Pole Photos and Video – Page 7 – The Spin Diaries: Your Guide to Everything Pole and Aerial

A few of my favorite pole things…

Posted on March 12, 2013February 19, 2014 by Cathy Vandewater

So Angela did a great post about her favorite non-obvious pole-cessories.

Which made me think: I should do a post of my favorite TOTALLY OBVIOUS pole things!

Because why the hell not. In pictures, here’s some pole stuff I like a lot (and one thing I’m not crazy about):

1. Grip

Especially because my pole is the slipperiest thing ever (seriously, I’m starting to think they coat them in Astroglide at the X-Pole manufacturing plant), I could not live with out this stuff.

I would drink this stuff if I thought it would help.

sticky knees, courtesy of my lover, DRY HANDS.

2. Shoes

Okay, I have a love hate relationship with these, as I am forced to teach my choreo classes in them.

I hate heels, but goddamn do they look good. (You’ll notice that the gallery has a ration of 15 to one pics of me in heels).

Weirdly, insanely high heels are much easier to pole in than normal heels. I think 6 inches just happens to be the perfect height and angle for pirouettes, grinds, etc. as I find myself performing these moves on my tippy-tip toes all the time anyway. So in a way, they help you keep form. Also, rubbers soles=hella traction. Oh, and top of the foot protection for when you do toes slides.

One caveat: how is it so expensive to look this cheap?!! These were seriously pricey. And I had to go to a sex store to buy them. (They were next to booty shorts with dollar signs on them).

3. Gloves

Yeah, I’m actually not loving these. I got them to save my hands (mad callouses, yo) but I’m finding my own grip is better than tack. Go figure. Also, the second your hands get sweaty they slide off. Then it’s just one velcro strap away from oblivion. Oh well, they look cute.

4. Humidifier

I just feel like humidity helps me stick, OKAY?!

weird, but in my mind humidity helps me stick. LEAVE ME ALONE.

5. Towel

Sweaty hands.

6. Music

I don’t always listen to depressing music… but when I do, it’s probably Al Green. And I probably have something in my eye. *sniff*

adaptor=being able to play my music places. BECAUSE APPLE KEEPS CHANGING EVERYTHING.

7. Ipod adaptor

See gallery.

8. Toe separator sock things

Because the lady at the shoe store said the plastic would stretch and give my toes more room, but that hasn’t happened yet. And I’m worried they’re going to permanently get stuck in the shape of a triangle.

okay, so this is super weird… but I sleep in these after having my toes scrunched up in heels. again, LEAVE ME ALONE.

trying to make them cute and it’s not happening.

9. Tripod

For recordin’ and shit.

10. Pole goal whiteboard

To remind me of what to work on, and give me ideas when I’m stuck.

pole goals! I keep a board of stuff I want to work out for when I blank out. So that I don’t just turn off my music and flop onto my bed when I get stuck, which has been known to happen.

What are your favorite pole things?

Please do share so I don’t feel like a weirdo.

DRY HANDS FOR LIFE!

~Cathy

On Being Your Own Worst Critic

Posted on March 10, 2013February 19, 2014 by Cathy Vandewater

So I was having a beer with a friend the other night.

After the show! (Re: sweaty, and I took my false eyelashes off :P) — After the show! (Re: sweaty, and I took my false eyelashes off)

Okay a couple of beers.

Okay, four.

But, he has a smartphone (like everybody else in the world, but to me that’s like having Google Glasses), and since he missed the February belly dance show in St. Mark’s Place, we looked up the video.

So, full disclosure, I had not watched the video.

This is not an accident.

I am terrified of this video. K has seen it and had a few mild criticisms (timing was off in a few places, hands didn’t match, she’s very contained in her style and I’m very showy). But every time I think of the show, I think of something the girl going on after us said backstage, as soon as we came off.

“Oh heeeey… that was really…. cute. How long have you been dancing for?”

If you speak dance you know that the translation back into normal English looks something like this:

“Oh heeeey… you guys are total amateurs. When did you take your first class? A week ago or just a few days? Now outta my way bitches, the show’s really about to be on.”

Okay, I’m exaggerating, but that’s how it feels when you’re already nervous to be half naked, you KNOW you blanked out on at least 4-5 seconds of choreo, and you’re having a fat day.

No bueno.

Anyway, I finally watched the video, and I saw some things that weren’t perfect, but I also saw a big smile on my friend’s face.

He liked it.

And you know what? I liked it too. It was cute, damn it.

The best part was, K and I looked like we were having fun. Somebody in the audience kept screaming “ME LIKEY” and I couldn’t help cracking up, which is so awesome and totally visible in the video. I think that’s what I’m going to remember most about this experience: being terrified under blinding lights, feeling nervous and shaky as hell, and then suddenly letting go and laughing at “ME LIKEY.” Because IT IS FUN TO DANCE. Go figure… through all the sweat and anxiety,long hours of practicing and criticizing and agonizing, it all becomes fun again when you share it with people.

Anyway, here’s just a short clip because this isn’t a pole show, but, it is performance oriented, and I learned a lot about enjoying dancing, regardless of perfection. (It’s surprisingly hard to remember sometimes that we do this because it’s fun, amirite??)

HT!

Cathy

Slightly toe-up practice vids

Posted on February 26, 2013February 19, 2014 by Cathy Vandewater

I’ve been recording practice sessions lately because my mirror-o-walls doesn’t fit at the new place, and I have no idea what I look like dancing anymore. So I have all these funny little clips, and I feel like sharing them, even though, gasp, they’re not perfect.

My OCD is itching.

Anyway, here they are!

1. Iguana mount

Excuse the ugly feet… but dang, I was so proud that I finally got up!

2. Leg hangs

Yes, sadly, I’m only just getting the “hang” of these (SEE WHAT I DID THERE) after a year of dancing, for the simple reason that I just didn’t bother trying them for a long time. So, I’m attempting to teach myself, because it’s getting embarrassing.

3. Freeeeestylin’!

It’s a picture of New York! It’s a picture of New York! Ooooooooooooh! R-r-r-RANDOM!

(Too much Flight of the Conchords, sorry).

But seriously, here’s a video in which I intended to practice headstands, but got the bright idea to see if I could get incorporate them into a dance along the way. Spoiler alert: not really, it’s awkward. But I tried.

Intro is this Saturday at 3pm, snitches! Sign up 🙂

Happy twirls,
Cathy

That awkward moment when a new student says, “What should I do to look like Jenyne Butterfly?”

Posted on February 24, 2013February 19, 2014 by Cathy Vandewater

Uhhhhhh…. dedicate 5 or 6 years of your life to pole and develop a taste for pain?

...not quite Natasha Wang yet, is it? — …not quite Natasha Wang yet, is it?

For somebody who’s literally never been on a pole before, I felt like it would be mean to let her think getting to that level is anything but extremely difficult and physically painful. (Think back to your first pole sits–remember how much that hurt? And how annoying it was that it didn’t even look impressive?)

This is what bugs me about pole, kinda–I’m really, really glad people like JB are rocking out and getting respect for our sport. But, people like her are essentially Cirque de Soleil performers. They’re freashishly masterful. FREAKISHLY.

And I feel like people don’t understand that. So you’ve got the people on one hand who equate pole with stripping, and the people on the other hand that see Jenyne Butterfly and think, oh, okay, she’s a few classes in.

I mean, I have a pole at my house, I teach beginner classes 3 days a week, and I practice on my own at least 3-4 days a week. And only now am I getting my knees straight on aerial stuff. After a year and a half of total obsession. A clean climb and nice, straight layback are the only things I have in common with JB’s aerial stuff, and I freakin’ teach (though, to be fair, my classes are completely on the ground, and I’m quite proud of my clean, consistent spins, transitions, flow, and floor work… or I wouldn’t be teaching it).

But I don’t think a new student wants to hear about that stuff. They want to skip walking and go straight to inversions like Jenyne Butterfly.

Oy.

On somewhat related note, do you guys feel like there are two camps of pole: spin girls and strength girls? If so, I’m definitely the former. Are you one or the other? A tasty blend of both, but with a secret favorite? You can tell me, I won’t say anything, I swear.

It’s funny, I remember watching a lot of Leigh Ann Orsi (I think she has a new last name now…) on YouTube before I started dancing, and being totally bored with the upside down stuff. I just wanted to see her walk and pirouette. Even though she’s at a serious competitive level now, I still like her early videos best because she flows like a MOFO. For me, it’s really the distinguishing characteristic of pole from other forms of dance… the way you move around it is just hypnotic. Gah, still gives me chills.

Is that weird?

(Yes, probably).

(I’m okay with it).

Anyway, I can’t wait to post a video of me busting my ass trying to teach myself an iguana hold, but I left my camera cable at work. So until tomorrow…. here’s a video of Recent Leigh Ann Orsi doing her thing. Which is apparently a shoulder mount flip into a split. Jesus Christ I hate everything.

Happy twirls!

Cathy

5 RnB Pole Songs That Won’t Make you Puke: Part 1.

Posted on January 17, 2013February 19, 2014 by Cathy Vandewater

(Sorry guys, headlines don’t like ampersands–Rnb=R&B)

Okay so challenge accepted re: my own difficulty finding pole music: I dug around my old Pandora likes and found several songs that aren’t about bitches n’ hoes. Mostly. Except for this first one:

1. Diced Pineapples, Rick Ross Ft. Drake, Wale

Okay, this song actually is gross (I think diced pineapples is a reference to the idea that certain fresh fruits make certain forbidden fruits taste better IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.) but whatever, I can’t get enough of Drake’s hook on here. Also, it’s very female positive! Or at least vagina positive!

My only complaints here are about Rick Ross’s nasty facial hair ruining yet another sexy music video. Seriously, they film in the gorgeous, sun drenched Caribbean and all I can think about is how musty his damn face forest must smell. Stop it, Rick Ross. Just stop it.

2. Adorn, Miguel

Uuuuuuugh Miguel. Okay, I know everybody already knows this song, but COME ON. It needs a holler. This dude makes such sexy music… Vixen, Quickie… Almost sexy enough to excuse the hi-top/pompador hybrid. Get it, Miguel.

3. Closer, Corinne Bailey Rae

Love her. +10 for a roller disco video theme.

4. I Only Want to Give It to You, Elle Varner (Featuring J. Cole)

This song makes me so happy inside that I literally walk differently when it comes on my ipod and smile at strangers, which might get me killed. Also, J. Cole.

5. Say Yes, Floetry

Ungh. Every time I have a crush on a new guy and he walks by (unless he smells funky or something) this plays in my head.

What’s that? You can’t picture a pole dance to this?

VISUAL FUCKING AID:

Class tonight! 6pm Pole spins, week two–you know what to do!

Happy Twirls,

Cathy 🙂

I showed this to a friend and he asked if I was in a car crash.

Posted on October 22, 2012July 28, 2016 by Cathy Vandewater

Nope, just learning a chopper spin.

Intro, spins, and practice class tonight, starting at 6pm. Check the schedule and sign up! (Remember, newbies get 10% off their first intro class!!)

Happy Twirls!
Cathy

Dicking around after class!

Posted on September 29, 2012July 28, 2016 by Cathy Vandewater

12 people in my intro to pole today…. not that I’m complaining, but DAY-UM. Kinda felt like a choir director 😀

Anyway, here’s some shots I took after stuffing a camera down my shirt. Practice! It’s important.

Cracking the Jenyne Butterfly climb

Posted on September 25, 2012July 28, 2016 by Cathy Vandewater

Hey y’all,

Wow, so I got lazy and took like two weeks off of practicing and I’m really feeling it.

You know you haven’t danced in a while when you’re bruising again. Whoops.

I’ve been feeling kinda blue and burned out so I’ve been trying to trick myself into falling in love with pole again. Kinda like taking your spouse on a date, or making your boyfriend speak with an English accent and messing up his hair so you can pretend he’s Rob Pattinson.

I digress.

First I tried my pole on spin mode. I think I first attempted this for about 5 seconds when I first got my X-Pole and filed the experience under NEVER AGAIN.

Staying on a spinning pole when you’re a rookie must be what riding a mechanical bull feels like. That sucker DOES NOT want you on. Also, Centrifugal Force is a bitch!

This time, I got all smug like, whatevs, I can handle this now, so I tried again. And yeah, I did better, but, I’m a wimp and I dizzy quickly.

(I think I’m going to try it for 10-15 mins at a time, just to get used to it and work on staying in control. Because you can get reaally out of control on a spinning pole. It’s kind of amazing, but yeah, a little too difficult and sickening for long periods of time).

Anyway, I decided to pick a couple of tricks/style points to master. I’m still working on my headstand mount, but I’m a little scared of cracking my head open at home without a spotter, so instead, I’m working on style stuff.

My first mission: the Jenyne Butterfly climb. (Sorry it look me like eight paragraphs to get to the point, guys).

If you haven’t seen it… this is Miss Jenyne Butterfly, making climbing look insanely easy (dig it at 0:19).

Funny how, with her technique (which is in fact more difficult than your average climb), getting air looks effortless. I hate it/lerve it.

Anywho, I’m working on it, and here’s a couple of finer points I’m trying to crack that might help you as well:

1. Push/pull

So basically, with Jenyne’s climb, you’re lifting both legs from a dead hang. Hence, you gotta keep your body from collapsing into the pole as you do this. If you look closely, you can see she has her bottom wrist locked and is pressing her whole forearm flush against the pole. (It took me an embarrassingly long time to figure out that this is what she was doing). This is the push arm! (Duh). The other is the pull arm (ultra-Duh!).

2. Pointed toes

Yeah, it’s really hard to to grip a pole without flexing your inside foot to grab it around your ankle, but the effect is totally worth it. You’re really going to have to rely on the grip your “push” arm is getting, and you may need a little grip aid on the tops of your feet. Test is a few times with your traditional climb to find the “sweet spot” where your ankle dips in enough for this not to hurt (though I guarantee you’ll bruise, sorry!)

3. Even knees

If you’re used to a one leg-then-the-other climb, it’s going to feel really weird bringing both knees up and gripping at the same time. I recommend getting into position and just practicing the first lift over and over (switching push-pull arms!) before you try making your way up the pole.

I hope everybody tries this and lets me know how it goes!

I may have a new bruise collage by the end of this, but I’m not quitting!!!

PS. Classes this Thursday, and another open house is coming up! Check the schedule for more info.

Happy twirls!

Cathy ❤

I’m in the New York Post today… on a pole!

Posted on September 16, 2012July 28, 2016 by Cathy Vandewater

Look! Here’s me, making my parents proud!

Haha, kidding, they’re okay with it… mostly.

(FYI: This is just a picture of the full length photo, which is only the print version, so pick it up!)

Anyway, here’s the back story: I had a nasty breakup and ended up on OK Cupid (per the realization that everybody else I know is on it and no one’s been murdered). (YET).

Funny enough, the only non-creepy message I got was from the dating editor at the NY Post, asking if I’d like to be set up for Meet Market (TM). I guess pole=marketability?

Long story short, there’s a photographer at my house (!!!!) so yes, that pic is my room and my beautiful, beautiful X-Pole making its stunning debut. Glad I remembered to polish the Dry Hands off first!

I still haven’t been on my date yet, but (SPOILER ALERT) I picked the trainer. Because I don’t already work and live with enough trainers. I needed an extra person in my life to give me dirty looks for eating a bagel. 😀

Jokes! I love my trainer friends and I’m going to bribe them very soon to give me a specialized pole workout and stretches I can share with you guys.

Anyway, click the link, stalk my write up, and feel free to vote? Because make the guys feel good?

❤ and don’t forget, classes on Monday!!!

Happy Twirls!
Cathy

PS. A little pimpage for the Dating Editor at the Post, Jozen Cummings… he has an awesome blog “Until I Get Married” and he’s generally a doll, so, check his shit out!