[StellarMotion]

Lilredrobinhood, unfortunately many great performers are forced into the industry of instruction even though they have no skill in pedagogy and little understanding of why certain exercises work in their own experience but work poorly for their students. Veena’s strength and flexibility exercises are far more useful to a regular pole dance enthusiast than most professional competitors. For more practical and helpful flexibility training try the Veena lessons if you’re not already subscribed.

[StellarMotion]

Have you considered that the pole may be installed too tight or the ball bearings need lubricating?  It sounds like the problem is with the pole, not with yourself, as the pole should slow when you extend off of it and resume the same intensity of spin when you finish the inversion and come back in close to it.

[StellarMotion]

1.  I like how my abs are usually visible.

2.  I like how expressive my face is, even when I don't want it to be.

3.  I like that I can split in most directions without excessive effort.

and then…

1. I like my uniqueness as a pole dancer.  I don't think I pole dance like anyone else, on or off the competitive circuit.

2.  I like how flexibility enables me to create unusual shapes.

3.  I like my ability to see potential for a combo and develop it into practicum.

[StellarMotion]

On the subject of dancing, I must first say that I do not hold with those who feel that dancing is something which is only performed on the floor.  Just because one does not have feet on the floor moving oneself does not mean one is not dancing.  By this logic, we could also consider the traditional movements in Ballet, such as "arabesque," "pirhouette," or the numbered foot positions to be ballet "tricks."  In general, I try to avoid the word "trick" in my pole dance vocabulary because I feel that it can be easily misconstrued.

When I think of a routine which is "all tricks and no dance," I think of a particular competitive routine I watched which followed a rigid trick, floor, trick formula.  I remember watching the routine and thinking, "does this woman think her audience is stupid?"  I do not enjoy watching trick reels, but I greatly enjoy watching smooth transitions between a sequence of different aerial poses, and I consider a sequence of aerial poses strewn together to be a "dance."

So the differentiation I'm making is that , for example, after performing any kind of handspring from the floor (such as cartwheel, phoenix, tg lift), I can do a handstand sequence and then bring my feet back down to the floor, or I can hook a leg on the pole to use that handspring to initiate a combo.  In other words, I feel that if someone touches the floor in between all of their "tricks," this is not dancing.  On that same note, when trying to understand the mentality of those who feel that the aerial acrobatics of pole are not dancing, and I watch the pole dancing floorwork which is most common and popular, I on the other hand ask myself, "which part of this dance is the 'pole' part?"

Lately I have been challenging myself to spend more time on the floor and to do more interesting things with my floor time, rather than using popular floor maneuvers as a way of staying in motion to help myself feel less awkward there.  However even if my performances became 50% floor and 50% aerial, I would still hope to see the video thereafter and feel confident that I "danced" through all of the performance.  In fact, I have started specifying between "aerial dancing" and "grounded dancing" with students and other people.  So in short, I enjoy aerial dancing and I enjoy grounded dancing when they are executed fully, instead of a trick reel or instead of a grounded dance using a pole as a prop.

Last, I think its somewhat sad when I see video comments (usually by women and on other women's videos) which are to the effect of "this is an amazing video, but it isn't sexy.  Where's the sexuality in this?"  This implies that pole dancing isn't merely a dance which integrates a specific apparatus, but it's a dance with that apparatus designed to be seductive.  I find it a bit disheartening to see women make these remarks about one another and equally disheartening that there seems to be a double-standard which allows men to be primarily acrobatic while women are expected to do seductive dancing.  In general, I feel that the (intentionally) sexy part of pole dancing is usually done on the floor, and that the actual pole part of the pole dance does not lend itself to coital or anatomical suggestiveness/mimicry.  But I feel that expectations should be across the board instead of promoting old neanderthal ideas about gender roles which have kept women opressed for aeons.  It would make me happy to see more women being more supportive of one-another and their individual pole dancing styles regardless of whether they are more acrobatic or more suggestive, and do less "excusing" of men just because we are presently a minority in the pole community.  As artists and athletes who have chosen the pole as our medium, it seems logical that we would all want to become very well rounded in all our movements, whether we are dancing on the floor or some distance over it.

[StellarMotion]

polefairy,

I adore this product too and I'm glad you feel successful with it!  I think a majority of people do.

[StellarMotion]

Oops!  I meant to put a link in there!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EB_qB9aO-d8

You may like some of the other remixes of this track which are linked on the sidebar too.

[StellarMotion]

Michelle, check out this track.  The Asian quality is not obvious until about 1:38.

[StellarMotion]

Hi Fairy,

I'm fond of the Itac2 also.  I prefer using the level 1, mainly because I like to be free to do static spins, drops or controlled slides of various kinds.  Usually I have drier skin so the level 1 works fine in my case, but if I'm getting sweaty palms because of room conditions or extreme nervousness I still use level 1 on my thighs, but some level 3 or 4 on my hands.  I learned from Charley that for polers with extremely sweaty palms, like Amy already said, using tite grip well in advance of poling can be helpful, and then putting on whichever grip aid you prefer over the Tite Grip immediately before performing can be very helpful (since Tite grip is only an anti-perspirant and provides no tack at all).

As a precaution, Itac2 is best used very sparingly.  A tiny bit provides great grip but too much can actually be slippery.  I usually just rub a small amount of it together in my palms and then apply any excess to my thighs, underarms, and other points of contact before performing.

Experimentation is the best way to find the grip aid solution best suited to you!

[StellarMotion]

Hi Ottersocks,

thanks for sharing this information.  I definitely don't want to teach any move if it has a higher danger potential than other pole moves may.  In fact I have already entirely quit teaching twisted grip lift and Phoenix for this reason.  I would be interested in finding out more about the mechanics behind this injury and if it has happened to other dancers.  But until I get more informed about this, I'll put teaching the static handsfree cradle on hold since it can be done on spinning pole or another fun and impressive skill can be taught instead.  If you come across any more information about this injury that you have liberty to share, I would be interested and grateful.

[StellarMotion]

Hi friends!  I just wanted to share that it is also possible to perform this move on a static pole.  Denise Brown thought it would be a good idea to go out to the bar the night before I did workshops at Vertical Expressions (LOL) and this is one of the things that happened there. http://www.youtube.com/user/neecierules#p/a/u/1/TIQyed2iVxU

I do teach the no-hand cradle spin on static pole, and recommend that this move be done before you are fully warmed up.  You will get more rotation and less friction pain if you are only slightly warmed up when attempting this, because being fully warmed up increases the grip quality of your skin.

Here is another video which is all about the no-hand cradle, and it is actually the very night I discovered it might be possible to perform on static thanks to Stephanie.  I had been drinking when this was made and obviously was having a hard time putting my thoughts together!  https://www.studioveena.com/videos/view/46af99ae-bcf6-11df-856f-001b214581be

[StellarMotion]

I have used the Tite Grip and Itac2 combination also and I like it a lot!  I learned about Tite Grip and using it hours before putting on a different grip aid from Charley who also swears by this method.

By the way, Itac2 is a combination of beeswax with carbon and contains no rosin at all.

[StellarMotion]

Hi Rachel,

 

I agree with Veena on this one.  If you are doing pole performance it is very important to not only be grippy but also to have a slightly heightened body temperature to increase your mobility and prevent injury.  This can be accomplished by doing any kind of low-intensity calisthenics for several minutes.  If you're worried about tiring yourself out before the performance by doing this, try to remember to consume some extra high-calorie foods that day along with some high quality proteins to help preserve your energy and improve your stamina.  Before I perform, I tend to flail around like a madman for a while, doing push-ups, squats and lunges, and some intensive backbending.  Also, it helps to have a really warm pair of sweats or running suit or something of that sort.

 

I do have a favorite grip aid which I use any time I perform (Itac2 by the way), but using a grip aid is by no means a substitute for a proper calisthenic warm-up, and grip aids do not also do nothing to prevent athletic injuries like overstretching, muscle strains/pulls, or stressing of the joints.

 

Some grip aids, especially those which have a very high degree of tack, will definitely pull your skin.  If you use Kramer's firm grip, or the level 4 Itac2 for example, you will probably not be able to do any controlled slides from thigh or hip holds.  However if you use a grip aid that provides a gentler tack, such as the level 1 or 2 Itac2, then your freedom of movement around the pole will not be limited as much.

[StellarMotion]

Oops, I feel like a jerk… LOL! This is the first time I saw this thread on the forum! Thanks everyone! Hahah https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_redface.gif

[StellarMotion]

That was so fantastic! I can’t believe I got to see so many talented people’s first performances! Thanks everyone for sharing that with us! It was a special moment for us all!

[StellarMotion]

Yayyyy! I can’t wait!