An Enchanted Evening in the Desert

Fire Dancer

April 12, 2017

By Edie Shannon

Pacific islands met cactus at the annual Las Piedras Block Watch party on April 8 as eighty-five neighbors and guests enjoyed a Hawaiian luau. Firefighter guests of the HOA spoke to the crowd, and delighted the children who flocked see the fire engine up close.

Traditional food of the islands, Hawaiian music, a perfect night in the desert. The entertainment was dance performances from many of the islands of  Hawaii and the South Pacific provided by professional dancers, who pulled in some good sports to join them.

 A high light of the celebration was the Siva Afi, the traditional fire dance performed by a dancer from Apia, Samoa.  The dance illustrates the battle prowess of a Samoan warrior as he  twirls, tosses, and catches a flaming war club.

The firefighters  stood on the periphery, watching as the young man tossed the flaming fire knife over his head, and between his legs.

And as the sun went down, a nosey Javelina strolled near the edge of the party, sniffing the food.

 

Las Piedras Neighborhood Street Scene

 

Representative of Scottsdale Fire Department Speaking to Residents

 

Firemen, Dancers, and Residents

 

Doing the Fire Dance

 

Fire Dancer


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Author: Les Conklin

Les Conklin is a resident of north Scottsdale He founded Friends of the Scenic Drive, the Monte de Paz HOA and is the president of the Greater Pinnacle Peak Association. He was named to Scottsdale's History Maker Hall of Fame in 2014. Les is a past editor of A Peek at the Peak and the author of Images of America: Pinnacle Peak. He served on the Scottsdale's Pride Commission, McDowell Sonoran Preserve Commission, the boards of several local nonprofits and was a founding organizer of the city's Adopt-A-Road Program.. Les is a volunteer guide at the Musical Instrument Museum.

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