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Trick Addiction
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Yes, Sassypants! I know exactly what you mean. I am in the "fine tuning" stage that you write about. I have certain tricks that I can do that I thought, "Wow! I would love to learn that. Well, I have, but like you stated, instead of thinking, "What's the next awesome move I can learn?" I am going back and fine tuning. I too am working on nicely executed inverts, as well as a pretty climb. Makes sense. I don't think there is right or wrong way. If someone wants to keep learning tricks….so what? There really is nothing wrong with that. For me, it really is about having fun. And now, I am having fun "fine tunig" : )
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I'm currently halfway between! I'm "fine tuning" my transitions and such, getting in touch with a more sensual, flowing side of my dance… and on the other hand, am totally getting like, four new moves down! Ones that, obviously, I have no idea how to transition into 😛 lol
I find transitions quite difficult, and am often trying to find combos so that I can learn how to flow from one to the next… but, sometimes I'm only strong enough, or have stamina enough for one of those moves. So, I continue to practice them more for strength and stamina, and so that when I do learn to transition into them, I don't have to worry about whether I'm going to get the move right, or if I'm going to slip!
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I wished I took fine tuning more seriously sooner. If I had started fine tuning each time I learned a trick, maybe I would not have as much trouble with the creativity of stringing them together. Instead I’ve just started to back track and fine tune my earlier moves before I try throwing in the latter, and piling on new stuff. I think this add-on mode was the bigger issue for me, and the high I got from learning new tricks–I was doing nothing with them. There isn’t anything wrong with that for someone who is content with it, but for me something was missing. As for now, I think my creativity is manning up and taking charge. (;
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When I first started poling, I hadn't learned very many tricks. I had been taught very many spins and TOOOOOONS of transitions so I was literally forced to dance with just that. My pole studio made us all do a free style dance at the end of every class, and it was great! It was fun and it made you think on your toes and made you learn how to perfectly knit spins and transitions together.
As soon as I got my pole 7 months after I started pole dancing, I was obsessed with learning tricks. I felt like I had been held back from learning tricks due to not having a pole earlier, and my studio not offering me enough variety in tricks. I nailed out trick after trick after trick and started free styling less and less, never having the chance to work in the new tricks through a free dance. I would force myself to stop learning tricks and just free style it for awhile, and though it worked out fine this way, my expression and creativity still lacked. I was well aware of this, but didn't seem to care as long as I got my next trick lined up and ready to rock it out.
Now that I've been seriously thinking about competing next year, I have to learn to step up my "game". I can not only just learn how to do a bunch of amazing tricks, I need to learn different types and styles of floor work, I need to improve my flexibility, I need to learn to string more combos together, and mostly I need to work on my fluidity and find a style that goes best with my personality. It is a lot of work and I don't have much time for this, but if it's something that I truly want to do, I will find a way!
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Im in the oposite situation.. I've had it fairly easy learning tricks (nemesis moves have accured, though) but my focus has always been on flow. By that I mean the lack of flow in my pole journey.. I am too shy to even try! Shy of what I dont know, because it doesnt matter if I have the camera on or not. I've always wanted to be a dancer, but just never thought I could, therefore I have never tried! 🙁
I do have a flexi problem with my legs, but everything else is very hypermobile, so I quess I could get those splits, have better lines, if I just worked concistently on it. But I dont trust myself to just dance, because Im sure it will look bad.When I started poledance, I imeadietly had and idea of the poler I wanted to be. Tricks like Felix, dance and flow like Alethea and ballerina lines like TaraKarina. I still want that today (a few discovered idols has been added though). But Im to afraid to try and work on the dance, flow, and floorwork, even just for myself. The thought alone of uploading a vid, thats not cut in a million pieces, scares the h.. out of me! Even though Im not in a fysical addiction to it, in my mind, its all I think about…
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I guess you can say I'm on the other side of the that green grass.
I have the years of dance under my belt, which have instilled wonderful lines, pointed toes and a dancers creativity/flow in pole. But when it come down to it, I really dislike or at least have no interest in tricks. If i could just do spins, twirls and dance on the floor all day i would be thrilled. Tell me to do something as simple as an invert I'm almost instantly annoyed. My body hates tricks. I think they look amazing when other people do it. I envy the hell out of those who are bold and just nail trick after trick in my class. I do them and my graceful body just loses its damn mind. Where do i put what? When? Huh? Sure my toes are pointed, but in my mind I'm completely uncomfortable.Its rather funny cause my teacher is a trick junkie. We bust on each other all the time cause of our differences. Yet lately we've been picking up each others quirks. I've gotten more "open" to tricks and she's showing just a touch of dance in her routines. To bad we couldn't be one person. lol.
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LE, tricks are usually uncomfortable. LOL!!!!
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@JelliCrew – tracee is my FAVE! Of course her movement is gorgeous and we all wish we could dance like her. But, I think the reason her style resonates so well with me is that her movement is so honest. She does what she does because that’s who she is and her emotion translates well because it is so honest. Yes, she is a trained dancer, but her training flows because she interprets the music honestly and with her soul.
I think most of us who’ve poled for a while have felt the way you feel now. I know pole overwhelmed me and I struggled and felt very inadequate for quite a few months about a year ago. I wanted all the tricks and dancing ability of a pro. I made the common mistakes of setting high expectations for myself, trying to perfect everything, comparing myself with others, etc….
When I stepped away and really thought about it, I had to laugh at myself and my insecurities.
I’m competitive and that’s good. I try to do my best and work hard at everything I do and that’s good too. For me, pole is a hobby. I had to really think about why I started in the first place. I wanted to gain strength and improve my posture without swallowing a bunch of vitamins or lifting weights in a boring gym. I wanted to have fun with a workout that wouldn’t bore me to death.
For me, pole is a hobby and a workout. I want to love it, not perfect it. I want to improve, of course, but, if it ain’t workin’ it ain’t workin’ and I need to move on to something I can enjoy.
I was reminded of this recently while watching Krissykiki’s videos. That girl is having fun and loving dancing with her pole. Her videos are fun and infectious.
Like luvlee said, there’s a lot to work on in pole, a new trick every day, and we’ll never catch up. I agree with luvlee also that floorwork is tricks ’cause I’ve gotten the rug burn, sore stomach muscles, and bruises to prove it. How much fun is it that whatever we choose to work on, we will always get a great workout, we will never be bored, we will always improve, and there will always be something new to learn? It’s your workout and your dance, do what makes you happy 🙂 -
Reading all of this makes me appreciate the two instructors who have shaped my pole dance even more! I've always learned how to put things together, how to do mini routines, and later how to create my own choreography for showcases. I've also taken a lot of pole routine classes, where we learn part of a pole choreography that focuses a lot on transitions, floor and chair work, and other "dancy" moves. All of this has helped me stay away from the trick addiction, which I had never even though about as a real thing before reading this discussion.. 🙂
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I think this is a great thing to have in order to combat that trick addiction phase! Having a teacher or mentor who helps you to stay well rounded is such a great asset. Unfortunately for me, I have always learned at home and am only with my pole family on occasion. Usually we are just doing tricks and having fun then as well, haha. I have come to realize that having a trick high kept me on my pole in the beginning. My body was changing the whole time and I never knew it because I was always wanting to nail that next trick. But I see that it has been a cycle for me…trick phase, free flow phase, tricks, etc. whatever the case, it has kept me on my pole and it is a process I am learning to trust. I’m glad to see this post is still going! Tricks are a major category in pole competitions but so is flow of movement. One of my free flow idols is Tracee. She is such an inspiration and I know there is a free flowing vixen inside of me somewhere just waiting for me to pull her out. Other polers really spark my creativity and I think that is why it is important for me to surround myself with other pole people–online and in person if possible. 🙂
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