In this style of performance, it is ephemeral. You see it, you delight in it, you gaze in awe and wonder but when the performance is done all you have left is the memory of what has just transpired in the art of movement and spinning fire.
By Craig Reynolds
Flow arts can be described as a combination interpretive dance, martial arts, and visual performance. It has its roots in circus performances as well. There is a school you can attend if you are looking to get into this practice as well, there is a link at the bottom of the article that provides more information.
“Yes, it is as crazy as it sounds.” Welch said with a laugh.
Flow arts can be described as a combination interpretive dance, martial arts, and visual performance. It has its roots in circus performances as well. There is a school you can attend if you are looking to get into this practice as well, there is a link at the bottom of the article that provides more information.
Fire Dart 
Fairy Sticks 
Chinese Yo-Yo
Ara Welch, 34, moved to the St. Louis area to be part of the St. Louis Community. About 3 years ago, while leaving Indiana she saw a young lady spinning hoops outside of her office one day. Welch was infatuated with the performance. The woman asked if she wanted to give it a try and she was hooked.
According to Welch, the flow arts community in our area is small but rather tight knit. She is heavily involved in the flow arts community. She has volunteered at festivals in Kentucky, Indiana, Minnesota and Illinois. Welch described the festivals as workshops during the day, learning new techniques, watching performances, and busking at night.
At night, it turns into a giant fire-lit party. A game that she has participated in at one of these festivals was fire tag. She explains the game as, one person lights their prop and tries to light the other people’s props on fire. The last one whose prop isn’t lit is the winner.
“Yes, it is as crazy as it sounds.” Welch said with a laugh.
When spinning fire, safety is paramount. From the costuming and makeup while performing, having the proper space to perform, fire extinguishers, “spinning off,”a technique to spin off excess fuel, and having a safety marshal on standby just in case things get hairy.
Eric Wideman, a native of St. Louis has been performing flow arts since he was thirteen. He began at the St. Louis Renaissance Festival held in Wenztville, MO, at Rotary Park during the late summer and early fall months as there are flow artists scheduled to perform during the events
Wideman met Welch at a Tuesday flow group at Creve Coeur Lake a few years ago. They hit it off and began spinning fire together. Both Welch and Wideman would love to perform for the public again in the near future, but until that time they are happy spinning fire in their backyard.
Edited By Kate McCracken
the stl art scene 