Fire Dancing is More Fun in Boracay!

It’s a sweet sensation
Thinking of all that hot temptation
You know it’s going right where you want
Yeah, you know what’s going on..
– FEELS SO GOOD (Armin Van Buuren ft. Nadia Ali)

One of the things that I look forward to whenever I visit Boracay is the opportunity to watch fire dance shows. I love dancing, and I want to take poi dancing lessons if I have the time and money.

I think there’s a number of fire dance shows in Metro Manila, but watching one in Boracay is different.

More than two years ago, I went to The Sandbar Boracay (Bamboo Lounge) together with travel blogger friends. We’re lucky because we were able to stay in one of the tables near the main stage (or sand stage haha). The performers in Sandbar Lounge can pull tricks on the customers and those who are seated in front are the prime ‘targets’. We had so much fun and I can never ever forget that night. Aside from the jaw-dropping performances, we got in touch with the leader of the group named Carla Mendoza a.k.a. The Fire Diva. Darwin even named his blog ‘Tracking Treasure” inspired by one of the group’s signature music.

To reminisce our first meet-up (yes, the three of us met in Boracay!), Brenna, Darwin and I decided to spend our first night in Boracay in The Sandbar. I don’t really see them often in Manila and it is an opportunity to catch up. Also, we want to just sit back, relax and watch a good show.

Falling out of my head
I got a twisted sense of time
Feels like i’m turning red
Feel so alive….
– ALIVE (Dirty South & Thomas Gold ft. Kate Elsworth)

^ Fire Diva Carla Mendoza fire dance presentation for the trance song ‘Alive’

We noticed that The Sandbar Boracay improved a lot – now, even the colorful stage lights dance with them. Most of the people watching are foreigners and the Koreans just love it whenever PSY’s Gangnam Style is performed. I’m honestly sick of the song, but it is tolerable when the fire dancers give a twist to it.

The more I get to know Carla, the more I appreciate her. She’s waaaay younger than me, but she thinks like a twenty-something adult. She is in-charge of the choreography and makes sure that we’re having a great time.  We end up watching their performances for four consecutive nights! We would hang out with her afterwards. Thanks to her, we were able to discover the Beer Pong at Epic bar (Hello, Brenna!)

I have this obsession with drag queens recently and ironically, I want to be one (the effect of watching Rupaul’s All Stars Drag Race). Now, my dream of becoming a fire dancer got ‘refueled’. I can lip sync and at the same time play with fire!

The music’s on and I’m dancing
I’m normally in  the corner just standing
I’m feeling unusual
I don’t care ‘coz this is my night!
– Not Myself Tonight, Christina Aguilera

^ Jillian performing Christina Aguilera’s ‘Not Myself Tonight’

When you’re in Boracay, make sure to visit The Sandbar Boracay! Shoutouts to Carla, Nelson, Marty, Rocky, Sheila, Jessa, Jillian, Manuel and Clint 😀