BLOG HOP, BITCH: 20 Questions with a Pole Dancer

Posted on by Cathy Vandewater

I think the title speaks for itself. LET’S DO THIS.

1. How long have you been pole dancing?

About a year and a half? Started Fall 2011. PS. You know you have a pole problem when you have memberships at 3 different studios so no one will know how much you pole.

2. What’s your favorite song to pole dance to?

Hrm. I guess anything a little sexy that also makes me feel good and crack a smile. For that, Shoop, Salt n’ Peppa fits the bill. But I like a lot of variety.

3. What’s your favorite pole dance move?

Anything I feel like I can NAIL. Or add a hair flip/flow/some style to. So basically everything I’ve had time to get down. But I love that gasp I get out of people when drop into a recliner with no fear. NO FEAR.

4. If you have to classify your dance style, what would it be?

This is tough. I’m not really a slinky, bendy Alethea type, but not really the aerial ballerina sort either. Something in between? Sensual with strength and a few tricks?

5. What inspires your movement? Why do you dance?

I dance for ALL the reasons. I dance when I’m stressed out. When I’m not sure how I feel about something. When I’m frustrated. When I feel great. When I want to express myself. When I want to wail on my body. ALL THE REASONS.

As far as style, I still look to flow girls for inspiration. Leigh Ann, girl, I’m looking at you and your long ass legs for this one.

6. Do you study/participate in any other kinds of dancing or other kinds of training?

I have a background in belly dance which has reaaaally helped me with pole (body rolls, hello), and I’ve done a little salsa too, which I think is great for flow. That push and pull dance you do with pole is a lot like partner work… but pole is much more reliable for scheduling practice, and you never have to wonder if it’s straight or not. They make levels for that! (TEEHEE)

7. How often do you train, dance or attend class per week?

I teach twice a week, then train about twice a week.

8. Any tips for training?

Yes: GET ON THE POLE. People ask me all the time how they can look better on the pole, and the only answer is to GET YOUR ASS ON THE POLE. Don’t push yourself into tricks you’re not ready for, just get comfortable moving around, gripping, and making sweet love to your pole. Everything will look better. Serious, just log the time. If all you do is walk, YOU WILL LOOK BETTER. I PROMISE.

9. Do you train on both sides when you pole? Why or why not?

Yes, because, seriously? Train both sides of your body, don’t be stupid. Next question.

10. If you’re not a full time poler, how do you balance work and pole? Friends and pole? Life and Pole?

Hahahahahahaha. Yeah. I have 4 jobs. It’s not easy.

11. Is pole dancing, which happens to be a hobby for most, worth the investment?

Pole is literally the best thing I can ever remember doing. My body has never been in such good shape, and I never worry about keeping it up, because I couldn’t stay away from pole if I tried. It clears my head, keeps me strong, gives me a strong sense of self and tons o’ confidence. It even made my posture better. Pole 4LYFE.

12. Why did you start a pole dance blog?

Honestly, I started to get the word out that I teach because I was terrified my classes would be empty. Now I keep it up because I feel like putting the good word out is kinda my duty. You can’t just reap the benefits of an incredible sport, art form, and community without speaking up for it, right? And there’s so much trash talk out there.

13. What’s your favorite post on your pole dance blog?

The one I haven’t written yet? Onward!

14. If you teach, why did you start teaching, and how did it change your practice? If you don’t teach, do you think you’d ever want to teach? Why or why not?

I started teaching for 100% selfish reasons: to get as much time on the pole as possible. Since I work so many hours, I figured the only way I could afford to do that was to be paid to be on the pole. So, now I teach. And I surprised myself by absolutely loving it–not just the pole time, but the students, the process of helping them learn, the smiles when they get it… it’s so, so great.

As far as my training, in my classes, I teach the same curriculum over and over, so I don’t really learn unless I push myself. Teaching has been great for improving my form and style (muscle memory and pole comfort level are EVERYTHING), but it also makes me prioritize getting down to the hard stuff when I’m training on my own. I have a whiteboard of moves I’m supposed to be working on so I don’t get lazy and just dance the easy stuff at home.

15. Looking back at your life, are you surprised that you’re a pole dancer?

Yes, and no. I have a… controlled… scandalous side. If I were going to do anything risque, it makes perfect sense that it would be in a studio and I’d make a career out of it. I’m so boring, I know.

16. What’s one pole stereotype that you wish would go away?

That it’s some kind of cop out for legitimate dance. Like ballet’s lazy, slutty younger sister or something.

First off, pole is hard. It’s hard like any form of dance.

Second, when i’m dancing, I’m not having sex. I’m just f***ing dancing. So let’s lose the whole “slutty” idea, okay?

17. Best reaction when you told someone that you are a pole dancer?

I showed my dad an attitude spin and he said, “Wow, this is like gymnastics!”

18. Also, since its May… does your Mother [or any maternal person in your life] know that you pole dance and what does she think?

Of course she does. I don’t think she really gets it, but she knows I wouldn’t do something I didn’t believe in, or feel was a good place to put my energies. She trusts me, even if she doesn’t understand pole. What more could I ask for?

19. What’s your pole fantasy or dream?

Doing a show! I get scared just thinking about it, but also really, really excited. Some day!

20. Finish this sentence. Pole dancing is… the best thing that ever happened to me. And there’s still so much more to learn. 4LYFE.

HT!

Cathy

That awkward pole moment when…

Posted on by Cathy Vandewater

1. You’re twisted into some configuration high off the ground and you just  can’t find your hand… or your foot… or the pole.

2. You get freaked out or dizzy on spin mode and have to jump off.

3. You realize your pole shorts are too loose… as you’re spread eagle.

4. Your shirt gets caught on the pole or flies up during an inversion (and ain’t nothing you can do about it).

5. You lose your grip on a seriously basic move and look like an idiot.

6. You lose your balance and tip over while doing the sexy getting up thing.

7. You’re just not fucking sticking, argh!

8. You don’t kick into an invert with enough momentum, so you just awkwardly fall back down. Fail.

9. Your instructor urges you to lift up  your shirt and expose your stomach for a new move, and last night was Burrito Night.

10. Somebody asks you to do a freestyle and you just… blank… out.

Am I missing any?

For how sexy pole is, shit gets awkward, amiright?

I’m tired today. Here’s a video of Natasha Wang being awesome.

Dear Prudence Talks Pole Dancing

Posted on by Cathy Vandewater

…and I kind of want to hit her.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH.

Okay, first off, I get that Prudence’s duty is to this woman and her life, and not the sport of pole dancing.

But, on behalf of the sport of pole dancing, how are we ever supposed to be legitimate when awesome, reputable people are hiding that they do it?

I mean, I get scared of what people will think sometimes. But then I remember why I do it, why I love it, the positive changes I see in people who take my classes… and I pick my head up and say “Yeah, I pole dance, and there’s nothing wrong with it.”

To be fair, I haven’t tried hoops or silks or other aerial arts. From what I’ve seen, aerial pole and these sports seem to have very similar moves.

But, not everybody is all about aerial with pole. I know I’m certainly not. Flow it my faaaaaaaaaaaavorite. If I couldn’t pirouette, sway, do some fancy footwork, spin… ew, I wouldn’t even want to do pole.

But I’m guessing Prudence (or anybody else who’s got very firm opinions on pole but who’s never tried it) would not understand that.

I believe that intent comes through, in any manner of expression, especially dance. If you use pole to express your sexuality, it’s going to look sexy (unless you’re doing something very wrong).

But if you’re using it to express, oh, I don’t know, any other color in the whole rainbow spectrum of human experiences and emotions, I think that will come through too.

Costumes can also project a lot onto a performance.

I don’t know. I think my advice to this girl would be to enter the competition, dance her ass off in the manner that suits her, and hold her head high about it.

But maybe I’m biased. What do you guys think?

No class tomorrow–we start the new schedule next week!

HT,

Cathy

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

Posted on 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

BREAKING NEWS: Smart and Sexy Not Mutually Exclusive

Posted on by Cathy Vandewater

Let me start off this post with a resounding DAMN IT.

Does this pole make me look slutty?
Does this pole make me look slutty?

DAMN IT ALL TO HELL.

Whew. I feel better. Onward!

So, like, what’s up with this trend of female rappers and singers bragging about throwing money at strippers?

It’s almost like it’s a requirement to be allowed in the hip hop world as a female (and not as a video girl) that you shit on other girls (the video kind). To be one of the boys you have to objectify other women–just like the boys do.

But it’s okay, because those video girls are totally not smart, tomboy types that are allowed to be considered smart and cool–they’re sexy. They’re strippers. Let them crawl around on the floor and pick up our money with their teeth. It’s not like they’re people who can be multiple things. They are sexy, and so they can only be one thing: sexy things that are sexy sex that people want to have sex with.

Tell me you don’t see what I’m talking about:

Or HEAR what I’m talking about:

This is part of why I love telling people I pole. Because they’re all, BUT YOU’RE NOT A DUMB WHORE. And I’m like EXACTLY. WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU.

We have no problem with men being smart and successful and sexy as hell. Why not women?

Why can’t we own it and love it, and not have to trade off other parts of ourselves, like intellect, or humor, or for god’s sake, humanity?

Which is why I say damn it. Damn it all. But I’m not giving up on people. I’m not going to go into hiding, or quit pole because it makes people’s brains explode that I’m not a bimbo.

I told a guy I know that I teach pole the other day, and he said he thought it was cool. Then  I made a joke about how my mom doesn’t get it, and he said, “Why would you tell ever her that?!”

…Why would I tell her?

Why wouldn‘t I tell her?

The real question is, why would I do something and make it such a huge part of my life if I also think it’s so unacceptable that I have to hide it? From my own mom?

I’m not going to cave to this idea that you have to choose between being smart and being sexy.

Frankly, that’s a steaming pile of bull shit and sorry to go all Hot Topic on you, but I refuse to conform.

Ladies and Gentleman, I POLE DANCE.

I FEEL SEXY DOING IT.

I HAVE A COLLEGE DEGREE AND A FULL TIME JOB, BUT THIS MAKES MY LIFE FEEL MORE FULL AND COMPLETE.

I’m not giving it up and I’m not hiding, because I don’t see anything wrong with it.

If you can’t handle it, you have the problem and need to work on it. Not me.

POLE PROUD ladies. Get it, and don’t apologize for it.

Damn.

Okay, that’s off my chest. New schedule!!!! I’m teaching a pole dynamics 4-week course on Tuesdays starting in March, plus the usual spins and intro classes on Thursdays and Saturdays. Sign up on the website to secure your spot (especially for dynamics, which is strictly one-to-a-pole and fills up fast!)

Happy twirls!

Cathy

Pole Makes Me Feel Sexy–So Please, Dear God in Heaven, Can Somebody Get Me a Boyfriend.

Posted on by Cathy Vandewater

DISCLAIMER: this post has nothing to do with pole.

You guys, I am single as fuck.

Being a pole dancer AND belly dancer (SHOW NEXT WEEK), and just starting chair dancing (more on that another time) means that I’m currently in the best shape of my life, feeling awesome and smexy, and also that I’m spending 99.99% of my free time with women.

So, being that I’m straight as fuck in addition to being single as fuck, my life leaves a bit to be desired. No offense ladies, you’re amazing. Just. I need testosterone. Badly.

Speaking of hormones, I legit think I’m radiating some kind of chemical or something lately. I’ve made more smoldering subway eye contact in the past few months than I’ve made in 6 years of riding the train. But, ya know, I’m shy so I always crack up and run off with out saying hi or anything. Not an effective tactic.

My perfect man: Jemaine Clement, from Flight of the Conchords. He’s married. OF FUCKING COURSE.

And the guys I work with are  great (confession: I have a crush on one that’s so bad that I’m incapable of looking directly at him, ever), but, they’re all in LTRs, so, yeah. Slap on the wrist for me. Down, girl.

I would beg all of you to find me my perfect guy, but dude, I have no idea. I don’t date a lot (I have to really like a guy as a person/friend to even go there in my brain, most of the time), but when I do, it’s… eclectic. A Russian mathematician. An Italian financial analyst. A West Indian (St. Lucia, holla!) IT guy. And now I find myself randomly drawn to Asian guys, and I’m still holding out for a writer (*swoon*). ??? I know, I know, dafuq is wrong with this girl, right?

Anyway. I’m just bummed out because I know I have to be the right girl for somebody. But I’m really shy, and even if guys approach me I get so nervous I have to just shut it down. Yeah I know, I’m hopeless.

And–confession time again!–I’m also very scared. I was checking an old email account and I found a draft I never sent this guy that I was soooo in love with, who alternated between sending me beautiful love notes and then ignoring me for weeks at a time.

I still kinda hate myself for getting sucked into that (for like 2 years), but reading my own words, I feel really sorry for me circa 2008. I was very trusting that this guy had good intentions, and I kept trying to work things out in ridiculous and painful conditions, and, I’m scared that I’m totally still that person. Which means, hey pain! Let’s hang out!

Anyway, how did you guys meet your boyfriends? Do they have nice brothers or cousins?

Please dear god, help. So. Fucking. Single.

Anyway, here’s a Portishead song.

Happy twirls, you blisffully attached bitches!
Cathy

MYTHBUSTERS.

Posted on by Cathy Vandewater

“Hey there, sexy.”

This is an example of a thing a lot of new girls expect me to say when they walk into class dressed in a bra and full makeup.

What I actually say: “Hi! I’m Cathy, welcome to intro to pole!”

What I want to say: “Honey, no. Just no. That’s not what we’re doing. Go put on a shirt.”

Reading this article (which yes, from two years ago, but it still really pissed me off) made me realize just how widespread the pole ignorance is out there. Also, hearing comments from first timers like, “I didn’t want to come to a class until I lost weight,” make me really wonder if people have the right idea about what pole classes are like… and if misinformation is scaring people away.

1. You need to look sexy

Myth: Pole girls are bitches.
Myth: Pole girls are bitches.

Why do people think they need to put on makeup to come to a workout class? Guys, you totally don’t. Especially if this is going to deter you from coming. If you like feeling glamorous for your pole class and that encourages you to show up or boosts your morale, by all means, throw on some lipstick and treat yourself to some cute workout clothes. But you totally don’t have to. Remember, it’s all girls… and no dollars are thrown for sexy outfits. Seriously, nobody cares.

2. Everybody wears a bra and underwear

Oy, again, stahp. Please don’t show up in a bikini top and boyshort underwear just because you think that’s what everybody’s going to be wearing. True, you will kind of look like a NOOB if you show up in bagging running shorts and a long sleeved shirt, but stripper attire is not going to fool anyone into believing you know what you’re doing. The best way to look smart and blend in: tight fitting (short) shorts and a tank. Show up in that and you’ll get instant respect no matter where you go. Now, what you want to wear to your 2nd and 3rd class and beyond… that’s up to you.

3. Pole classes will teach you how to strip

Hahahahahahahahahaha.

Yeah, no. Okay, well, being fair, it can vary from studio to studio.

Generally, pole classes fall into three categories:

-Fitness

-Dance

-Stripper experience

Fitness classes are pretty much exclusively about using the pole to repeatedly kick your own ass. There’s not much sensuality or flow between moves, and you should come dressed to sweat.

Dance classes, while strenuous, will be a little more sensual. You’ll be more concerned with nailing moves and putting them together than burning calories. Girls might wear cute outfits because it helps them get in the mood and it’s fun to watch hotness in the mirror, but they’ll still be functional as far as moving and sticking to the pole. This is what my classes are like.

Stripper experience “classes” are a run a little more like parties: you’ll learn a few moves, but they’re generally less technically difficult (at least at first) and everything you do will be a little raunchier looking. You might also get to sip wine or champagne, take pictures, and generally goof around more than you could in a fitness or dance class. The purpose of these is less a workout or learning to move on the pole than excitement, novelty, and fun. This is really the only class I would recommend dressing up for, because it’s part of the experience (and makes for great pictures). EDC’s parties are a lot more like this than our classes.

But that being said, you can hardly say that any of these classes teach you how to be a stripper. You may come away with some exotic-esque dance moves, especially from “stripper experience” studio, but that’s still a long ways off from learning how to actually remove clothing, dance on customers, “buss it” (which I hear about in 2 Chainz songs a lot and still don’t know what it means), etc. If that’s what you want to learn, skip pole dance classes and go directly for exotic dance classes, which are a different thing.

4. Pole classes are for wussies who are scared of the gym

This is the truth: wimpy girls don’t make it past their first class, which will definitely involve sore muscles, bruises, and god forbid, hand blisters.

I will agree with the author of the article I read that it shouldn’t be used as a complete replacement for the gym, even if you’re taking pole fitness classes. You still need cardio, and in my experience, evenly building muscle strength with free weights or machines is a wonderful way to absolutely KILL IT on the pole, with less risk of injury.

But does that make it for wimps? Or non-athletic people? Hardly. In fact, it’s best suited for the insatiable fitness people because no matter how good you get, there’s going to be a new challenge. Hitting choppers? Cool story bro, learn it on your non-dominant side. Did that? Awesome–it’s time for aerials. Got that? Nice, now monkey climb gracefully and incorporate it into your choreo.

There’s a really no end to the challenges, both physical and mental. Sometimes (speaking for myself here) it’s so challenging that the only thing that keeps girls hanging in there is the fun of self expression part of it. And yes, a cute pair of shorts and favorite songs help too. It’s icing on the cake, but oh, how we’d miss that icing if it were never there.

5. Pole girls are catty

Confession: I was guilty of assuming this when I first started out. (BONUS MYTHBUST: not all your teachers are former strippers. Some started out with a dance background, like me, and thought pole might be fun. It was, and is, and here we are. BAM, myth busted).

Yes, experiences can vary from studio to studio. But, having been to a few, I can safely say that the girls at MOST studios are incredibly nice and supportive of one another.

If you think about, it, everybody’s a little bit vulnerable: we’re supposed to be looking amazing (a pole is sooo sexy, right? :P), but in reality, everything we’re trying to do is very difficult and likely looks terrible at first.

That makes for a lot of commiseration, laughing, encouragement (giving and receiving), and believe it or not, genuine connections and true friendships.

Pole girls are BAD in the best possible way. You can meet some of the coolest girls of your life in classes. Just don’t write them off!

Having trouble with girls at your studio? Honestly, change studios. People are the same everywhere, but a lot of time it’s the studio itself, the teachers, or the management that set a weird tone for classes. It’s probably not going to get better, so I would advise shopping around. You’ll find your fit!

Can you guys think of anything you thought about pole, pre-first-class, that turned out to be totally wrong? I remember thinking I was going to be inverting within a few weeks of my first class. Ha!

Sad news: no classes at all this week! EDC’s moving studios. But hopefully that will leave me some free time to pole at home and work on some new moves.

Happy Twirls!

Cathy

Achieving a “dancer’s” size: on costume-induced body panic

Posted on by Cathy Vandewater

You know that weird mix of excitement and dread?

Image
My first ever show! On campus at Pratt Institute in 2008. I was so terrified, I purposefully didn’t wear contacts so I couldn’t see the crowd.

It always reminds me of the feeling I used to get as a kid, when I couldn’t wait for my birthday, which happened to be a week before school started.

So, the big news is that my belly dance partner and crime K and I are debuting February 13th at Jebon on St. Marks place. I am so. Freaking. Excited. We’re been rehearsing really hard for a few months now with all original choreography, so now that we’ve done the work, it’s the fun part: costumes.

Hahahahaha fun? Bitch please. Try horrifying.

Let me first clarify that I like my body. It has served me very well in my time. That said, I am (ew barf I can’t believe I have to use this word) “womanly.” I have visible abs, but I’m also a little soft in places. This seems to me to be perfectly natural since, duh, i’m a woman. I eat healthy and I got plenty of exercise (in the studio, the gym, and carrying groceries up to my 4th floor walk up).

My body does what I ask of it on the pole, on the floor, and every place in between, so I’m thoroughly happy with it and the worrying ends there.

That is, until I put on the belly dance costume.

(NOTE:: ****I should clarify that the top half of this costume i’s not so much a costume as it is a balconet bra I bought at H&M. I have ginormous boobs, and “real” belly dance bras only come in small, medium, and large. I’m quite small (32″ band) AND large (D-DD), so, my options are limited.)

Me and K now, after a show

So anyway, here I am in the studio, under florescent lighting, in a freaking BRA, undulating my way down into a crouching position from THE SIDE. SO YOU CAN SEE ALL THE FAT ROLLS. AHHHHHH. And I’m panicking. Is 2 weeks enough time to lose 5 pounds? Can self tanner somehow magically help?

The really f***ed up thing is I’m in the greatest shape of my life right now. I LOVE how I look in clothes (thanks, pole!). But I feel like the standards for a body being displayed during a dance performance are totally different.

Like the hardcore-ness of your body is directly related to your amount of skill and self discipline in dancing.

Like no matter how hard I work nailing difficult moves, a soft middle screams “wannabe” anyway.

It’s very discouraging. And it doesn’t help that K is TINY. She’s both petite and about 90 pounds, so not only do I look a little on the flabby side next to her but I look like a freaking giant too. This is bad, guys. Please help me. I have two weeks.

Here’s my plan so far:

1. Focus on healthy fats and protein

I can’t starve myself right now, mostly because I really do need a lot of food for my lifestyle. I’m talking back to back pole classes and THEN a workout at the gym. None of these places are convenient locations for fainting. Also, fuck starving yourself. No.

BUT. If anything dials down on belly pudge, it’s skipping bread and sugar, right? Can’t hurt anyway.

2. Take care of my skin

I feel extra repulsive when all that extra flesh is also dry and icky looking. Now until February 13th is officially Exfoliation and Lotion Time. And performance night is going to require a shit ton of freaking shimmer, I don’t give a fuck. Yes.

3. Fluids?

This one I’m a tad sketchy on. A trainer friend of mine who also happens to be a show wrestler (hulk hogan type as opposed to skinny guys in jumpsuits, on mats) swears by this: chug tons of water in the weeks leading up to the event (to flush out bloat), then scale way back on fluids the day before and day of the event. I think I remember reading that Adriana Lima does this before Victoria’s Secret shows. I also remember thinking that it was batshit crazy.

Honestly I probably won’t do this one, except for the “drinking tons of fluids” part. That part seems good.

4. Self tanner

Yeah, actually, maybe not. Flabby and orange isn’t really an improvement on flabby and pale. Strike this one.

5. Beg K to let me change the angles on certain things

Crouching from the side… eesh. Or maybe we can incorporate some veil work here? Specifically holding up a veil to cover ourselves as we crouch from the side?

Here’s a funny story: one time, a woman came into my spins class and said she’d been wanting to take my class for months. I asked her why she waited so long. She said she thought she needed to lose 10 pounds before she could take a class like pole. (She was very, very slightly overweight by the way, this was not a safety issue).

Wait, did I say funny story? I meant a sad story, about a woman who didn’t think she was good enough at her current weight to take a damn EXERCISE CLASS.

WTF society, look what you’re doing. Stahp.

Anyway, how do you guys feel about the weight issue with pole? It’s hard to see all the top people in our sport looking soooooo tiny in their equally small costumes, and feel like we still have permission to even try.

Does fear about your body hold you back from performing? From wearing certain clothes to class?

Have you ever tried to lose weight for a show? (if so TELL ME ALL OF YOUR SECRETS)

Pole Pleaser, Pole Spins, and Intro to Pole tonight! 7,8, and 9pm, respectively. Hope to see you!

And here’s your official invitation to the belly dance show! Yes, they spelled my name wrong. Come for the frozen sake, stay for (possibly orange), nervous-looking belly dancer 😉

Happy Twirls!

Cathy

It happened again…

Posted on by Cathy Vandewater
These are not shorts.
These are not shorts.

I forgot my shorts. I thought for sure I packed them, but I peeked in my bag on the way to the studio last night and found a pair of folded black tights instead.

With 15 minutes before my first class and two classes to teach, I did what anyone would have done: I canceled.

Just kidding. You’d have to put a wall of fire in front of my studio to keep me from teaching. So I found a pair of scissors and cut my tights into shorts. Very tight, moderately transparent shorts.

Great day to wear underpants with flowers on them, by the way.

So in closing, apologies to everyone who saw my ass last night, but thank you for taking my class, which was hella-full. I still have hope that my Jedi mind tricks prevented you from noticing anything odd though. ***THERE IS NOTHING STRANGE ABOUT THESE SHORTS. THIS IS NOT AN ASS YOU ARE LOOKING AT.***

Anyway, turns out the studio’s closed on Thursday (noooooo) and I’m upstate for Christmas next week, so hold off on sign ups until we’re off the holiday schedule. I’ll let you know when, promise.

❤

Cathy