Feelin' hot, hot, hot!
No trick to dancing with the flames, says Rankin performer
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, October 23, 2013
RANKIN INLET
Lynette Didur made the fashion display during the Kivalliq Trade Show one of the hottest tickets in town earlier this month in Rankin Inlet. Didur began belly dancing 10 years ago.
The audience gasps as Lynette Didur literally eats fire during her performance at the Kivalliq Trade Show's fashion display in Rankin Inlet earlier this month. - photo courtesy of Doug McLarty |
She really caught fire -thankfully, still in the figurative sense - when she began fire dancing years later.
The 25-year-old pharmacy technician from Brandon, Man., not only twirls flaming batons around her head and body at a dizzying pace, but she eats the flames as well.
Didur said belly dancing, combined with her interest in the circus, juggling and the use of props, got her interested in fire dancing.
She said the tried-and-true way to become a good fire dancer is practise, practise and more practise.
"I practised dancing for about two years before I actually started fire dancing," said Didur.
"I practised more and more until I felt comfortable with it.
"I'm self-taught, so it was a lot of YouTube, books and going to Montreal and Winnipeg to practise."
Unlike many of the circus acts Didur admires, fire dancing is truly dangerous.
But, by approaching her art the right way, she has managed to avoid any flaming mishaps.
Didur said she's only singed herself once or twice.
She said she takes safety and precaution very, very seriously.
"I strongly caution anyone who wants to learn this, and I, personally, don't teach too much fire dancing.
"It's all about practising for years and years until you feel comfortable.
"There's no trick to eating the flames.
"Basically, you take your life into your own hands every time you do it."
Didur said five minutes of fire eating is equivalent to smoking a pack of cigarettes in the same time frame.
She said it's not something anybody ever wants to try on a whim.
"Only the crazy people do it.
"Belly dancing revolves more around showmanship, and you're there to entertain everyone.
"Spacial awareness is one thing you learn with unlit toys, which is very important when you actually fire dance.
"You note what's going over from audience reaction, and continue to build upon the artistic side of it until, hopefully, you have an awesome show everybody loves."
