Scarlett Honey aka Lola Grace
Forum Replies Created
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I started poling when I though I was reasonably fit… but I could barely lift my own weight on the pole after 30min of practice! I used to go to the gym 3/4 times a week and do a mix of cardio and weights. But I'm SO much fitter now with just pole workouts and acrobatic lessons. My legs are more toned, my core and upper body are stronger, my balance and control is MUCH better…
It took me two terms of pole classes (16 weeks) to do an inverted V whne I first began. Now I can do Inverted V's from up the pole, and I can do them repetitively. So I have definitely become fitter in 3 years of poling, even if my weight (kilo's) hasn't changed much. But I know I can get stronger – the best things about poling instead of gyming is that the journey is FUN and feels cathartic in a way…. the self-ecpression and artistry is good for the soul I think. 🙂
SO don't be too hard on yourself to learn everything asap, it takes time and perseverence, but you will get there~! 🙂 xo
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hahahaa that second video is hilarious. Alethea tried to teach me the fish flop in her workshop over a year ago but I couldn't get it. But then I got some advice from an acrobat in my circus class and I got it straight away! Ok here's a few tips to keep in mind.
– raise your legs so that they are vertical and toes point to the sky, NOT over your head.
– roll your head.shoulder when your feet are at their peak height
– as soon as your facing down towards ground, arch back, bend knees and ROLL onto ground.
I made the mistake of not pointing my feet and keep my legs straight on my descent… make for a very loud bang and very sore toes.
Goodluck! 🙂
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azblanco – I am SO jealous that you had a private with Alethea! SHe is my favourite pole dancer ever! I had a workshop with her in Sydney two years ago when she came out to perform at Miss Pole Dance Australia – she was awesome. I remember being worried I wouldn't be advanced enough for her class but she actually taught us alot of stuff off the pole – floorwork, bakward shoulder rolls, body rolls, flexibility etc. It was great, and she gave us time to ask questions. Plus I love how instructors will play their music – it makes it so much more authentic because we are used to hearing their music on their youtube videos etc… ANyway I am glad you feel like you got a lot out of your private with her – that must have cost a bit! So it's definitely worth being prepared… Good tip! 🙂
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*feminine
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Whate an interesting topic for discussion. I have come across similar surprise and exasperation when faced with another person's negative or dogmatic opinion.
One thing I like to say to myself is "Those who havn't tried it shouldn't judge it" and that goes for many things and for everyone, including me. If someone has actually experienced being a stripper or a pole dancer and found it uncomfortable or demeaning, then they have a right to express their informed opinion. But it irritates me that many people feel entitled to voice their beliefs loudly and obnoxiously when they have no particular knowledge in that area. It would be like me stating something decisively about chemical engineering being against nature – I don't know anything about chemical engineering so who am I to dismiss or condemn it? I think trying something is an important part of forming an accurate judgment because often we have these preconceptions in our heads about how we would react in a certain situation or what's wrong and right, but then when it comes to living it in the moment, our instincts or our true selves astonish us.
So maybe you could say to these critics: "Why don't you try it and then tell me your informed opinion." ….? Or something along those lines 😉
I'd like to say also; I am a feminist, and I have been a stripper, and I am proud to be a pole dancer. If I was so worried about being sexually objectified that I couldn't enjoy my physicality and express my sensuality, THEN I would be repressed. Being comfortable in my body, exhibiting myself nude, enjoying my sensuality, enetertaining others with my body…. that is empowering to me. Just as being confident in my intelligence, exhibiting my knowledge, entertaining others with my wit is empowering. Being respected as a woman and being considered equal to man shouldn't mean denying a part of ourselves; our femine allure.
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Azblanco – Oh I hope she teaches the marion amber this time too, I would love to know how to do it! I've never attempted it before, it just looks so impressive! 😛 Thanks for the feedback girls and Veena 🙂
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Cool thanks! 🙂
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SashaMae I agree with what you said too! Yes Laurence did look like she was made of water or dancing under water! Just watched Michelle Stanek's performance – I love that it was sensual and erotic – as you say, this is a classy pole event, so unfortunately sensuality and sexyness often go out the window…. so I love that she brought that back, it was exciting!
Oh my gosh Jenyne's performance was stunning. I love her song choice – it's emotive and dynamic…. I didnt want her to stop!
I still have to watch Phoenix's, will get back to you soon! 🙂
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Mel I just noticed you're in Sydney – you'll find most studios in sydney use brass 38mm spinny pussycat poles. I trained at Bobbi's and it was nice to be able to use the same pole in the studio and at home… I know that overseas 38mm is pretty small and they use larger diameters…. but it depends where you plan on training. Thanks for the compliment on my vids! 🙂
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I can do this! However some position make it much easier. My favourite place to do a back bend is in a handstand against the pole. Try going from a plank/lay back, placing hands about 30cm from pole shoulderwidth apart, then arch back and press your shoulder/trap against pole and lift head so you are looking towards your feet. Then spread and bend knees and bring feet down. Always do back bends SLOWLY, it gives the spine time to stretch and adjust to pressure. This gives me the best stretch because the weight from by bum and legs helps push my feet closer to head. Doing it on stomach on floor is trickier for me because you don't have your natural body weight helping with the stretch.
I also like doing a back bend from sitting on my knees. Push hips forward and squeeze glutes and hamstrings. Arch back, arms above head and slowly drop head behind you, like you are diving backwards. Once your hands are on floor, bend arms and try to grab you feet with your hands and pull you head as close to your toes as you can. Keep pushing up through pelvis.
There are some awesome yoga tutorials on youtube that show how to do some amazing stretches. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWxxUiBMcd0&list=UUH-81uaxCwAAaSgxRtxMkxg&index=9&feature=plcp
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Hi Mel,
I have a Pussycat pole! It's a 38mm Brass spinny semi-removable – my cielings are taller than average too (although not 5 m tall!) so I had to get one that slips int oa socket in the ceiling. This socket can be easily bolted in to a beam above the ceiling. The base is just tighten to press onto the floor, so no damage is done to my floorboards. I absolutely love my pole. I have had it for…. hmm atleast 2, probably 3 years now. No complaints. It's never come loose, and the grip is pretty good. I rang their office to ask advice on which pole to choose and they were super friendly and helpful. Mine cost about $700 and then a bit more for delivery. Best money I'v eever spent!
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Watch this too! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=va5X758JN_4&feature=youtu.be This is the chick I as talking about.
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Also, watch videos of great pole dancers. Not only do they inspire and motivate, but they can also be great practice! My acrobatics instructor has told me the same thing: Knowing in your head how to do something is half the battle. If you have watched a trick being performed 20 times, your mind will be able to process it like second nature. When I am dancing sometimes I think of moves other dancers I love have done, and I find myself mimicing them a little bit. That's how I've taught myself basically, I've borrowed my favourite moves from Alethea Austin, Karol Helms, Felix Cane, Marion Crampe, Sergia Anderson, and learnt them from watching their videos over and over again…. So that is something you can do without lifting a muscle! 🙂 Check this out for an example of an awesome pole dance that is mostly floorwork, spins and off-pole dancing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4gFLxzBBUk&list=FL9xQt3Y3z98CQ2UI_VXGggg&index=12&feature=plpp_video
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I recently performded n stage in front of hundreds of people, and one of my fellow dancers was an amputee – she only had one arm. She had built up enough strength in that one arm to invert, climb, spin, almost everything! If she can do it with one arm, then you can do it with two arms, no matter how weak they are. We all started at square 1. It definitely sucks that your back inhibits your flexibility, but dance is the best thing for improving it!
I get frustrated when my grip is slippery or when my strength gives out and I can't do what I want to do on the pole. The best thing to do is just accept it for now but stay determined to keep trying. Keep your goals in mind while appreciating each little improvement.
Dance around the pole! Let yourself get sexy and expressive with floor work and transitions. Strength and flexibility are not the only skills a pole dancer can aim for. Fluidity is very important to me. Lines. Flow. Say it takes you a year to invert. Well at least by the time you're upside down and learning new tricks, you will be a pro at floor work and fluidity. 🙂 Look on the bright side, focus on what you CAN do. If we all focused on our flaws we would be a miserable bunch. It's natural to want to push yoruself to improve, but don't forget to pat yourself on the back for every small thing you achieve… 🙂 Have fun!
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LittleEngine…. how wonderful that you can learn and memorise dance steps so easily! Remembering routines must be a piece of cake for you…. I can repeat a routine a million times and I will forget something or add an extra something… I had SO much trouble preparing a routine for a recent performance, I ended up changing a whole bunch of tricks mid performance anyway!
I think it's just a mental difference though. I mean, the neurons in your brain that communicate with your body must be super responsive from all that dance training, so maybe psychologically you feel like your body can't move smoothly without that instruction? But in freestyle there is still that connection between mind and body… it's not total random movement. As much as aim for "free" and "unplanned" movement, our bodies are going to want to move in ways and combos and tricks that it's comfortable with. Muscle memory and instinct will kick in and come to the rescue. So even though I don't decide before hand what I'm going to do, I am still makin some decisions in my freetyle. When I'm dancing I'm thinking things like…. "hmmm I think I should stay on the floor for a little longer, it suits the song" or , "Oh man, big climax/crescendo coming up, need to get spinny quickly"…. I mean, they aren't always full on conscious sentences, but I'm reflectiong on the music and making split-second decisions…
So maybe it's just a confidence thing…. because I am sure your body has just as much muscle memory as me. So when I let myself just go "weeeeeee" spinning around the pole, I will automatically move into some kind of combo, and your body should be able to do that too…. I mean, I'm not a scientist or doctor or whatever haha but that's my optimistic opinion anyway! 🙂
What has helped me with my fluidity is pacticing in combos. In fact, I can count on one hand the times I've practiced a trick in isolation. I ALWAYS practice while dancing… Knowing combos like the back of your hand helps make everything fluid. Transitions are essential too – Practice getting from one trick/move/combo to another. SO it all looks like one piece….
I just htoguht of this metaphor: Imagine dance moves were words. You and I both know the English language, the full alphabet, we have a similar word count in our vocabulary. You are used to reading a story and repeating it. I am not. Freestyling is like someone saying "Make up a story on the spot, right now, go!" So I just go "Blah blah blah blah and then this happened and then this happened" and I don't worry if it won't make any sense, I just let the words fall out of my mouth, I just say the first words I think of". …. Im an English and History teacher and I come across sooo many students who REFUSE or just seem unable to start a story or add to an existing sentence…. but they CAN. They just don't know they can. It's about trusting yourself. There are no rule in freestyling or in creating. No right and wrong. So just let whatever comes out of your mouth or out of your pen or out of your body just flow.
I get it must be hard to let yourself go in front of a class… Having your own pole would probably make a big difference. But I hope my weird analogy helped somehow! I really think it's just a mental thing…. 🙂 and it's practice. I wish I had your ability to remember steps so easily! 🙂