes valued in warriors.  Poi Toa means Warrior Poi.

As fire performing is most obviously dangerous, safety is of utmost importance; not just for the performers but the audience as well.  Fire is unpredictable so being prepared for any eventuality is necessary.  A well defined performing area is needed that is free of anything that may be accidentally set on fire or cause a performer to stumble. Experienced spotters are needed as well.

Spotters are usually non performers who are on standby to put out any inadvertent fires on performers, audience or objects.  Spotters need to be able to judge whether a performer is in trouble and be able to react quickly and appropriately. Skill levels of performers are monitored closely as well. Spotters also monitor the performance area, insuring that any non performer doesn’t wander in the fire area.  Basic equipment is wet towels.

It is also important to monitor the fuel staging area.  This is where the performers fuel their equipment just before performing.  The most important thing to remember is no flames of any kind in this area, including cigarettes.  A fire extinguisher in this area is a good idea too.

Performers also need to ensure their own safety as well as audience safety by ensuring that their equipment is in proper working order and that they wear clothing or costumes that are fire retardant or not easily burned.  Leather and cotton are the best.  Hair should be covered by a cap or scarf that is non flammable as well.  It is extremely easy for hair to catch fire so this is very important.  Many events require the performers to have permits and insurance.

Fuel and equipment construction vary from performer to performer but there are basic standards.  Stainless steel and aluminum are the most common metals used with some equipment like staffs and nunchaku made from wood with metal caps.  Metals such as galvanized steel and copper should be avoided; galvanized steel emits a toxic gas when heated and copper conducts heat too well.  Wicking should be made of cotton or Kevlar/cotton blend and be securely fastened with screws to insure that the wicking doesn’t fly off the equipment, thus endangering those around.

The most common fuels used are white gas (camp stove fuel), paraffin/kerosene, lamp oil, biodiesel, and alcohol fuels such as methanol, ethanol, or isopropyl.  Fuel choice is usually individually based.  I use white gas myself.  It lights well and burns cleanly but is hotter and burns faster.  This shortens the performance and does increase the risk of injury but also decreases wear on the wicking.

I became involved in fire performing during the summer of ’07 while interning with a festival group here in Colorado called Dreamtime (dreamthefuture.org) and then at the Burning Man Festival in northern Nevada (burningman.com).  I have been an interpretive belly dancer for many years and never had considered adding fire to my routines until attending these events.  I was captivated and enthralled!  I quickly realized that I possessed the skills necessary for this type of performance and jumped in quite enthusiastically.  It was jut a matter of incorporating a new prop to my dancing.  My equipment of choice is the fans, fire belt and staff.  I dance with eleven points of fire and have performed with up to fifteen.  Imagine a belly dancer performing a Japanese style fan dance to Africanized drumming!  Intense!

Ask any fire performer why they do what they do and most if not all will say they love the danger and adrenaline rush that comes from a skilled fire performance.  I am no different; this is what I love as well.  It is important to note that this type of performance requires a high level of skill that comes with many hours of practice prior to lighting up.  Without this skill level serious injury can occur.

Kat Whitsell is a fire performer with Colorado Conclave. For more pictures and videos of Fire Dancing, check out DXD on Facebook.