Keeping Up With the Joneses: On Social Media

Posted on by Cathy Vandewater

So this month’s blog hop is social media.

Which I have feelings about.

***Social Media*** scares me a little, in that there’s always pressure to be sharing everything, and then intense scrutiny when you do. (Or at least the sensation of it, admits this perfectionist).

Sometimes, I look at this silly little blog, and I think, look at all that white space. Look at all those words. PICTURES, VIDEO, THIS IS WHAT I NEED TO BE INTERESTING. I must prove to everyone that you actually DO do this several times a week and don’t just sit around critiquing everyone else’s hard work!

And then I do take a video, or a picture, and it’s just not. good. enough.

If my technique is good, the face is bad. If the form is good, the moves are boring. If I do something interesting and spontaneous, whoops, I look fat. All these conditions lead to the same conclusion: You don’t look like a pole dancer. DO NOT POST.

Which leads me to wonder: what does a pole dancer look like? Close your eyes and picture her. I bet we’re all seeing the same thing.

As Pole Dance Competition was writing, for the vast array of pole-related materials being posted out there, there’s not a whole lot of diversity.

In what, you may ask? In anything. Body type. Style. Music choice, even.

Maybe it shouldn’t be surprising that in a sport dominated by women, we’re all terrified to step out of what we assume the parameters of that sport to be.

We need to look, dance, move, even dress a certain way. Sexy, but not slutty. Sporty, but not graceless. Strong, but not masculine. Thin, but you better be able to fill out that sports bra.

Maybe I’m thinking specifically of Tumblr here, but a lot of what we’re comparing ourselves to when we look at pole-related social media is the streamlined, aspirational stuff. And, yeah, aspirations are great. But not when they start feeling like they’re backing you into a corner. A corner where you’re scared to share anything that doesn’t conform to what’s already being shared. Which sort of defeats the purpose of putting new stuff out there, no?

So to that, I say, Balls.

BALLS.

Because beyond “balls,” I don’t really have an answer. I feel the pressure too. I love pole. But I can’t deny that the intense drive behind mastering it is rooted in not quite feeling good enough at it.

Maybe that’s okay.

And maybe it’s also okay to post a few pictures on the WAY to “good enough.” It might dial down the pressure on all of us.

LOVE and happy twirls,

Cathy

You should see: CryStylze

Posted on by Cathy Vandewater

I love this girl because she is crisp like freakin’ celery. Unlike most polers who kinda flow around the music, you can see her hear and hit every beat. She works syncopation and plays with it (like with the little cha-chas), which, as a drummer, I loooooooooooooove. Very refreshing to watch after all the slinky flow vids I’ve been binge-ing on. 

Oh, and if you saw her at Polesque a few months ago pretending to dance drunk, you know she’s an incredible storyteller. Girl gives pole an excellent name in the dance world. That rhythm… those lines… ugh, so great. Check her out!

Today’s pain is tomorrow’s strength (aka GET THEE TO THE STUDIO)

Posted on by Cathy Vandewater

So, a very wise person once told me to keep working through shitty times. “The pain will pass and all that will be left is awesomeness,” she said. (Lookin’ at you Tee!!!!)

Damn it all if she wasn’t right.

Look, it’s really hard to keep going with a goal that’s vague, and big, and distant when you feel crappy.

The good news is, you don’t have to be Jenyne Butterfly right now–right now, you just need to work on your leg hangs and knee holds for an hour, stretch out, and make something to eat with plenty of protein. 

(That’s the pep talk I give myself every time I just wanted to skip practice and watch Netflix  with a big bowl of I Wanna Die. (I mean not literally, but you get the idea)).

Each day for the past couple of awful, awful weeks, I found a different reason to do the same dang thing: get my buns in the studio.

I needed to be social: WENT TO THE STUDIO. I felt like crying: WENT TO THE STUDIO. I didn’t really have the energy to work out but maybe I could at least stretch…: WENT TO THE STUDIO. I felt fat: WENT TO THE STUDIO. I felt fit: WENT TO THE STUDIO IN SOMETHING TIGHT. You get the idea.

I’m still not Jen Butterfly. But a funny thing happened–while I was using pole just to get through a rough life patch, the consistency paid off in a lot of tiny ways.

You have to look closely, but, take these two pictures, for instance.

Just fyi, I reversed this photo for an easier comparison!
Just fyi, I reversed this photo for an easier comparison!

The first is from last summer, the second is from a couple of days ago. 

Mind you, I’ve only been consistently stretching (the way every poler is supposed to, hello, slacker) for a couple of weeks.

But the difference in hip flexibility is there. Again, it’s subtle, but damn, there’s a difference! And I wasn’t even trying that hard!

I’m also noticing in a lot of pictures that my extensions look GOOD. This is a small thing, compared to how much more impressive it is to be learning new tricks–but regularly stretching and working on fundamentals has gotten me better form, which makes all the old boring stuff look newly awesome.

And, I’m embarrassed to admit this, but I was recently watching a documentary about ballerinas, and, as I am prone to doing, started dancing around my house while brushing my teeth. It was at this point that I discovered I can lift my leg straight out at hip level, sweep it around, and arc it behind me in one grand, controlled motion. LIKE A F***ING BALLERINA.

WHEN DID I BECOME CAPABLE OF DOING THIS?

I tried it on the other side and was successful again. (?!!!???)

Then I tried grabbing an ankle and lifting my foot behind me to head level like a figure skater, which was less pretty, but POSSIBLE. Again, other side, also successful.

So my question is: when did all these changes happen?

My question is not, however: how did these changes happen.

Because I already know: I WENT TO THE STUDIO. Lather, rinse, repeat.

So, what changes have you noticed in your body since you started pole? Any abilities you start to lose if you slack off?

I recently found that when I sit indian style, my knees fall flat to the side without my pushing down on them with elbows. Weird, and cool.

Anyway, tell me. And happy hump day!

HT,
Cathy

I AM OBSESSED WITH SIDE CLIMBING.

Posted on by Cathy Vandewater

So, a very wise poler told me, “Your butt, or your knees. Only one can be high at a time. Choose accordingly.”

After that, side climb (which until now has been an exercise in rage, frustration, and one-sided indian burns) was CRACKED.

So, I was trying to find a video of some awesome side climbing to illustrate what I’m talking about, but I’m lazy, so all I found was this.

No. Don’t do that guys. Both feet at once, just like the Jenyne Climb. For the love of Christ.

Now, speaking of Jenyne, I know she does some effortless looking side climbing, but again, too lazy to look it up, so GO NUTS KIDS and please tell me if you know hof some youtubage where she or somebody else does a mean side climb so I can come back and throw it in here.

Anywhere, here’s some TIPPPPPPPPPPPZ (read that in the voice of “ERREBODY IN THE CLUB GETTING–) for side climbing that I discovered by doing it totally wrong:

1. Create space between your body and the pole

Do this by bracing with your outside arm (not your inside, because that would cover your face, yo. Your face is MONEY).

2. Stick your butt out

You knew this was coming right? Because literally everything in pole involves sticking your ass out in some way, shape, or form? But seriously, it helps you get your body away from the pole (less indian burn!), and allows your knees to come up for a nice, productive climb).

3. Point your damn toes

Actually this isn’t just about looks (BELIEVE IT OR NOT)–you’re going to need your legs fairly vertical and parallel to the pole to execute your climb that shall be on the side, SO, no locking with your ankles. This also means less pain for your aforementioned ankles. No hope for the tops of your feet, though, sorry!

4. ENJOY YOUR BRUISES, YOU ARE A BEAST

Yeah, this is going to hurt. I’m rocking UNPRECEDENTED numbers of leg bruises right now–on either thigh, behind the knees, and all over the tops of my feet. Also, many on the insides of my upper arms, and on on my wrist. And I love it. Swag.

Other news: I AERIAL CHOPPERED. I can’t wait to video this ish. I surprised myself by doing it while thinking, “this should be hilarious, no chance this is happening–HOLY SHIT I’M CHOPPERING AND MY HEAD IS THE LOWEST POINT OF MY BODY 10 FEET OFF THE GROUND OH GOD OH GOD.”

Any way, the moral of the story is, even when you don’t THINK you’ll be able to invert… apply Dry Hands as though you will, just in case. Because I was slipping and that’s terrifying.

Happy twirls!!!!

Cathy

UPDATE:

Today in SUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUPER lazy news, here is the same damn video I posted of Jenyne the last time I wrote about her climb techniques. But hey, she does an excellent (if brief) sideclimb starting near 1:05, so check her out!!!

Movies With Pole: I Know Who Killed Me

Posted on by Cathy Vandewater

Okay, so, I arranged (and paid) for internet to happen at my new apartment when I moved in.

6 months ago.

Um, and I still don’t have it, because I have not been home to receive the modem. Like, ever.

Still working on that, but the point is, until I have magical internet, I’m switched over from “normal” Netflix to “poor people” Netflix, which means I get DVDs in the mail. (I can only paint my nails after dinner so many times, you guys).

Anyway, it was cool for a while, but after a few weeks, I started getting Random Shit. Stuff that I added to my DVD queue like, a year ago, and can’t remember why I wanted to see it.

Coincidentally, I was getting really into pole a year ago.

That’s the only reason I could think of for why, as I tore open the red envelope last week, I Know Who Killed Me was staring back at me. Whaaaaaaat?

OH WAIT. She pole dances in that ish!

So, I checked the rest of my queue, and there it is: tons of awful, awful movies that happen to feature a minute or two of pole dancing. Showgirls. Striptease. Powder Blue. Closer. Crap, most of it.

I guess I could just remove the movies from my queue. But… I’m not going to lie to you. I am totally going to let them come to my house, and when I do, I watch them start to finish. Even though I will probably learn nothing from them at this point in my dancing career, I still feel compelled to sit through these movies. Maybe just to feel superior to the actresses struggling with a reverse hook spin.

lindsay-lohan-stripper-pole
Lindsay in action

Whatever the reason, if I’m going to be a judgey asshole, I may as well do so with you guys. So let’s all feel better than Natalie Portman TOGETHER. You with me? Cool, let’s do this. Get some popcorn.

MOVIES WITH POLE: VOLUME 1

Film: I Know Who Killed Me

Star: Lindsay Lohan

Movie Quality: I told a friend I was going to watch this, and he said he saw parts of it on TV and it was “bewildering.” He was right.

Dance Skills: (Out of 10): 3 for actual pole technique, 7 for sensual movement. (And the thing with the cigarette. WAT. This doesn’t get points added or subtracted for technique, but it begs a mention.)

Highlights: Cute stripper push up where she finishes with a perfectly-timed hair flip/kick combo. I like your style, kid.

Lowlights: Did I mention the cigarette? This is less about dancing than… yuck. Also, the “bonus” footage (re: less artfully edited) of Lindsay’s pole dance on the DVD reveals that her basic fireman spin involves both feet in front of the pole. Tsk tsk.

Reality check: As part of a key plot point, Lindsay dances with silk, elbow-length gloves on. Um, no.

So how much of this was editing?: A loooooooot. A quick review of the “Bonus” dance footage on the DVD special features reveals that the “above the waist” shooting while Lindsay was on the pole was indeed a deliberate move. She’s good at faking as far as face, hair, and spin momentum, but the legs are a big ol’ mess. Also, the entire dance is in slow motion–which makes a simple move like opening your legs look extremely impressive, and other moves (that were rushed or jumped into in reality) seem super sensual. Too bad we can’t do that in real life. It is EFFECTIVE.

My takeaway: It’s easy to make a pole dance look incredibly sexy through the lens of a camera. There was a lot of slo-mo and zooming in on facial expressions, shoes, legs, hair… so ladies, we all need to go easier on ourselves when it comes to dancing perfectly for a whole song. We’re doing an extremely difficult job really well.

THAT SAID: Trust that whatever movement you’re doing is look-worthy and people will look. Lindsay did. And even when I was being judgey, I couldn’t take my eyes off her.

Did you guys see this movie? Want to weigh in? Have any suggestions for movies to add to my queue, that will really embarrass me if anybody visiting finds them?

Happy Twirls,

Cathy

Starlight Pole Show: In Which I Accidentally Blog Hop

Posted on by Cathy Vandewater

OH SNAP. So I went to a pole show yesterday. And it. Was. Awesome.

I dragged my shy, non-poling male friend, and I think he was scared. But witnessing his Imagecomplete bewilderment was half the fun.

I know none of you were about to take the R train all the way down to Bay Ridge for this, so let me tell you a little bit about the show. In alphabetic-als, because I’m really tired you guys.

A: Aerialists! There were two hoop girls, and they killed it. See, you can do stuff both near and far from the ground on a pole, but when you’re on a hoop, you’ve got the same odds of landing on your neck for the ENTIRE PERFORMANCE. Brass balls. These ladies got em.

ALSO, apparently you’re supposed to wear leg covering when you hoop, but one particularly bad ass girl decided to pole and hoop (Hey bro, I hear you like bruises…), so, she was bare legged. #Swag. The other is my girl Lauryn, who I’ve actually never seen dance before this, and she completely blew me away. The confidence… the grace… and of course, her amazing costume which actually wasn’t a surprise because I knew she was artistic like that. Anyway, I want to hoop now, except that pole has taught me nothing if not that ALL AERIAL ARTS SUCK AND ARE HARD.

B: BOYS: I’ve seen guys hit the pole once in a while, but dude last night KILLED it. Most guys do a lot of strength stuff and skip over the lyrical, but last night’s sole male performer was pure pole poetry… and he definitely did some shit I’ve never seen before, so hell yeah to creativity. He also showed up later in a Pole Threesome (TM? must be? because I have never seen this craziness before), in which he supported a girl by HER FOOT, by squeezing it with HIS LEGS. So many questions. Epic. Moving on.

C: Chair dance: So technically, this didn’t involve a chair, but the emcee of the event called her boyfriend out of the crowd, sat him Indian-style against a pole, and did quite possibly the most spine-tingly sexy dance I’ve ever seen in my life. True story. The hair on the back of my neck stood up. And I was close enough to the stage to see him mouth, “You are BEAUTIFUL,” and “I love you” during the dance, so, yeah. Way too much cute/sexy/poignant for me to even handle. Amazing.

D: Doubles: There were so many great twosomes and threesomes last night, including an incredible booty-popping number with ECP’s owner. I love when dancers are actually capable of crazy, crazy shit on the pole… but they can also break it down and have fun with the booty. Work.

E: Entertainers: So last night I learned that there’s a difference between being an incredible dancer/trickster, and being an entertainer. I realized this when a fairly new dancer (1 year, according to the program… that bitch) completely owned the audience with a few well timed pauses, smiles, and eye-bats during her (slinky, confident, gorgeous) performance. I find this totally inspiring, because I can’t do shoulder mounts and shit, but yes, I can flip my hair (!!!) I have a shot, you guys!!!!

F: Feedback: I also learned last night that you can’t just chill at a pole show. You need to yell, and scream, and encourage the dancers. This was new to me, since I’ve seen most performers on YouTube.

That’s all for now, because it’s been a busy weekend and I’m feeling lazy.

Have you guys ever been to a live pole show? What did you think? Did you feel discouraged or inspired?

Have you ever been in one? Is it as nerve-wracking as I’m guessing it is?

Fill me in!

Meanwhile, be SUPER jealous, because Pantera was at the show last night and she is both an incredible dancer and out of her damn mind. This is her. Really, how strong can a person be? Ridiculous.

Happy twirls (and hoops, and whatever the fuck else you guys are making look easy),

Cathy

Awesome Interview with Alethea Austin

Posted on by Cathy Vandewater

Love what she says about how pole keeps you in shape while you’re distracted 😀 that’s my MO!

I also second the notion to go slow and listen to your body. There’s no reason to be pushing past your limits right away, especially when you can make basic moves so beautiful. And if you work at extending (or like she says, doing everything “higher and bigger”), you’re still going to be building strength and flexibility, without hurting yourself.

Speaking of hurting yourself…

.Image

HT,

Cathy