[Charley]

I think a forum section would be great listing us by state for those who wish to participate.

[Charley]

You are not pole dance mentally challenged!

Have you thought about taking pole lessons? Some studios will allow you to audition and they will place you within their program. There is a very good school in Chicago that I can recommend if you like. The instructor is fabulous.

Consider that your friends might have picked up things faster because they had someone to walk them through and correct them each and every step of the way. When you have no feedback and input and correction it can take a lot longer.

I think you are doing fabulous. You are a very good dancer and trickster.

Each person has their own advantages and disadvantages walking up to the pole. Sometimes people bust advanced moves right away but can struggle with simpler moves. Moves like superman and shoiuldermount have several tutorials and threads about them across the vast pole universe.

I think you are a talented dancer and very rounded dancer – you can dance, trick and flow the two together. You are very blessed to have both qualities.

Sometimes it helps to shelve a move. Sometimes it a certain technique and it needs to be figured out (the knees is one, the iguana is another.) Sometimes you aren’t engaging the proper muscles and you are just one step away.

Do you take online lessons or have DVD’s? I like to look at a lot of resources when I get stuck on a move and sometimes searching around I figure out what I need to do to achieve the move. Other times it’s good to get a private lesson.

[Charley]

First of all – you’re not getting me anywhere near that move – no double spatchcocks – lol https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif

Awesome job!

That move still freaks me out, it feels kinda gross (yes, I’m the idiot that just tried it.) it feels so wrong… https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif

[Charley]

Jungle – I didn’t see your vid however being a christian I would have enjoyed seeing it.

Let’s face it – When yoga was big a lot of Christians were against it because of it’s past steeped in Eastern Relgion however Christians cam to embrace it and use the exercise both physically to improve themselves and the meditation to connect with God.

I did a praise vid myself and received no comment – I dedicated it to my Dad and a good friend who has always been there spiritually for me. They inspire me to pursue my relationship with God and be a better Christian. I didn’t feel as if anyone should be offended in anyway Iw as expressing my joy for having a loving God in my life and His blessing of people who support that.

God is praised through Dance (see 1 Samuel) and song (Psalms) Go to Exodus and read about how the Israelites danced and praised God as they were freed from hard bondage. Art is beautiful and favored by God – consider this – look around the planet – not only does God love to create but he has a sense of humor (duck bill platypus anyone?) The author of the universe CREATED us, CREATED the birds who sing and GAVE US THE ABILITY to likewise create and procreate.

It’s sad that the church as a whole – as the body of Christ (all religions) feel the need to fight amongst ourselvs and judge rather than realizing that we all have something to be held accountable. We’ve all sinned. Read Mathew – if you have an issue with your brother you are to speak with him about it. God gives us the rules of how to deal with someone in the flock that may be doing something wrong/unhealthy.sinful. Even if these people felt you were being sinful – should they not have taken you aside and privately spoken with you about it and given you the oppotunity to explain.

Bashing someone isn’t being a Christian and it isn’t letting your light shine. No matter how someone feels about pole dance as Christians we are REQUIRED to handle things in a Godly manner and sort them out with help of the Holy Spirit.

Jungle – I think you should continue to include God in every single aspect of your life. Once we start cutting Him out of things in our life we begin to fall away from Him and lose our connection. I think you should continue your praise of God in a joyful manner as you have. Who knows? Maybe God is using you and your praise pole dance this very second to inspire someone who may not otherwise have thought of God today. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

[Charley]

I’m 28, have been poling since January 2007. I’m 5’5 and 120 – I go between 115 and 120 a lot.

[Charley]

I should add I do like do dance in boots too… but not my knee high…they tend to slip down, not good I’ve almost fallen a few times. My favorite boots are my black thigh highs. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

I have the same problem with knee high boots unless they are stiff tops and lace up but then the rivets scratch the pole https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_sad.gif

I usually dance naked because of the carpet issue – it’s too difficult and my stilettos get caught up – my chunky heel boots are okay but I am also dealing with a light fixture right next to my pole and I don’t want to accidently smash a light bulb – lol!

Ankle sport socks are nice too – I use them a lot – knee high socks when I feel sexy. I also use legwarmers as much as possible.

I have ballet slippers which are great for dancing and I can still split heel and cupid in them so they would be ideal I think because pole does do a number on feet.

[Charley]

inverting on the left feels like learning to invert all over again https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif

I think if you just make yourself train that it will get easier and you’ll be able to do a lot more combos.

I think there are some moves that are difficult because of the awkwardness – inverting being one of them and gemini and scorpio – I actually just got scorpio in my opposite side and it looks better but it feels like I am going to fall. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif

What is weird though is sometimes if you can’t get a move and you do it opposite arm you can do it, lol!

[Charley]

Wow! That was awesome! You’d really have to trust your partner!!!

That one girl is super strong.

[Charley]

I don’t even pay attention to which side I spin on anymore but it took a long time to get there. When I began teaching I had trained for about 6 months or so before hand on opposite side movement because I figured not all my students will be right handed.

It takes some time but if you spend a little bit of each practice session trying to go with the basics on the opposite side – you’ll get it. As you build up more strength from things like the fireman or the attitude you’ll be able to progress to split grips.

I am also trying to get my elbow grip and split grip on the opposite side. It’s soooo scary.

I think it’s a good idea to set out from the beginning learning each move on both sides – I wish I had because it’s harder to go back later.

[Charley]

I second Lola on the power ball.

Also go easy on your wrists – they will get stronger.

Handstands were awful for me too for a really long time. One thing I noticed I was doing was twisting my wrists when I came down into the handstand. YOu need to keep your wrists straight – thing of your fingers being spread open and your middle finger pointing askew (slightly left or slightly right) make sure your fingers are in front of you and not to pointing away from you.

This was my problem – I was weakening my wrists and damaging them because they were not straight – it may not be an issue for you. The more you practice the stronger you’re wrists will get.

[Charley]

Awesome job! You must be so proud and on cloud 9 right about now!!!

Like Jenn said – in our area and I am sure Chicago being a big city it’s the same deal – our amateur night is full of veteran dancers. I know girls who plan trips to amateur nights https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_sad.gif Off the street dancers never get much of a chance. So that’s awesome and even mor eof an accommplishement to beat them!

The way I see it you came in first! Good luck if you do decide to work there.

[Charley]

I’m not quite sure exactly what you mean – but are you thinking about the inverted hip hol? Pole is gripped with you hip and legs are extended over your head?

[Charley]

Kinda strange, calling it pole dance though. If it is Chinese pole then they should explain what the contraption is. Otherwise their just gonna have a bunch of confused newbies. lol

Yeah – it’s seems silly that they don’t mention what it is they are dancing on. Plus the cube is about 4 inches in diameter vs our 2. The vid didn’t really seem to teach anything either.

[Charley]

Thank you Carmel! I don’t have any vids here yet all of mine are on youtube. Pole Twista and I were talking about lack of feedback Friday so I kind of ranted a bit here.

I do think that people who don’t have others to bounce things off really need feedback on vids.

I am really passionate about the community (here, other forums, youtube) sharing and caring about one another. I really would love to see more encouragement towards new posters and new pole dancers. This forum is good to new members but there are other places and youtube especially where it seems like you need to be Pantera to get feedback.

I am not looking for compliments or anything like that but would like to talk about my vids the way I talk about others.

Burn2ea – I think it’s easy for newbies to get overshadowed a lot. There are a lot of questions that a lot of us have answered a million times so sometimes I notice we get short or ignore questions that have already been answered. But I think it’s someone – just taking the time to acknowledge you that makes you feel on top of the world and let’s you know you aren’t alone, what is going through your head others have had similar thoughts/feelings. Feel free to PM me anytime with any questions you have =)

With all of that being said – this forum is much more open than some others because people letting their real feelings being known would have caused drama but I think this is an awesome discussion because it makes us reflect on the way we encourage one another and makes us consider follow up.

I totally understand not watching long vids or watching several vids from the same user ina short span of time. This helps us put together the best package to get the optimal feedback.

This is a brave thread and really honest – I appreciate the honesty from everyone and the way the thread has been handled with integrity.

And I appreciate all the feedback and comments I’ve gotten and if anyone adds me as a friend on youtube I’ll go check out your vids and leave comments and feedback. (http://www.youtube.com/charleyisagirl)

This really goes to show how important we are to one another. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

[Charley]

I’m 99% sure this is a chinese cube.

I train people how to use it – it’s fairly difficult to perform any swings because it does require a counterbalance. A friend of my bf’s works on it. Very cool piece of equipment.