Artist sticks with twirling after fiery romance

Alex de Vos
During a protest in the Otways in her late teens, Surf Coast performer Emmaline MacArtney was introduced to the art of fire twirling.
Mesmerized by the creative combination of fire and movement, she remembers falling instantly in love.
“I became obsessed with it,” Emmaline said.
“I love experimenting with movement and improvising with dance and twirling – it’s such a lovely, social thing to do and it can be quite therapeutic.”
The artist will showcase her talents at this year’s Torquay High Tide Festival.
She said the performance would also feature a collaboration with local act Circus 3230.
Emmaline has performed at the High Tide Festival since its inception in 1998.
“The Surf Coast Shire had booked some Melbourne twirlers to perform at the event but they got lost on their way to Torquay,” she explained.
“They asked whether anyone in the audience could twirl and I put my hand up. I ran home, put on a sparkly outfit and grabbed my fire sticks.
“I did a performance and have been part of the festival ever since.”
Emmaline will also coordinate a series of free workshops for people interested in learning how to twirl fire sticks.
At the end of the program, twirlers will be invited to perform alongside her at the festival.
“The workshops are open to anyone who has the maturity and is interested in being part of the troupe,” she said.
The first workshop will be on Monday.
High Tide Festival is on December 4.