YAO
FIRE + FLOW | CONTACT STAFF WORKSHOP
Yao Hotz is a multidisciplinary artist and fire performer from West Auckland, known for his powerful stage presence and handcrafted props.
Outside the fire world, Yao is an accomplished glass blower with over 15 years of experience, known especially for his work with uranium glass.
Yao’s fire journey began after being inspired by festival fire shows, which lead him to create his very first prop: a custom fire sword.
Utilising his background in construction with his artistic flair, Yao has gone on to design and build a wide range of unique fire props - including swords, axes, and maces, bringing medieval warrior energy to his performances.
He draws inspiration from his Germanic and Nordic heritage, and in natural forms such as the way a well-formed flame holds the Fibonacci sequence.
For Yao, fire spinning is more than performance, it's a life changing practice that he now shares with others through his craft, presence, and teaching.
