A Maori poi dance being performed on a Marae (the courtyard of a Maori meeting house, especially as a social or ceremonial forum).
Poi is a Maori word meaning “ball on a string.” Maori warriors originally used poi as a form of exercise to train for battle or hunting. By swinging the heavy balls they developed wrist strength and flexibility to handle various weapons and tools. Eventually poi was used as a form of storytelling and dance.