Meet the local fire performers lighting up First Fridays

Cora Perkins, Assistant Spectrum Editor

On the first Friday of every month, crowds watch in awe as glowing performers twirl like living flames and the sparks coming off of their torches light the Jackson Ward night sky.

The apex of the dazzling display comes with the Carnival of 5 Fires, which returned for its 20th anniversary on Oct. 3. With DJs, fire performers, a burlesque show and 50 different vendors, Marshall Street quickly filled with hordes of people ready for an unforgettable night. 

The main spectacle was the “Pyro Circus,” put on by the Party Liberation Foundation. PLF is a non-profit organization and fire performance group that puts on regular events and workshops throughout the Richmond area. 

Encased by a circle of red lights, performers spun staffs, hula hoops, whips and swords — all blazing with fire. They danced along to the music played by local DJs, mixing flow art into their performances. 

Fire spinning is an alluringly dangerous activity, but these artists make it look easy. They have improved their craft through years of practice and performances, and though monetary support is rare, the community shares endless love for each other.   

Bunny Senpai 

Bunny Senpai is a fire spinner and burlesque dancer from the Richmond area. She was introduced to the fire performance community through an old coworker at VCU, she said.

“I randomly took a fire [eating] class a couple of years ago, and one of my coworkers was talking about, ‘Oh well, I spin fire,’” Senpai said. “And she was like, ‘You should join my fire spinning troupe.’ So I joined and got into PLF events, just kind of as an offspring, and I love it.” 

She spins mainly palm torches and faces, but will occasionally spin hoops for choreography with her dancing. 

“I mostly spin fire just because fire eating and fire breathing kind of have a shelf life, people kind of call it, ‘cause you’re inhaling fuel,” Senpai said. “So there’s only so long that you can do that.”

She performs full-time, whether it be with fire or her burlesque shows. Many performers do not follow that method because they usually do not get paid at PLF events, according to Senpai. They typically work day jobs and perform because they enjoy it. 

The fire performance community creates a safe space for those interested in fire spinning, as it is a dangerous art that people should not learn on their own, Senpai said. 

“So coming to events like this is really a great way to find a bunch of weird, usually, most of us are neurodivergent people, and just have a safe space to do this,” Senpai said.

For her, fire spinning is a way to get out of her thoughts and stop overthinking. 

“So I guess long story short, fire spinning and flow arts to me is just a space for you to get out of your mind and into your body,” Senpai said. 

Kayle Kuser

Kayle Kuser volunteers with PLF and has been fire spinning for the past three years, she said. Aside from a few tips and tricks from friends and videos, she is self-taught. 

Kuser began with small handheld props and gradually transitioned through various props over the years, ultimately finding what worked best for her.

“They’re called palm torches, and then I just kind of really felt out the flame and I started exploring different crops because there is a wide variety of those,” Kuser said. “And then I found what was best for me, and that is [a] staff.”

Kuser occasionally performs paid shows, but primarily engages in fire spinning as a hobby while working full-time as a massage therapist. 

“For the most part here, this is for Party Liberation and our crew; we are basically just having fun,” Kuser said.

The community is extremely supportive and inviting, according to Kuser. 

“Anyone is welcome, no matter who you are, what you go by, [we are] very accepting of race, the LGBTQ community as well,” Kuser said. “We all are kind of like a little family, truly.”

Casey Lopez 

Lopez has been fire spinning since 2023, when she auditioned for Richmond’s only fire troupe, Exothermia. She did flow arts —  a variety of movement-based disciplines, including dance, juggling and fire-spinning — for over 10 years before she got into fire performing. 

“In 2023, they were having open auditions to join Exothermia to go out to Burning Man, and she kind of convinced me to get into it and since then, that’s how I’ve been going to more First Friday events and spinning fire there,” Lopez said.

Lopez uses First Friday and “Caturday” events as a place to try new things and play around with moves without pressure. Both the art of fire performing and the community have helped her to become more outgoing and confident, she said. 

“Being able to perform in front of, like, a large crowd of people has helped with boosting confidence and just excitement, and you kind of just get lost in the fire when you’re dancing too,” Lopez said. “It’s just a really good space to be in and just kind of almost like a meditation.”

The Party Liberation Foundation will host an “Octoberween” event on Oct. 31 at Powers BMX Shop, starting at 9 p.m., which will feature a costume contest, live DJ sets, fire performances, aerial acts and more. Tickets start at $33.85 and are available for purchase on PLF’s Eventbrite page.