[Charley]

Veena that video made me cry!!!!

[Charley]

Veena’s you are an awesome source of inspiration to the community. Your pro move blog still enters my head often. It’s like yeah it’s a signature trick for a reason. You constantly push the community is a nice direction.

[Charley]

Competitions are not the best place to meet people. I know when I compete I’m a mess and it’s hard to connect as I would like to – gosh I feel the same about when I meet people at Pole Fest, lol. People are talking and I’m the back my head I’m listening and trying to watch everything because I’m a micromanager and trying to connect one to one. It’s sooo hard. It so easy to come off wrong in those situations.

I think competition can be really healthy and push people to be their best. I don’t know how many times I’ve said stuff like “it’s just a showcase,” or “sweet! It’s a non pole crowd, easy tricks,” you know what I mean? It’s really hard being a returning competitor whether you placed or not because your living against your last thing. It’s hard.

It’s also important to build your world and your bubble. I think it’s really important to stick to your values and not support those who do not fit in line with that.

As far as first gen polers vs new gen…it’s changed so much. First gen had their problems too because we didn’t have a lot of the info we have now and when people did things differently they were mocked and hurt. I saw it go down. I sometimes tried to be really diplomatic and step in to explain both sides sometimes to only make everyone mad, lol! I think it’s really important to have a forgiving attitude because even still most of the time we communicate through text on a screen which comes off bad sometimes. I’m really working on his personally. We are all artists and passionate about what and how we do things we can’t always agree. I have had my head in the sand for a long time trying to avoid pole hurt – you can’t.

As far as social media goes I wasn’t referring to pros. I think back to Veena’s post about pro moves and most pros will agree with that. They are doing things fit for them, there are moves they don’t do. One pro and one point didn’t like CAR lol! I think the upcoming professionals sometimes inadvertently propagate the whole “trick, trick, trick, impossible trick thing.” I also don’t think anyone is intentionally trying to push people,or away or hurt others with their talents. For me I temper often what I post and how I say or represent things because I’m a huge people pleaser. A lot of people are just proud of their hot shot new trick. That’s ok.

There’s just A LOT more self focus than there was. There’s more “me” than us. There’s is less working together, there is less openness and inclusion.

Now to a funny story – earlier this year one of my friends peeved me so bad when she went on and on about someone and I looked at her and was like “I’ve been teaching you that stuff for years! What makes her so great?” And it was funny because she agreed but it was because it was someone she didn’t know. I just replied with a smile that they say familiarity breeds contempt – hahahahaha. But in all seriousness I’d like to see more sharing to share and evolve and enrich others than feeling like someone is showing off again for the umpteenth time. But then again, I’m reading words what if I’m wrong about the intent? 🙂

[Charley]

Every time I don’t like a move I end up seeing someone I do like it on. Like I hate that lizard/dragon whatever it is that Charlee does on most people but I love it on her. I don’t like yogi I but love it on Jenyne. I don’t live wrist sit but love it on Jamila, lol. So anyway I doubt there is a move I don’t like but there are lots of moves that aren’t right for everyone.

[Charley]

I’m ready to admit I’m kind of over social media right now. Aside from the level of gymnastics and acrobatics being shared and becoming the norm – the conversations are getting divisive. I’ve seen polers I admire start threads questioning their placements and insinuating that other talents performers did not deserve their award and I’ve seen a lot of ugliness.

I love how athletic pole has gotten but once I see a move for me it’s done, I don’t care to do it unless I know I can make something with it that is special to me. The other problem with tricks on the professional level here is that you really feel like you stand out negatively at competitions because you don’t do them. For example, I can fonji but you will never see me fonji because I don’t think it’s safe to perform that kind of move without a mat. We do not see gymnasts performing difficult and dangerous skills with out mats so why do we take our safety for granted? Chinese pole moves are performed on rubber poles for a reason…I’m not certain we should be taking risks on poles not made for such things. I think it’s cool but I think we need to think about these things.

Lastly, I think there is a lot of competition to prove worth in the community and I’m not seeing much humility just a lot of struggles to be pole famous. I have stopped sharing my journey for the most part because I don’t want to be labelled, laughed at or have people take it the wrong way.

[Charley]

I will add that I know some studios that so not allow their instructors to talk to instructors at competing studios. That’s a little overboard. It also depends I’m the instructors position within in hue company if they are 1099 then a studio has no legal leg to stand on as IC’s should be teaching their own content. If it’s an employee they are likely teaching signature material to the studio.

I’ve been told myself not to spend time with other instructors at competing studios. I was an IC at the time and taught my own, personal curriculum and so I chose to continue spendin time with my friends.

Instructors – know your rights. That’s all I can say. Please make sure you are legally employed or are a true IC. Understand that as your journey takes you into a leadership role such as teaching that it will change the dynamics of your relationships with people. Lots of studios hire students to become teachers which is awesome but understand your relationship with your classmates now changes. Be ready, it’s a process and everyone needs time to adjust.

[Charley]

They are fine for lighter people and if you don’t use a ton of momentum. I just used one for a small show and I was fine – I had forgotten how much more the pole moves with you and nearly flipped all the way over in a handspring. My friend was gracious enough to lend it to me and it did the job just fine. The same pole was used last fall for a small show and one of my students who is taller and a great spinner on static MOVED the pole across the stage and it did tip. She is NOT particularly heavy but she is strong and tall. It scared the heck out of her. My friend who owns the pole and I agree it’s not great for taller or faster spinners.

[Charley]

I hate to be on the studio side with this but I do co-mingle with students and at a certain point sometimes students will feel they shouldn’t pay for classes – especially if they are a doubles partner with one of the instructors. It’s kind of a conflict of interest. Even outside contact could result in “free” training perhaps using signature material. It’s dicey. I personally only pole outside of classes with people who already get freebies like my assistant so as not to seem as I am favoring people or doing something shady.

[Charley]

I second Bad Kitty! The thing is most of the time competitions or shows have dress codes about exposure, I’ve used basic Bad Kitty or Mike tops and bottoms and embellished them myself. I’ve used old Halloween costumes – of the sexier variety which can be gotten at BK, Lover’s Lane, Cirillas or Yandy.

BK bottoms are cute, fitted for coverage and look great. I love them as a base.

You can get a rhinestone setter for like $10 at JoAnn’s and bedazzle your heart out. I’ve also done tear away costumes with velcro and hot glue. With a wee bit of sewing you can make your own body binds I found after waiting too long to order and realizing my custom wouldn’t be done in time. It was a little janky because I don’t sew but it worked 🙂

[Charley]

I don’t but for $30 it might be worth a try. I love working with Natasha. 🙂

I considered getting it but I’m not teaching much these days and I am very married to my syllabus. It looks like there are a lot of strength and conditioning work on and off pole that could be helpful.

[Charley]

Yes me too!!! so glad you posted! I thought I was weird! Whenever I just practice first 5 and tendu I am EXTREMELY sore!

[Charley]

I have read a lot about chopper before invert and I can say with experience that’s not a great idea. I have a lot of students who come from silks for example and on silks there isn’t a basic invert as we know it. What mean is you chopper up and the first thing you are going to do is wrap around the apparatus and “tie in” as I call it. When I’ve trained aerialist most them day one can chopper lift over into a straddle but they have no idea where to there legs. The basic inverted leg position – I call it the upside down stand- is very necessary as a default muscle memory for advanced work and safety. Knowing how to place outside in front and inside in back is paramount to learning leg hangs, butterflies and reverse climbs. It’s also important to understand and be able to perform this for handstand work against the pole.

The trouble is that there is not a defined moment in time within the industry where we know its safe for someone to invert. Often times studios will introduce it too early in order to keep students excited. We also rarely explain the difference between a trick in progress – something that shouldn’t be performed in a routine and trick that’s ready to go. Then we see these scary looking inverts and assume they’ve been taught incorrectly or that they can’t invert when the reality is it is a move likely not suited for performing because its not 100%.

Moves need to be taught to individuals based on their level of ability. When I train aerialist we often start with climbing and inverting technique because that is their skill set. It doesn’t negate their need to learn basics by any means but by giving them something they relate to it holds their interest and challenges them. In fact a lot of aerialist tell me they feel pole is harder because they can’t use as much swinging and momentum as they on silks.

Finally there is a rediculous desire in the world on pole to “get upside down” because they think that’s the most impressive thing, it’s really not compared to the amount of gorgeous spins, transitions and upright poses that are generally simpler and conducive to gaining strength to invert.

As pointed out we use momentum in other things and do not question it. I’m of the opinion a reverse grab with the strong engagement is far more dangerous than an invert without proper engagement yet we still teach reverse grab without writing about its dangers. Instead of saying momentum is wrong we need to be teaching quick muscle engagement because that’s what’s happening. I’ve taught loads in handsprings in my day and 90% of the damage with that is getting up there and not knowing how to stabilize yourself. We can teach these principles the first day of class without ever leaving the ground!

[Charley]

I personally don’t think food or alcohol belong in a pole studio. It’s just gross. Having dealt with cleaning up food after parties and the rank smell from old rotting meals – it’s just not the place for it. I know most studios allow some alcohol after the party but I just don’t see the point. There are establishments for that – a pole studio is a dance/fitness facility not an eatery. I don’t understand the desire to have a full on party at a pole studio. Someone has to clean that mess up and often those types of parties go over on their time and complain when you charge them.

Here’s how I handle it – I tell the prospective client that they should look into booking a shorter party for less money and consider finding a close restaurant or bar to continue with the evenings shenanigans. I explain that food and drinks create a mess and a distraction from learning and may take away from the experience. They are allowed “show up time” “class time” and “picture time” everything else should be done outside of the building. Most people are okay with this honestly. Those who insist on drinking aren’t probably going to be regular clients anyway. Even at home parties I’ve never had anyone get upset about the food and drink policy. I ask to keep food OFF and AWAY from the pole so as not create a mess or an unsafe situation for anyone.

As with anything there ARE exceptions but in general someone has give me some good reasons as to why they need to bring food into a dance studio and pay a clean up fee – I mean if I had a studio that’s how I would do it.

I have performed pole before after a glass of wine and certainly felt the fuzzy effects and this coming from a wino – a glass should do little for me. If I as an experienced pole dancer can “feel” it – I know that even a wee bit for new comers is enough to confuse.

I’ll also add parties I have done where drinking was allowed “after” the party meant that people were still drinking DURING the party. It’s very difficult for an instructor to baby sit 20 people and make sure none of them have had a drink. Then it generally ends up with yelling at people to stop climbing, stop trying to invert, stop flinging themselves, etc.

I’ve just never had a good experience with parties, poles and alcohol. The last time I drank and poles I tore open my incision, the pole fell over and I had a hell of a hangover the next day.

[Charley]

Personally, I think it is best to invert on the side that is strongest in your outside leg hang. I generally advise figuring out which is your dominate leg. I used to do right handed vs left handed but I found that wasn’t necessarily correct for most people. I am right handed and I invert with the pole on my right arm pit with my left hand high – some right dominate people find this very difficult as their right leg likes to come up first.

I teach the basic invert on both sides for this reason. Your dominate side will the be side when in outside leg hang you feel most secure. Thus far this concept has been very good for my students. My right leg is more flexible than my left though I typically split left leg first – what happens is in outside leg hang – which is for most more difficult than inside leg hang – I am able to take advantage of being able to get my most flexible leg back behind me to help provide balance and further lock in my knee grip. What else is interesting to me is that as I advanced and was able to jade because I hand dominate from my left leg that meant that my most flexible leg cam forward in my jade providing a better line. I first attempted learning jade on “strong” leg and I couldn’t get it flat, when I went outside leg hang into jade it was much easier.

[Charley]

Most people will use momentum their first few times without even thinking about it. I remember my first silks lesson and I could dead lift an inverted straddle like nobody’s business and I remember being a few feet off the ground and using a bit of a swing into the invert out of fear. I know students who can dead lift shoulder mounts but when they on stage the nervousness kicks in and they use momentum to get up. I don’t think it is a bad thing so long as they are using proper shoulder engagement. Using momentum in an invert can be gorgeous. I’ve seen many a professional dancer “run” at the pole and lift effortlessly into choppers.