[MichelleH]

Rebecca Butcher was recently in South Africa and I was privileged enough to take a pole AND an aerial silks workshop with her. She is a wonderful woman, so very genuine and down to earth, and an AMAZING teacher! She wants to know what YOU want to learn, she is very good at the verbal part of instruction and her spotting is superb. I can totally recommend attending her class at Head over Heels if you can make it!!

[MichelleH]

I can do the one with the foot resting against the pole, but I can’t do it with ankle against pole! Some things that might help; get used to the position by first holding above the knee hook, then below the knee hook. Next step in the progression is to use the same hand as knee to hold the ankle. This keeps your top knee really locked onto the pole. Only then would I progress into both hands off the pole.

The other thing that really makes a difference to this move is pushing your hips forward. Your kneepit must be as close to the pole as possible for a really good grip, readjust a bit if its not deep enough. The bottom foot is not going to hold you up as much as it just stabilises you. Without seeing a picture, it doe sound like bringing your 2 knees closer, pushing your hips forward and really getting the pole deep in your kneepit may help?

[MichelleH]

I can do the one with the foot resting against the pole, but I can’t do it with ankle against pole! Some things that might help; get used to the position by first holding above the knee hook, then below the knee hook. Next step in the progression is to use the same hand as knee to hold the ankle. This keeps your top knee really locked onto the pole. Only then would I progress into both hands off the pole.

The other thing that really makes a difference to this move is pushing your hips forward. Your kneepit must be as close to the pole as possible for a really good grip, readjust a bit if its not deep enough. The bottom foot is not going to hold you up as much as it just stabilises you. Without seeing a picture, it doe sound like bringing your 2 knees closer, pushing your hips forward and really getting the pole deep in your kneepit may help?

[MichelleH]

That is so aweeome that so mamy people are already putting it in the calendar! I will be asking for a LOT of advice, especially as our Rand Dollar exchange rate is not kind!

[MichelleH]

Thanks ladies. Isn’t it amazing how sometimes we have to really hit our heads against a wall to see the benefit of something like practicing moves on both sides?! Well practice continues. This weekend I was lucky enough to have a workshop with Becca Butcher and she taught us the Holly Drop. Of course I drop onto the weak side, so my bruising is developing nicely, chuckle!

[MichelleH]

Oh my gosh! Becca is not only an amazing person but she is a great teacher! She has such energy, great ficus on safety, handson spotting and fantastic verbal skills in explaining body positioning!

I was with 2 other girls that are very strong, so I worked on getting handspring and brass monkey while they worked on twisted grip, cup grip and brass monkey from a sit. Then we did her signatur move, the Flare, and a one handed reverse grab spin where you kick your legs high into a fan kick. Busy session!

Then on Sunday we did a silks workshop! I’m exhausted today!

[MichelleH]

Veena, your video was VERY helpful thanks! I've inspired 2 other girls to practice and get this move and it was great to show them your video on my Tab at class last night!

 

Slooooowly progressing with invert on the weak side. I think this trick will take some time to get. It's wierd having a trick that is within my ability in that I am strong in both leg hangs, yet still quite far away as I don't work my weak side. There's a lesson that I've learnt!

[MichelleH]

I can't wait to see what she teaches us each day. Luckily they're on different days so I won't be too tired!

[MichelleH]

I'll report back on Monday. I'm doing a pole workshop on Saturday and a silks workshop on Sunday

[MichelleH]

Thanks Amy! I'm embarassed to admit that I never invert on my weak side so I am just starting with that! Going to be a bit of a learning curve, my foot that's hooked is feeling it, my side, taking my hands off is scary. It's like starting over!

But I have a goal 😉

[MichelleH]

SO EXCITED! Becca Butcher is coming out to South Africa for our Miss Pole Dance SA 2011! She will be performing and doing workshops! I'm doing a pole workshop AND a silks workshop with her!

[MichelleH]

Thanks Amy, naming protocol strikes again! I meant normal invert, then let go of hands so I can face the pole with my body square to the pole.

 

YES! That was EXACTLY the problem we were having! It hurts so much trying to get your arm around the pole because your leg is hooked too tight! OK, at class tomorrow, will practice!

 

Thanks Veena, will watch the video now (super inspired and excited!)

[MichelleH]

Hey azblanco. Living in South Africa makes it even more difficult to find silks training! Try http://www.antepenultimate.org/mediawiki/index.php/Glossary  and http://community.simplycircus.com/tutorials/aerial/aerial_silks.htm for some info

[MichelleH]

Hehehe, me too with knitting 😛

 

What? I like being a contradiction! Pole dancer, mountain biker, knitter, business woman 😛

[MichelleH]

We use laminate wood in all the studios I've danced in and I find it perfect for my needs. But not for everyone I'm sure!