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Does height matter?
Alright so I was just talking to my semi-supportive boyfriend (who happens to work in the tower crane industry) and I was telling him how excited I am about starting poling. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif
He proceeded to (sort of) burst my bubble when he mentioned how much more difficult the tricks will be for me because I’m tall – he thinks that since I have longer limbs, I’ve got extra leverage working against me. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cry.gif
I’m about 5′ 9" and a bit, but I’m SURE there have got to be other tall pole dancers out there! Right?
Stats on some of the pros seem to be difficult to find. Maybe they should have something resembling baseball cards! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_tongue.gif
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11 Replies
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nothing should keep you from perusing what you want to do even more so if its a healthy athletic form of self expression. I only think pole dance might be more difficult when you get to higher levels, but it also depends on how athletic you are right now. I’m 5’5" and i think i’m kinda at the taller rage for alot of polers. but some of the greats are taller gals as well, felix and bobbi are tall women i believe, (or the appear so with their long legs)
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Yeah, some moves will require more strength from a taller dancer, like the flag, ect. The greats like Jenyne, Felix and Jamilla are all really short, BUT Taller girls can dance too!!!! I’m about 5’8" and the lovely Fluer is 5’10" right? and she dances beautifully, she is the USPDF west cost champ!! You’ll be just fine, now go lift some weights. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_rambo.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_rambo.gif
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I am 5 ft 7in. and I usually dance in 6 in. heels and I do just fine! Just try it! I think you will like it!!! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif
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I’m 5′ 7" and mostly leg (my husband and I are the same height, and my legs are quite a bit longer than his! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif ) and I don’t find I’m having an extra hard time. Honestly, you’ve got longer limbs, why not use that to your advantage? Long legs look great with some moves! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif
I don’t think you would find an difference in what you do compared to anyone else, unless you ARE comparing it to other people! If you have no idea how long a certain move took someone to learn, or how much strength they require as opposed to how much you require, what’s the difference? https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_scratch.gif
Other than that, everyone is built differently, and so you’ll find you are stronger at some moves than others, and other people are the same. We all have our strengths and deficits, physically and mentally, so I don’t think it’s fair to compare one person to another. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_sunny.gif -
I am 5’4" and would love to be 5’8" or so–the moves look so elegant when performed by a taller person, IMO. Or at least a long-limbed person, which I most decidedly am not, lol.
Go for it! At the very very very least it is an excellent workout–and it’s sex-ay as all heck too. Odds are, after he sees you dance, your BF will be scratching his head wondering why he ever, ever, ever said anything that would make you think twice about pole.
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I am just under 5’8" all leg and no waist. I have had some "finding balance" issues but nothing more than that.
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Okay, I just need to take a moment to giggle at you ladies (don’t take offence please!) – it’s just 5’8 is still kinda short where i’m concerned.
2dyzzi, I am just under 6’2 (so I tower over just about everyone else who has replied so far) and I would consider myself to be an expert on how to pole dance when you’re tall https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif
I admit that some moves can prove to be more difficult, particularly since tall people traditionally tend to be less flexible and moves like the iguana and such which require you to lift your legs can be challenging. Also sometimes I find my legs get in the way, they’re a bit too long and awkward.
That said, I would never class my height as a disadvantage. As Runemist said, everyone is different and trust me, moves like the extended butterfly look really impressive when you have long limbs. Being tall has never held me back in anything in life (except if I decided I wanted to be an air hostess, then i’m too tall) and it’s the same in dancing. I’ve been dancing for over two years now, I’m reasonably advanced and I instruct as well.
So don’t let your boyfriend burst your bubble. You can be tall and still be a great dancer, it’s all about hard work, perserverance and having fun no matter what your height is! So be proud and keep being excited to be poling!
And just as a side note, I love to wear six inch heels as well when i’m dancing – you’ll definitely have to do so too!
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Okay, so I can’t trump 6’2 or even 5’8. I’m 5 ft 6.25 inches (the 0.25 is important because it makes me just taller than my mom and since I’m almost her clone that is important to me). But I am one of the tallest instructors at our studio (I think one may be taller) but that being said I’ve taught tons of ladies who are way way taller than me and have gone well on to the more advanced levels and rocked them. It might be a little harded with the added length but since you can’t actually feel how hard a move is for someone else, who cares! And as people had mentioned, the extension you can get rocks!… not that I get much extension being of sorta average height (in the non-poling world) but it always looks super pretty.
Don’t let your bf rain on your parade. I say learn and then kick him in the shins as you do an awesome spin or something for trying to burst your bubble https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif …ok, you don’t have to kick him in the shins but just don’t pay attention to him. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif
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Height only matters to a certain extent. I am 5’10” and some moves will not be possible for me the way they are for someone who weighs 50 lbs less and is 8 inches shorter BUT my height makes other moves looks far more extended on my body. You work with what you got! You can be tall and still be a great poler, don’t let your height bother you and certainly don’t let your boyfriend convince you of anything! You can do it! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif
Fleur
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Coming from a fellow 5’9" poler… I have to say I have found difficulty in two areas regarding my height:
1) The ceiling. It took me forever to be able to invert in heels because I kept kicking the ceiling. If you have a taller pole there won’t be an issue. But the studio I go to and my home both have standard 8′ ceilings and I frequently have to take my shoes off so I’m not kicking holes in the roof.
2) Finding someone to spot me. When I’m learning a new trick I find that because of my height I execute the move differently and if I get anyone below 5’7" to try and spot me I end up squashing them completely. Unfortunately, my instructor in my studio isn’t even 5ft so this poses a problem. I recommend finding someone in your area who is relatively the same height so you can see how they execute moves and pole together so you have a spotter.
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YAY! I’m so EXCITED! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif
It’s so so nice to be able to relate to others and the support from everyone really helps to change my attitude and perspective. I don’t really feel like I’m alone in this afterall https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_sunny.gifbut since you can’t actually feel how hard a move is for someone else, who cares!
Nicki Lee – Deadly! That is such a good point!
Thanks Terp for the tips! I WILL keep them in mind!
And I think instead of something easy like the shins, I’ll work on my flexibility and go for something like his butt https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_thumright.gif !
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