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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.

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.

Forms of Glowsticking

Glowstringing

Glowstringing is growing in popularity among young people, and performers. It involves spinning glowsticks on shoelaces and a constantly growing number and variety of moves. Glowstringing combines poi concepts with moves exclusively used in glowstringing such as wrapping the glowstick around various body parts, elaborate string manipulations (sometimes borrowed from yo-yoing), and sometimes even martial arts influenced moves. Glowstringing is similar to freehand glowsticking, and both disciplines borrow various moves and ideas from one another. Glowstringing is common at raves and all night parties and is often used for light shows to wow and amaze people usually under the influence of various substances. Glowstringing is about having fun and "battles" are discouraged.

Freehand

Freehand is defined by the steadily growing body of concepts and moves. Some of these concepts include tracing, taps, throwing, as well as interdisciplinary dance skills borrowed from common funk style categories. Freehand glowsticking typically borrows from many other dance styles such as liquid 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. In 2001, the DEA tried but failed to ban glowsticks and other items from dance parties, calling them "drug paraphernalia"

See also

• Liquid dancing
• Popping (dance)
• Twirling
• Flicker fusion threshold

References

1. What is Glowsticking?
2. Government's War on Raves Went Too Far, Louisiana Court Rules (8/24/2001)

External links

• Glowsticking.com A website/community dedicated to teaching and advancing glowsticking as well as preserving the culture that surrounds it!

• genxglow An online glowsticking and EDM community.

• Articles lacking sources from April 2008