[KenzieCaliente]

Part of her caption will say things like “first time on a pole,”. The butterfly was in two pictures and the girls bodies were touching the pole and the leg was blurry, like it had been moving, with the bottom arm bent. She’ll post videos of girls doing inversions with their hands over their head, stepping, kicking and grabbing on with the soles of their feet.

Another example is when I was at her party. One of her students found me and said “the owner said you’d be able to help me with my handspring because she can’t figure out why it’s not working.” I asked her to show me, and it didn’t look like she was ready. She went into twisted grip and kicked her leg up about 2 feet off the floor, with the other only a few inches. I asked and she said she started poling 3 weeks ago. I asked about other fitness things that may help, and she said she just thought it was a fun way to get into shape and didn’t have any other background.

It’s scary stuff like the handspring that has me really worried. In retrospect, that would have been a better example than the butterfly!

[KenzieCaliente]

Hi everyone! I’m scheduled to perform a pole dance on October 19th. But, I just found out I’m pregnant! (My husband and I are super excited! It’s our first one!)

I’ve seen lots of threads about poling through pregnancy, but none about performing. This is my first pregnancy, so I’m not sure what to expect or how I’ll be feeling. I’m a few days away from being 6 weeks, which would put me around 9 weeks for the show.

Any thoughts? I’ve thought about toning down the difficulty, but don’t want to perform something watered down and safe. (The song is pretty intense). I’m also worried about the physical demands of performing, with adrenaline, nerves, etc. Would it be better to pull out of the show?

Also, if anyone is friends with me in real life or Facebook, this is still hush hush! My husband and I have plans to tell families and everyone after the first ultrasound! (Two days after the show, which is why I’m looking for advice here!)

[KenzieCaliente]

KenzieCalliente

[KenzieCaliente]

Yeah, I try to add to what they already know. Whenever people come in, I always ask what their goals are whether they want to compete one day, or are looking for fun. I’ve had a bunch of students recently tell me they want to compete one day, and ask about inverting while they’re in their first month. I always try to explain that there’s more to pole than inverting, and they need a solid foundation before moving onto advanced things, but I’ve had students recently who want to skip that middle phase. One woman asked to go upside down in her first class!

There are many amazing pole dancers out there who make everything look super easy, so I think some students don’t realize all the work and training that goes into it.

It’s hard to walk the line of being realistic with people who want to advance as quickly as possible while keeping it fun and attainable. They go on YouTube and show me a video of a move or a combination they want to learn that is far above their current level. I try to modify it or give them strength training things to do to work toward that particular goal, but they give up if they don’t get it right away. I also have students who only stretch once a week and ask why they don’t have their splits after working on it for 1 month.

I guess my frustration comes from a culture where most things are advertised as accelerated and easy. There’s accelerated schooling, pills for fast and easy weight loss, exercise programs that advertise 6 pack abs in 7 minutes, and self help books that can change your life in a month, or get rich quick schemes by helping a Nigerian prince. Pole is old school training, discipline and hard work, and goes against that fast and easy culture.

Of course I’d never say that to my students! I also know this sounds really negative. I taught this morning and had one student who had that attitude so it’s fresh frustration. Her goal is a shoulder mount, but she was only willing to try it twice before she said she was done for the weekend with it. I’m normally much more positive when it comes to teaching!

[KenzieCaliente]

I’m not an owner, but I teach at a studio. What I’ve found is that the beginner students are very excited and coming to classes regularly, but they fizzle as things get harder. They don’t expect inverting to be as difficult as it is, and they’re not fans of doing the strengthening exercises to get the moves like inverts and shoulder mounts. Or, they say they can do it, then kick up into it and get frustrated when they’re corrected and encouraged to use strength instead of momentum.

It’s hard to keep students motivated during that time, and that’s where people tend to drop out from my experience.

[KenzieCaliente]

Rainbow marchenko and the cocoon! I’ve been stretching for about 6 months, but I don’t think my back will ever bend like they’re. I think they’re beautiful and I’m so jealous of people that can do them!

[KenzieCaliente]

I wonder if I can talk my husband into a stage….

[KenzieCaliente]

I really like this girls early comment about so many newbies posting their "skills."  (Yes, she put it in quotes). Seriously? Someone works hard, and they get put down for showing it? No one starts with amazing tricks and grace, so let those newbies be happy they're on the road to greatness! I saw a thing on Pinterest that said "No matter how slow you learn pole, you're still climbing higher than everyone on the couch."  

I know that's not the real point of the discussion, but just a line that rubbed me the wrong way.

i think the clothing argument is ridiculous. These women are serious athletes and have worked hard for their bodies. Let them be proud and show it off! I'd be in midriff tops all the time if I had those abs!

People who are this judgmental over pole dancing are probably this close minded over all new things in life. Get pissed, have a great session then have a moment of sadness for them when you realize all the things they're going to miss out on life, because they're too scared to try anything new. 

 

[KenzieCaliente]

I grew up doing ballet and feet and hands are one of my pet peeves during performances. I think lines look more finished and polished with pointed toes and graceful hands. I always learned to practice with toes pointed so it becomes part of the move, but that's pre pole days. I don't mind when people are learning a move, but I hate performances without those finishing touches. It's part of being performance ready in my opinion. 

I'd never call someone out on it, but I do think its something that is easily overlooked because there's so much else to focus on. I wish more people would spend as much time stretching feet and ankles and working on feet as they do their splits. I think it's just as important, and like everything else, the more you work on it the easier and more natural it becomes. A pointed foot and graceful hands make everyone look more advanced from what I've noticed. 

[KenzieCaliente]

At least it was a learning experience! Take more classes and try again!

[KenzieCaliente]

I’ve been looking at a fly gym too. Here’s a question- do they all come with the same things? I really like Alethea’s, but Karol’s is about $40 less. Any ideas why? And they’re both less than the regular set.

[KenzieCaliente]

It definitely sounds like there's something else going on, so I agree with what everyone else said.  Here are two suggestions for once things calm down and you talk a little bit.

1. Plan out date movie nights.  Look at your schedules and decide that showtime will start at exactly 7:45 on Thursday night, pick out a feature, silence your cell phones, and get that popcorn ready.  That way, instead of laying around being lazy and watching TV, it's more planned out and has a different vibe to it.  My husband and I watch TV together, but it feels more like a couple if we plan to watch a specific movie at a specific time.  It's the thought and planning that goes into it.

2.  If he's upset because he feels left out, ask him to help you.  Ask him to spot you on a certain move, or to check that your toes are pointed, or to give you little pushes while you're stretching.  Chances are, you probably don't need to be spotted on certain moves, but it'll make him feel more involved, and maybe he'll realize it's a lot harder than it looks.  If you're struggling with a move, show him a video of what it's supposed to look like, and ask if he can notice where you're going wrong.  (My husband is pretty funny at this.  He'll say things like, "Her crotch is more towards the pole.  Her boobs are pushed further out."  Obviously I know where he's looking, but at least it's fun together!) 

Good luck!

[KenzieCaliente]

I was wondering about the three points of contact too. The way I read it was that it applies to all inversions. An inversion is when your hips are higher than their shoulders, which isn’t the case in a superman, so I think that would be safe. I’m wondering about a cross ankle or knee release. It’s technically an inversion by their definition, but it’s not an overly advanced move.

I think I’m going to email them for more clarification. I don’t want to get disqualified for not understanding their rules!

[KenzieCaliente]

I'm doing level 2, but not sure of the categories yet.  So nervous!  First competition!  

[KenzieCaliente]

This thread makes me so happy! I’m newish to pole so haven’t been able to contribute much to these forums, but I know about this!

They may or may not take you through a warm up. Get there early so you can do your own just in case. They’ll then teach you one or two combinations, then have you break down into groups to show it. They’ll put you in place, and have you do it once or twice through so they can watch everyone in your group. They’re looking for technique, stage presence and how fast you can pick up choreography.

Some tips.
1. Get there early! They’ll probably take you in the order you get there, and I personally find waiting horrible. You cool down and work yourself up, and its just not good.
2. Be friendly. You’re auditioning for a team, not a solo. They won’t want a diva on their company, so be a team player. Don’t try to intimidate anyone, and be nice to everyone. You never know who knows who in the dance world.
3. Most important, your audition begins the moment you walk into the building and ends when you leave. Be on time, walk with confidence, smile, be attentive, be ready to respond to requests.
4. Wear something you’re comfortable in, and practice your hair style. (Fixing your hair during a combination can be distracting).
5. Don’t lie on your résumé. They might ask for special skills, like tumbling or flexibility or turns. You might have to show them, so write what you can definitely do.

Don’t take things personally. Maybe they want a company of all blondes, or all dancers over 5’10. Some times it can be a look or type and have nothing to do with your skill.

Have fun! At the very least, an audition gives you a chance to perform. You’ll make connections, see lots of interesting sights, and you can show off your skills. Good luck and let us know how it goes!