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Story by Jennica Asbury
Photo by Andy Abeyta
Veteran fire-dancers don’t deny that part of the allure of whipping flaming balls around their bodies comes from the peril involved. Precautions have to be taken in order for fire dancers to be allowed to perform on public property, and even with that done, a strong risk of injury remains.
“It can definitely be dangerous if you don’t know exactly what you’re doing,” says LeeAnn Sturrock, who has been fire dancing for nearly a decade. “If you use the wrong materials, you will get severely burned. It’s very important to wear the right clothes, because even the slightest bit of wrong fiber will make the clothes burn on to you.”
Tovi Ross, an 8-year fire-dancing veteran, agrees that the sport is hazardous and strongly cautions beginners. Ross acknowledges that there is a strict protocol to be followed in order to avoid getting scorched.
“Basically, the dangers of fire-dancing are the same as for anything else—if you’re stupid, you’re going to get hurt. The answer is don’t be stupid, don’t wear synthetic clothes,” Ross says. “And you want to make sure you use the right fuel. I use white gas, which produces a low amount of smoke and residue. It creates a cold flame, which means that if I were to hit myself with the flame, which I often do, it won’t burn me.”
“And don’t wear hair products.”

Gallery • 4 Photos

Andy Abeyta

Another prop used in fire dancing is the staff. The staff is essentially a long metal stick with Kevlar wicking on each end. The staff presents its own challenge purely in size and difficulty to control.