[Scarlett Honey aka Lola Grace]

Over here in Australia exotic or sexy pole seems to be more popular than ever. I think maybe it’s a cultural thing… we are pretty unreserved when it comes to our bodies… but it could also be the influence of significant competitions and studios like Bobbi’s and Miss Pole Dance Australia, or Pole Dance Academy and their Dance Filthy comps etc. We do have the fitness/barefoot style too, with many studios teaching sans heels and purely contemporary competitions like APC popular too… For myself, my dancing style fluctuates but I have found technology like instagram to really globally connect pole dancers so that I’m influenced by what dancers are doing in Russia and Ukraine etc …. and their exotic pole style is really sexy, fluid and creative. I think sexy is alive and well in many pole dancers…. and I’m hoping it stays that way. I too find purely tricks based routines to background music super boring…. I reckon the killer combo is a bit of everything (tricks, strength, flexibility, contemporary and sexy, fluidity, creativity and floor work etc) 🙂

[Scarlett Honey aka Lola Grace]

Wow… Yeah it was random but I thought it was pretty hot actually…. I kind of admire them for pushing the envelope a bit you know? Thought they were pretty well synchronised most of the time and it was nice how they mirrored each other while one was up the pole and the other was down. But yeah, nothing that memorable about the tricks themselves, just their signatures which is what you would expect (and those signature tricks ARE amazing of course, but well known). I hope people don’t give them a hard time just because they kissed. Male and female doubles partners might sometimes kiss as part of a routine and no one would consider that inappropriate. And it is kinda “rok’n’roll” to just get down n dirty and have some fun and not give a s%^t you know? Maybe that was the connection behind it…. *shrugs*

[Scarlett Honey aka Lola Grace]

Ok I think I’m going to enroll in the online Vertical Dance course today. It’s approved by Fitness Australia which I think is a good sign. I am already teaching but there are no pole studios in my area so it would be difficult to train through them… I have a few pole dance instructor friends and as far as i can see they are usually trained by the studio from student into teacher, no professional course required. But I need a certification so that I can get full professional indemnity insurance cover. Blah… I’d be interested to know how any of you with your own studios (Veena?) got full insurance.

Symonesal how long did it take you to complete the Vertical Dance course? I’d love to get it done in two months – do you think it’s possible? What did you think of it? Have you done the next intermediate course? Sexycat I’d love to be your studybuddy that’s a great idea! 🙂

[Scarlett Honey aka Lola Grace]

Great thread! I love thinking about the various styles of pole. I used to really be into the rock n roll/sexy side of pole. I always wore high heels and loved the dancey side of pole. (Well I trained at Bobbi’s so of course I danced like that :P) But now I’m more into the contemporary/interpretive/emotive side of pole, bare-feet and slower, sadder songs. One constant has been the artistic dance value…. I love the way pole looks and feels, the details and transitions and floor work. Big power moves do wow me and I love being able to do cool tricks, but I enjoy watching the dancer move more than the athlete.

[Scarlett Honey aka Lola Grace]

I also feel like I use pole dance as a form of therapy or self-medication. It helps me vent my emotions and calm my nervous and it also reminds me of the beauty in the world, and how amazing it is to have a healthy body capable of such awesome mobility. Interestingly it’s often when I’m feeling intense emotions of sadness or anger that I dance my best. Almost like I have more to give when I’m feeling upset.

[Scarlett Honey aka Lola Grace]

Symonesal have you tried it already? They are just so expensive! Eekk…

[Scarlett Honey aka Lola Grace]

Hmmm I don’t like the idea of a strict dress code, however I do think it’s smart to be a little sensitive to how students feel about instructors dress. Some conservative students or beginners who are self-conscious of their bodies, might feel a little intimidated or embarrassed to be surrounded by women in skimpy/sexy outfits flaunting toned butts that they don’t yet have. I mean, it might highlight their own inadequacies for low-self-esteem people. However it also might inspire those beginners by showing them what they could one day have; confidence in wearing sassy lingerie or whatever. I remember really enjoying the cheeky sexiness of what Bobbi’s instructors would wear… cheeky butt (sometimes almost g-string/thong pants) with push up bras. That sexy look goes with the Bobbi’s image – their style of dance is also kind of showgirls so it create a fun and adventurous atmosphere. However it’s a studio that really pushed pole dance as a fitness and an exercise regime/workout, then perhaps yoga outfits/sports bras/short lyrca shorts would send that signal better. I think it depends on the studio’s values and interpretation of pole dance and also what kind of students they have. Tricky tricky. Interesting discussion!

[Scarlett Honey aka Lola Grace]

I’ve had workshops with some amazing “polefessionals” like Alethea and Marlo Fisken and Marion Crampe. Look I don’t regret the money I spent, it was such a thrill to meet them in person and just share the pole space with them, I think half of the joy of it is just socialising with your pole idols, you know? But I’ve noticed that the tricks I learn from them I very rarely practice once i get home. It’s weird. I’m thrilled to learn the moves when I’m in the workshop, but then i forget to train them at home so i forget how to do them after that…. pretty annoying, but it’s my own fault I suppose. So I am much more circumspect when choosing workshops to attend now. I really have to work out if what they’re going to teach I couldn’t teach myself (let’s face it, so much is available online with videos etc).

Regarding prices, I think travelling pole instructors are justified in charging a lot for their workshops. If I had spent a small fortune on air fares and accommodation and visas, I would want to be earning enough money from the workshops to pay for my expenses and then still turn a profit. If it’s their main source of income, then no i don’t think it should be about the students only, it has to support the instructor first of all, or there won’t be any workshops made available in the future.

[Scarlett Honey aka Lola Grace]

Great challenge! I’m gunna work on Bird of Paradise and my blasted ayesha/static V with all grips (cup/true/whatever). Maybe Carlie’s devil elbow spin too…. I’ll see how masochistic I’m feeling 😛

[Scarlett Honey aka Lola Grace]

It has become ESSENTIAL that I master my twisty grip/cup grip ayesha/static v. I’ve had my elbow grip forever but for some reason resting all my weight on my hands while upside down FREAKS me out. I CAN do it, for a second, but I just avoid practicing it, and thus have never been able to do it reliably. It’s getting ridiculous. I’ve been poling for 5 yrs, I can do other moves of the same advanced level, I’ve just to ally skipped training these, which is starting to be a problem – so many cool new moves like the MarionAmber/Iron Maiden and deadliest require the ayesha. 🙁 rrrr. Other than that, I want to start competing again… I kind of set myself the challenge of entering MPDA… but now that its actually this year, it’s seeming more and more unattainable…. Will see…. :S 🙂

[Scarlett Honey aka Lola Grace]

Ok thanks for the advice ladies. I already have a brass pole so I want to try something different, to challenge and strenthen my grip. Oooo decisions….

[Scarlett Honey aka Lola Grace]

Brooke Candy – Dum  – I'm in it 🙂 She's an LA rapper who was in London and needed some pole dancers. We filmed at Metropolis strip club in Bethnal Green, spent HOURE in hair and make up, then hours on the pole. Of course they only ended up using tiny snippets of us. It was me and my friend Millie Robson (the pole dance photographer). Was a really fun experience. 

[Scarlett Honey aka Lola Grace]

Why should it matter if you've made money from dancing before? It doesn't mean you've had more training, or more experience. There are many strippers who don't ANY pole tricks! It just means you were paid to dance. Whether that dancer has a high level of skill or whether she is not so good depends on the dancer's natural ability and work ethic, not on how much money she's earnt. If we discriminated against dancers who had previous professions that help them with their pole dancing, then most of the world's elite pole dancers would not be allowed to compete in Pole Art, World Pole Sports, etc. Some of them have trained and been employed as gymnasts, acrobats, ballerinas, fitness instructors, etc. Some of them have won medals at the olympics for gods sake! Some of them have had years working as dancers in clubs. WHO CARES!!?? Pole dancing should be appreciated and judged for what it is, an athletic, acrobatic, sexy, artistic dance form. Any studio, person or institution who believes that certain dancers should not be allowed to compete because of their personal lives (employment or training history) really needs to stop being so narrow-minded and prejudiced. 

[Scarlett Honey aka Lola Grace]

I think a studio can help you when learning the basics as a beginner and be great for socialising, motivating and supporting you, but like you I also prefer to train on my own. I get the most out of my pole dancing when I have the space and privacy to relax and really feel the music. I think learning solo is much better for developing your own unique style too! Often studios can create very repetitive and formulaic, stylised dancing that might not be true to who you are. So go for it! Don't feel worried about it! 

[Scarlett Honey aka Lola Grace]

I think a studio can help you when learning the basics as a beginner and be great for socialising, motivating and supporting you, but like you I also prefer to train on my own. I get the most out of my pole dancing when I have the space and privacy to relax and really feel the music. I think learning solo is much better for developing your own unique style too! Often studios can create very repetitive and formulaic, stylised dancing that might not be true to who you are. So go for it! Don't feel worried about it!