[Jenn]

Hmmm… well, here are some of my ideas..

1. You could go perusing through some of the videos on here or on YT and then try to replicate anything that you particularly like. That may help get you out of your comfort zone and try some new combos. This YT site has some really cute mini routines you may wanna try… http://www.youtube.com/user/climbandspin

2. Another thing you could do is write down all the moves you want to perform, pick a song you could really groove to, then just pick points in the song where you want to execute the moves. Than you could add in some transitions and spins to fill up the space in between whatever moves you pick.

3. Put a song on repeat and then just freestyle to it, let the music move you… and when you touch on something you really like, write it down, and then incorporate it into an ongoing routine.

Good luck https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

[Jenn]

Happy Pole-iversary! So happy for you! I hope you continue to grow and find success in all you seek and more! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

[Jenn]

I’ve always had grip issues with the chrome Xpoles. I started out ob chrome, then moved to TG, and now I have a brass pole. Different metals work with different skin types. The only time I can really get on with chrome is in the middle of the summer when it’s super humid, otherwise.. it’s a slip-slidin’ all over for me.

[Jenn]

I have really slippery/sweaty hands and so I am always looking for different ways to help me grip better. I tried the gloves, and personally, they felt really foreign to me. I didn’t like that my hands weren’t in direct contact with the pole and my fingers weren’t able to completely flex around the pole because the gloves were so stiff. I definitely prefer the grip aides on the hands overall.

Maybe you could try them first and then decide? I haven’t seen any competition videos yet in which the competitor was wearing gloves, but then I’d don’t see how that is much different than using lotions, chalk, tacky clothing/shoes, which I am sure competitors have all used to help them grip.

[Jenn]

I have super sweaty hands usually, and have to wipe down the pole and myself frequently during practices. When I performed, I used grip aide.. and lots of it! I recommend using a little on your hands and and maybe give the pole a light dusting, if possible. I also used a little on the backs of my knees as well. It definitely helped. Also, for me, the adrenaline of performing in front of an audience gave a little extra grip power as well.

Just curious, which grip aide did/do you use? Thanks. I’m a beg/int poler, however, struggle with sweaty hands to practice and learn new stuff.

Lol, I am like a connoisseur of grip aides! I have used: Dry Hands, Tite Grip, Firm Grip, iTac, Grrip, Rosin, Mighty Grip, and have tried various home remedies (shave gel, hairspray, etc..) To date, my favorites are TiteGrip and Dry Hands. I use Tite Grip for long practices, but for short acting super grip power, I add a little Dry Hands to my hands and the back of my knees. A friend has recently turned me onto iTac, which is very helpful when put on a slippery pole, but I sweat right through it on my hands.

[Jenn]

I have super sweaty hands usually, and have to wipe down the pole and myself frequently during practices. When I performed, I used grip aide.. and lots of it! I recommend using a little on your hands and and maybe give the pole a light dusting, if possible. I also used a little on the backs of my knees as well. It definitely helped. Also, for me, the adrenaline of performing in front of an audience gave a little extra grip power as well.

[Jenn]

I learned on static initially, but I wish I would have trained on both. After spending over a year solely practicing on static, spin mode felt completely foreign to me and very difficult. I find spinning mode to be completely different than static mode, and much more difficult. Spinning pole requires different technique and the moves take a lot more strength due to the force of spin.. which feels like it will throw you off the pole. Also, the moves that require balance are more difficult to maneuver. I would recommend training on both, although if you’re learning a completely new move that can be done on both modes, practice it a on static before moving to spin mode.

[Jenn]

Hey Jenn…I love the books too! I am starting classes back up in Oct at the Aerial Classroom…meant to ask you did you get a chance to check out Cirque School when you were here in LA…?

Hey Veruca! Glad to hear you are going back, did you learn a lot from them? I would love to see some pics! I really enjoyed my classes with them. I will definitely be taking more next time I come out there. I didn’t get to check Cirque School out. I wish I could have stayed another week or so, there are so many different classes and schools in the LA area to explore! There was one I wanted to go to called Kinetic Theory that Mina had mentioned. Apparently they have really good contortion stretching classes. Do you know anything about that school?

[Jenn]

amyxshi and verucablue -Thanks for your help! I will have to keep you both in mind if I have further questions. Do you take classes or have silks in your house?
For now, I’ll just post up the few I have in question.arielsilk.jpeg
polevssilk.jpg

1 pic-What is the name of the first one?
2 pic- What is the name of the two with the silks?

Thanks so much!

1. My studio calls the first pic move a double foot lock split
2. My studio calls the first move a "fishhook." It’s a single footlock then place the fabric diagonally behind the hip and lean back and hook the free leg. For the 2nd pic, it’s hard for me to see how she is wrapped exactly, but it looks like a transitional move where she is almost ready to go into a drop known as the "single star" or something similar, but I can’t really tell from the pic.

Those books that Veruca mentioned are excellent! My friend has them and made me a copy of the intermediate one, and I love the pics and descriptions.

As far as leggings are concerned… I found some really interesting ones on Ebay, but I would recommend getting a unitard of sorts so that if your shirt comes up during a drop, you won’t get fabric burn on your torso (trust me… it hurts!!) You can gfind those at American Apparel or most online dance sites.

[Jenn]

Hi Alexis! Welcome to SV. You will find a lot of helpful information and support here. There are quite a few of us "Michiganders" on this website. I’m from MI too, I live in Ferndale. There are a lot of pole related events going on in the Metro Detroit area nowadays, and a whole community of us that get together for pole play periodically. Hope to see you one of the events sometime soon! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_sunny.gif

[Jenn]

I have those Pleasers with the glitter strap and I love them. They do not help you stick to the pole, but they don’t harm either. I use the top of my foot to grip the pole instead, not the part where the strap is. I haven’t noticed any problems with the glitter coming off, but I do not wear them too often. My absolute favorite shoes to wear are the Pleasers Delight 609 with chrome heels and black patent strap. Those definitely stick to the pole and they are super comfy.

[Jenn]

Is the body more upright or parallel to the floor? If upright, its called a figurehead. If it is parallel to the floor with arched back and arms holding pole above, I believe it’s called the dove.

Dove
http://www.triagedesign.co.uk/wikipole/images/2/29/Dove.jpg

Figurehead
http://www.triagedesign.co.uk/wikipole/images/thumb/f/fe/Figurehead.jpg/450px-Figurehead.jpg

[Jenn]

When I do the no handed cradle, I prop my bottom arm so that it is bent about 90 degrees, and just below the elbow area is pushing into the pole, then grab hold of my bottom leg. Once that arm is in place, I can let go with the top arm.

The woman that injured herself was Summer, the owner Diva Den in Portland, Oregon. I met her when I was visiting friends in Portland, and she was kind enough to let me play at her studio after hours. I don’t know the specifics of the injury, but she tore some tissues and muscles and had to have corrective surgery.

[Jenn]

PDR, which pole was yours? I wonder if I played on it too..

[Jenn]

What a fun weekend!! Thank you so much Mary Ellyn for organizing such an awesome event! I am really glad I got to meet so many amazing pole dancers, some of which i have been stalking online for years, hehehehe. No but really, what an amazing group of people. So happy that I went!

Here are some pics taken from the weekend. There are still some photos coming from some of my friends’ cameras… I will update the album when they are posted.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=189916&id=752709930&l=43e46c1862" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;