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A basic figure-eight move with both strong lights and slow lights.

Glowsticking is a form of dancing with glowsticks or other glowstick-like instruments that share the same qualities: durability, consistency in light, safety to toss around, and the material of which they are made, often a soft and pliant plastic.

1 History and culture
2 Forms of Glowsticking
- 2.1 Glowstringing
- 2.2 Freehand
3 Criticism
4 See also
5 References
6 External links

History and culture

Although glowsticking has roots in the 1980s underground rave scene, it has since become a separate cultural phenomenon that can be found throughout the general electronic dance music world, and is becoming popular in the twirling and dexterity play communities.

Because of its history, it is argued that glowsticking culture has PLUR like aspects to it, preferring sharing and performing in accordance with your observer without any kind of negative statement implied, thus most disciples of glowsticking frown upon crews and competitions. ¹

Forms of Glowsticking

Glowstringing

Glowstringing is defined by a few factors: the use of glowsticks on a string, the swinging motion, and an equally large growing category of moves and concepts that are common to glowstringing, including but not limited to: wrapping, elaborate string manipulations common with yo-yoing, and martial arts (as well as other disciplines). Glowstringing, much similar to freehand glowsticking, typically borrows from other disciplines, with some moves originating from poi. This genre has even on occasion borrowed freehand concepts, such as the aspect of mimicking traces (and vice-versa). Glowstringing is generally safer and more acceptable at parties than poi as it does not involve the use of live fire. Moreover, glowstringing has a wider variety of moves and skills because one can switch to freehand anytime during their performance creating a different effect of light patterns.

Freehand

Freehand is defined by the steadily growing body of concepts and moves. Some of these concepts include liquid dancing, tracing, taps, throwing, as well as interdisciplinary dance skills borrowed from common funk style categories. Freehand glowsticking typically borrows from many other dance styles as well as having its own unique set of moves.

Traces are the act of dragging the glowsticks over one's body. An example of a common trace is the stomach trace, which includes dragging the glow sticks over one's stomach to create a circular pattern.

Another example of a basic movement frequently used in freehand glowsticking is the figure eight-- quite possibly the most well known, albeit not the most common move in the intermediate and more advanced levels.

Criticism

Some rave promoters have banned glowsticks from events, especially those taking place in confined spaces, due to the space required to glow stick and the potential danger of striking other rave goers.^{citation needed} In 2001, the DEA tried but failed to ban glowsticks and other items from dance parties, calling them "drug paraphernalia" ²

While glowsticking shares similar roots to Poi (and shares many of the same tricks), many poi players feel that glowsticking has fewer risks (and therefore less appeal) than fire poi; some have referred to glowsticking as the "red-headed stepchild of poi", calling it a less artful skill toy.

References

External links

Glowsticking.com A website dedicated to teaching and advancing glowsticking as well as preserving the culture that surrounds it.
Videos from Glowsticking.com