Fire performance probably started about 1.5 million years ago when humans became the first (and only) creatures on earth to make use of fire. Archaeologists debate on the actual time, but there is evidence of man using fire for at least a half million years. When man mastered fire, and started making it on his own (about 300,000bc), the use of fire for entertainment is almost a certainty.

Censures, torches, staves, bowls and other very simple uses of fire are etched throughout history. Persian history tells us of fire bowls used with early belly dancing. One of the oldest recorded uses of performance fire is torch spinning from India, used in part to herd elephants.

Fire Breathing is an ancient art that may be the explanation for most fire breathing dragon myths. Certainly the technology for fire breathing has been around since early civilization. It got tangled with fire eating as a circus side show art form as soon as circuses sprouted.

Poi spinning originated in New Zealand, came across with immigrants to the US. It became part of the men's rituals in Hawaii and after knife dancing was adapted to fire in 1946, it's suspected that fire poi followed shortly. It was first viewed in 1959 when these private rituals became public, and became a tourist pleaser by the 60's. Fire poi is widely credited for the current surge in fire performance art.

Hoops, Fans, Whips, Floggers, Swords, and the plentiful variety of new tools may have had many parents but owe their widespread use to a notable innovator in fire arts: Bearclaw Manufacturing.

Modern fire performances are as varied as the forms of dance. Some performers just head out to a party and throw down in a corner, some are hired to stand on a box. Some performers join together in duets or troupes to multiply their power of expression and variety of forms. Several performers in our version of a "jam session" is called a renegade performance. Some troupes get very elaborate with scripting, blocking and costumes to make more theatrical pieces. Large art festivals are known to have in excess of 500 performers displaying the cutting edge in fire arts.