What’s in a (stripper) name?

Posted on by Cathy Vandewater

Hey guys!

Quick question… (pretend we’re at a sleepover): if you had to pick a stripper name, what would it be?

And none of that “your pet’s name plus your street” stuff… for REAL. What would you want to be called?

I ask, because I’m in the odd position of needing one. No, I’m not crossing over to the dark side (though I could use the cash, not saying just saying); this is for my legitimate job.

So I guess the whole schtick with parties at my studio is BE AN EXOTIC DANCING DIVA (cough stripper cough) FOR ONE MAGICAL HOUR. Or two hours… hey, it’s your money.

I mean… I don’t know about that… I’mma teach you a lot of awesome stuff, and you can wear a feather boa and heels. But, ya know, nobody’s going to throw money at you and you BETTER keep your clothes on because I don’t need to see that.

But anyway. Part of the experience is stripper names. They need to pick one, and I need to walk in with one.

So, going by the chart my manager gave me (yes, there’s a chart, I swear to god I’m not making this up), there are certain categories of names that you can choose from. Jewelry: diamond, gold, platinum; Spices: pepper, spicy, ginger; Weather patterns: stormy (actually, I made that category up, but Stormy’s totally a cool stripper name, right?), etc etc.

There’s more categories too, but there’s so ma

ny that I’m not going to type them all. So here’s the thing: I’ve narrowed it down to like 3 or 4

possible names/random objects… but I’m having a hard time choosing. Here’s my brass ring,

HELP ME:

1. Ruby

Image

So yes, this was from the “precious metals/jewelry” chart. I like it because it’s technically a gem but also sounds like the name of the scrappy little girl next door. And I’m scrappy. Very, very scrappy.

2. Chanel

Image

So this is a true story: I went to school with a girl who’s first name was literally Chanel Number 5. I know this, because she got called down to the principal’s office like 12 times a year. “Chanel Number Five Colvin, please come to the main office. Chanel Number Five, please report to the main office.”

Setting that aside, I like this name because it’s less tacky than “Gucci” and rolls off the tongue a little easier than “Dolce and Gabanna.”

Have you guys ever actually smelled Chanel No. 5, by the way? It smells like bug spray. Maybe I have bad taste.

3. Jezebel

ImageMeh. I like the website?

4. Jessy

Image
She’s totally hot, right?!

This is from the “tomboy” category. I think I just like it because the hottest stripper from Dancing At The Blue Iguana had this name. Also, the cool chicks in boy movies always have guy names like this. It’s cute, yes?

5. LacyImage

I think of the Party of Five chick when I hear this. Passably sexual, but cute in my head. Aww, Lacey Chabert, I know you’re like 30, but you’re so cute. And we both have tiny voices! Win.

So what do you think?

Here’s some horrible names on the list, for your enjoyment. But seriously… give me an opinion, I need help.

1. Sensation

No.

2. Bootylicious

Too Destiny’s-Child-circa-2002.

3. Bunny

They poop too much. Also, isn’t this what elderly men called their aging wives in the 50s, or did I make that up?

4. Lake

It works for Lake Bell and NO ONE ELSE.

5. Chardonnay

Lololololol.

Okay, enough snarking. Come to my classes this Saturday, bitches!

Happy twirls,

Cathy

Coming Out ;)

Posted on by Cathy Vandewater

Hey everybody!

I have a few minutes to kill before my 7:30 intro class tonight (y’all are coming, right?!), so I thought I’d address the Pole Dancing Blogger’s topic of the month: “coming out”–so to speak–about pole.

This is… interesting for me. On the one hand, because I teach pole, and part of my job is spreading the word about my classes and studio, I’m fairly open about dancing… in certain circles. My fitness and friends totally get it. A trainer I work with (I have a part time job at a fitness center!) has taken classes with my studio (holla, N!). And I’ve already written about a bellydance troupe-mate and close friend dropping into my intro class. Both chicas saw it as fun cross training and a great way to shake up a workout routine or dance rut. Risque? Meh. Please. Yoga can be more explicit.

My “real” job, though, is working in an office, writing about careers. In fact, I’m a huge hypocrite, because I give people advice all day about how not to mess up getting or keeping a job by doing exactly what I have done: having “inappropriate” stuff on their social media pages or god forbid, something like a pole dancing blog easily dug up on Google.

Go ahead, Google my name. I’ll help: “Cathy Vandewater” or “Cathryn Vandewater.” This blog comes up. As do rants about sexual harassment, crappy internships, and THEN, FINALLY, my career advice writing.

I’m not sure my employer would be pleased.

And yet, I kinda feel like this is the future of who we are at work and at home, because the lines are getting blurrier and blurrier. How do you keep everything separate? And if it’s all going to come out anyway, why bother hiding? It almost adds to the scandal factor if you actively keep it a secret, in my opinion.

So I don’t hide what I do.

I’m not exactly handing out my business cards at the office, but if someone asks where I’m heading after work, I tell them I teach dance classes. If they ask what sort of dance, I tell them pole.

Lucky for me, this has only happened once, and with a female colleague about my age. Her whole face lit up when I told her. Funny enough, she’d taken a pole class for a bachelorette party and had all kinds of questions about whether I dance with heels, if it’s hard to go upside, etc, etc. We had a very breathless conversation in the elevator on our way out of the building, and then that was that. She hasn’t asked me about it at work, and I haven’t given her my business card. (Although maybe I should… I’m a terrible, terrible businessperson)

My parents, on the other hand, have known–and disapproved– of my hobby and then eventual career path since my first pole class. But as much as I tell them about it, they’ve never seen me dance.

That changed during hurricane Sandy. My cell signal was out, and my mom Skyped me to keep connected. It wasn’t long before I was taking her on a virtual tour of my newly decorated apartment, then my pole, and then–because I never could resist an opportunity to show off–I showed her a couple of spins and holds.

Strangely enough, she wasn’t shocked or disgusted–she was angry! She didn’t like seeing me hang upside down by my legs. I got a very stern reminder that I don’t have health insurance, and if I have to go to the hospital with a broken neck, my financial future will spiral and I’ll die penniless and alone. Thanks, mom! Duly noted.

But even while she was yelling at me, my mom had the hint of a sparkle in her eye. She was proud. I’m sure she’ll never admit it, but I can tell these things. She also smiled when she said, “Well, you did always did like to play on the swings when you were little.”

(Funny enough, as much as I liked playgrounds, I hated firemen poles. Go figure.)

So I guess I don’t really have all the answers when it comes to “coming out.” But a teacher and friend of mine, Susan Shapiro, always likes to say “Live the most honest life you can.”

I think it makes things easier in the long run, no? And if not, at least no one can be made at you for lying. Hoo-ah!

But seriously, the more of us out there doing our thing like ain’t nothing wrong with it can only help reduce the stigma. It’s scary, but I think putting ourselves out there can only make things better for all of us. No lying, no hiding, no being ashamed. Pole or die, openly!

Anyway, I’m off to convert some NOOOOBS 😀 Anybody reading this who blogs, share your story too! I’m always curious how people manage their double lives… and jealous if they don’t have to compartmentalize.

Happy twirls!

Cathy

How you know you’re addicted to pole… Plus: NEW 4 WEEK COURSE!

Posted on by Cathy Vandewater

So how do you know if you’re truly committed to our steadfast, chrome-colored friend?

You start working out to make your tricks better 😛

I mean, I f***ing hate running. I HATE IT. and yet, I actually went to a specialty sneaker store to get my feet measured and dump $135 bucks on new Mizunos. Why? Because I want more pole-endurance, son! And also, I think my feet and legs are a little wonky from spending so much time on my toes (true story), so, good shoes are important. Especially if you already hate running, and need it to suck less as an incentive.

I’m also working on planks, push-ups, and reverse crunches, ew. Do I enjoy these things?

NO.

Do I care about having a six pack (actually, let’s call it a SEX pack, amirite?!) and Michelle Obama arms?

Okay, a little bit. But not enough to actually do anything about it.

Here’s what I want: I want my tricks to suck less! And be less painful!

I had a news flash the other day about why I finally hit a chopper months ago… and why I can’t seem to get it consistently since then.

…

This is super obvious, but… STRENGTH.

I lost mine.

See, back in the day (oh, 3 months ago?) I was assistant teaching a class called Pole Perfections.

It’s really not so much a class as it is an open practice hour–with a 20 minute stretch and strength conditioning kick off.

Now, mind you, I did not appreciate doing this class, because that 20 minutes is hellish. I’m not exaggerating when I say I dreaded it. It’s difficult enough to make it through 3 sets of 19 different ab exercises (without dropping your legs in between) even without having to TALK THROUGH IT… but yeah, gasping for air during a class (on top of hating every painful minute of it) is pretty horrible.

I was only teaching the class in pieces (as an assistant to another teacher), so it wasn’t so bad. And I loooooooved the part where I get to walk around the room and tweak everybody’s spins and make alignment adjustments, etc. But I knew the day was coming that I would have to do all those push ups and sit ups on my own, without a break, and without wheezing through the counts like Grampa Simpson.

The mere thought of it scared me so much that I started working out on my own. I was knocking out crunches and push ups before bed for weeks. Swear to God.

Fear is a hell of a motivator.

I didn’t make the connection at the time, but right about a few weeks into my extra curricular work outs, I got that final little hip tilt and fell into my first chopper. FINALLY, I thought. The world of inversions is now magically open to me forever! Mine! All mine!

And then a funny thing happened: Pole Perfections got dropped off the schedule for a month to make room for another class, and I lost my fear. I got lazy with crunches. And my chopper faded into trick oblivion.

I figured out this connection recently, and have since redoubled my dedication to cross training again. But I’ve been missing that “potential-for-embarrassment” motivator. And frankly, having to teach moves several times a week is really the only way that I,  in my laziness, actually will push myself through them regularly, right along with my dutiful students.

But here’s the ultra good news, on all fronts: not only is Pole Perfections back on the schedule, but I’ve been assigned a new 4-WEEK CLASS, and it has a WORKOUT SECTION!

[Thursdays at 6pm (starting on the 18th)–mark your calendars, bitches!]

And best part of all: class time is not sacrificed for the conditioning portion, because it’s a 90-minute class!

This is a pet peeve of mine, since I used to pay through the nose for belly dance classes… and  then rage when the whole first half was yoga stretches. FTS, man.

I’m really, really, really excited about this, you guys. I’ve been teaching mostly drop ins for a while, so it will be really fun to actually see the same group every week, gettin’  better, stronger, and more bad ass… which is my favorite thing ever, next to ice cream and maybe I Can Haz Cheezburger. I really like breakthroughs.

Anyway, if you’re interested in taking the class you can get a better description here (Pole Dynamics Level 1 is me!), and don’t let the $150 price tag scare you… the rate is still exactly $25/hr, but the progression, conditioning, and intensity levels will be kicked up, big time. Oh, and everybody gets their own pole.

Here’s a copy of the flier…. because again, I’m really excited about this.

Happy twirls!

Cathy

PS. Intro to Pole is at 7:30pm tonight! We’re doing a 10% off promotion for NOOBS, too, so now’s a good time to take an Intro if you’ve been curious 😀

 
BUILD STRENGTH, SKILL & SENSUALITY
LEVELS 1-6 FOR FIRST TIMERS, BEGINNERS, INTERMEDIATE & ADVANCE STUDENTS
Pole Dynamics is a 90 minute 4wk pole dancing course for everyday people who are interested in learning the art of pole dancing in a safe, step by step progression program. This course meets once a week for ninety minutes over four weeks.
This intensive course gives students:
–A consistent regiment of the dynamics of the pole
-Exclusivity to your own pole in an environment with other students to bond with and grow with from level to level.
-Students will learn dynamic pole stretches to enhance flexibility
-Multiple strengthening exercises to build muscular strength and endurance
-Learn the dynamics of the pole from proper body positioning, poise, posture, pole spins, dance moves, floor work, transitions
-Choreography and improvisational dance skills.
-Learn new material and accomplish new goals each week
-Be ready willing and able to sign up to the next level to face a new sexy mind blowing pole dancing challenge.
 Pole Dynamics Course-$150
(4- 90Min Classes)
 
Pole Dynamics Bundle-$240, Regular Price-$265,  Save-$25
(Includes The Following-(4)90Min Classes & 5Class Card)
 
Sign Up Now Limited Spaces Left 
PD Level 1 Tuesdays Starting 10/16/12  7:00pm-8:30pm Click Here To Sign Up
PD Level 1  Wednesdays Starting 10/17/12 8:00pm-8:30pm Click Here To Sign Up
PD Level 1 Thursdays Starting 10/18/12 6:00pm-7:30pm  Click Here To Sign Up
PD Level 4 Thursdays Starting 10/18/12 8:00pm-9:30pm  Click Here To Sign Up
Standard Class Attire: Top(TShirt or Tank Top),Bottoms(Shorts or Yoga Pants), Footwear(BareFeet), HandTowel(Wipe Your Pole Down) & Yoga Mat(Optional)
212-679-2540

Longest. Day. Ever.

Posted on by Cathy Vandewater

So, I don’t exactly pole for a living. I have two other jobs… a day job, and a no-free-time-after-my-day-job-job.

In case you’re curious, here’s a picture of my day so far: I worked my gym job from 6-10am (which means a 4:30am wake-up call), and now I’m at my day(re: writing/editing) job, where I just got the call that both my Intro (nooooob) and Pleaser (choreo/heels class) are filled up and on… and taking place back to back.

I’m super excited because classes have been slow lately… but wow, this definitely calls for a 9th or 10th cup of coffee today. Oy vey.

Oh well. I’ve got my heels. I’ve got the “fuck it all” attitude that only sleep deprivation can create. I’ve also got some really, really tight shorts today, so you know class is going to be good. BRING IT.

In other news: PROGRESS!!!! By my 3rd day of practice I’m hitting a static AND a spinning “Jenyne” climb really consistently, and I learned a new straight-leg sit (look ma, no hands! or feet!) that looks sooooo pretty and ballerina-y.

I need to take a picture and send it to my parents so that that’s the image they have of me dancing forever.

Anyway, I’m pretty sore and rather hideously banged up in the inner thigh and foot area, but, that just makes me feel scrappy… so let’s do this.

Anybody try the Ms. Butterfly climb? Hope everybody’s making mini breakthroughs this week.

Happy Twirls!
Cathy

Getting MAD FIT in 8 super weird places

Posted on by Cathy Vandewater

ImageAh, more reasons to love pole. So. Freaking. Much.

I know a lot of people dance to mix up their work out routines (great idea, by the way!), but fitness has always been just a nice plus of pole for me.

I mean… I’m the type that gets really frustrated when my muscles start giving out because dang, I wanted to practice that one thing one more time!

But the weird thing is, it’s always super random muscles that get tired from pole. Last night I had to give laybacks a rest not because my legs were giving out, but because my big toe was cramping.

Seriously?

Seriously big toe? You’re going to play me like that?

As our instructors like to say though, you can’t ignore even the little muscle issues because a toe cramp can definitely screw with your leg muscles, which can in turn screw with your grip.

Which can then screw with your head. Because you landed on it. OH SNAP.

But seriously, cramps aside, here are weird muscle groups I’ve noticed I’m accidentally keeping in top condition:

1. Inner thighs

Okay this is actually pretty awesome. I remember being in middle school and finding out what “thunder thighs” meant for the first time, staring at my legs for a bit, then frantically doing leg lifts out of my mom’s Jane Fonda book.

Eventually though, I realized “spot reducing” is kinda BS, and resigned myself to a little inner thigh chub. NBD, right?

NOT UNTIL YOU HAVE AMAZING INNER THIGHS. Holy crap, trying not to die while hanging upside down from your thighs is like, the best training ever, apparently, because my inner thighs are looking boss. I mean, I guess I’ll take it?

2. Deltoids

This kinda pisses me off, because I assumed that pole dance would trick out my arms. Nope, just the shoulders.

In fact, the contrast between my super tight delts and loose, ever-so-floppy triceps just makes the whole arm situation look worse. Damn you, fiercely toned delts. Damn you to hell.

3. Calves

Can’t pretend to be angry about this. “Imaginary high heels” at all times (ie. standing on your toes) makes for some awesome, accidentally toned calves that look baller in real heels.

Downside: the shame of running in shoes with lifts in the back. The guy at the shoe store was horrified by by my apparent muscle imbalances, so that’s what I ended up with.*Shame*.

4. Forearms, wrists, and hands

This is kind of a do or die situation, really. After I weaned myself off Dry Hands (grip aid’s a hell of a drug!), my wrists and hands had to get stronger… because I couldn’t really spare any more skin rubbing off, and they must have known that.

I mean, I guess my forearms never really looked fat or anything, but I can the difference. I find myself giving very intimidating handshakes. Though that could also be the cray cray callouses I have, that are scary people. Whoops.

5. Obliques

ROCK ON, I love my new side abs! Kinda wish the rest of the abs would catch up, but I’ll take what I can get. I think it’s all the leg swinging, twisting, and wrapping, but I can actually see individual, Bat-man ablets happening along my rib cage. That’s DEFINITELY a pole perk.

6. Upper back

Holy god is all I can say about this. In addition to posture improvement, my upper back is mighty fine in the muscle department. I think it’s safe to say that this is where the majority of effort is coming from in pole, not arms (at least with spins).

7. Feet and ankles

Weird, right? But all the push offs, the climbing, the ankle hook make their mark. I’m hoping this helps with running, since the top of my feet tend to get tired. Is there a word for that muscle? Moving on.

8. Biceps

Okay this is not a weird muscle. But yes, climbing and inverting will tone the shit out of it.

Any weird places you’ve noticed firming up with pole?

How about muscles you WISH would get stronger, to help with dance?

I work with a lot of personal trainers at my day job so I’m thinking of asking them for help with a strength building routine. If they give me a baller work-out, I’ll be sure to share!

Happy twirls!

Cathy

Dance fuel: what’s on your plate?

Posted on by Cathy Vandewater
…GET IN MY BELLY.

The weirdest thing happened to me this week: everything I ate and drank tasted like salt.

At first I thought someone was punking me. Then I thought something might be wrong with my tap water. Finally, I wrote it off as stress, or maybe dehydration, and vowed to just power down more (sea)water and try to mellow out more.

It sucked because I’ve been HUNGRY, but everything I put in my mouth made me feel sick. I threw out so much food! So sad.
And the most annoying part of all of this, of course, has been keeping my energy up for practice and classes when everything tastes… wrong.

The quick fix for me turned out to be peanut butter-banana smoothies (sucking those calories down with a straw like a soldier!), so thank god for blenders. But I’ve been missing my normal dance foods, hard.

Thankfully, I figured out what’s wrong, and it’s soooooo silly: my new mouthwash! Apparently this particular brand has had tons of complaints about messing with peoples’ taste buds, some for weeks at a time. So I’m off the stuff, and things are slowly starting to taste normal again.

Best part: getting back my favorite “dance fuel”! Oh whole grain bagel with peanut butter, how I have missed you! You too, peppers-and-eggs with toast (and way too much ketchup).

I’m not a nutritionist or anything, but I have done some trial and error with pre-dance foods, and I’ve discovered that my favorite pre-class meals have something in common: a mix of fat/protein/grains.

A bagel and jelly or butter alone, for instance, tastes great, and gears you up for like an hour. But… that’s basically my commute to the studio! When my stomach is growling two classes later, shit is not poppin anymore.

Thus, as cute as you want to look in your tiny pole clothes, you can’t skimp on small servings of fat and protein with your carbs if you’re going to really dance. They’ll carry you through practice long after that sugar has burned off.

The key is to keep it all in moderation (you don’t want to be sweating bacon grease or anything….ew). Also important: make sure your portions stay on the medium side, and finish them up two hours before you get moving. That should help stave off any tummy woes.

Finally: WATER. Omg, so important. It’s easy to forget how hard you’re working in a dance class because you’re having fun, but you need to be hydrating before, during, and after. It will help you digest your food better, avoid cramps, and NOT PASS OUT. In the summer months especially, that’s a risk, so take it seriously!

I’m sort of bad with this because I loooooove coffee, but I make sure to put extra ice in there if I’m drinking it cold–and to refill my bottle with water as soon as I hit the studio.

So what are your favorite dance foods? Any tips or tricks to keep your energy up?

Classes tomorrow–check the schedule!

Happy twirls,

Cathy

Breakthrough!!!

Posted on by Cathy Vandewater

First layback and first chopper achieved in the space of one week. Also hitting my first successful headstand mounts. All those reverse crunches are paying off!

On a separate note, anybody in the Tri-state area, go see Sweet Charity at The New Harlem Arts Theatre, featuring one of my amazing students on pole!

Oh, and last day for 60% off a 5 class card at EDC! You can buy here.

Happy twirls!
Cathy

Thigh holds update:

Posted on by Cathy Vandewater

I’ll be brief: THEY DON’T HURT LIKE A MOFO ANYMORE!

They still hurt, but, as I cheating on my studio yet again last night, I found I was able to maintain a pole sit indefinitely while waiting for the rest of the class to even climb. We’re talking at least a minute. (!!)

Also, CLIMBING! I need to start timing myself because I feel like I was getting major air over and over like a freaking monkey.

I’m not blathering on about this to brag, but because I remember all to clearly trying these things for the first time.

They were impossibly hard, and painful, and I remember thinking, There’s no way I’ll ever be able to do this.

(*Freddy Mercury fist*)

Practice makes perfect guys, it really, truly does.

It also makes killer biceps 😉

OPEN HOUSE TONIGHT! EDC studios on 5th and 28th St at 6pm! I’m teaching intro and spins, starting at 6:30, but there’s tons of great non-pole classes you can sample too! Totally free.

JOIN US. (Read that in a creepy cult voice).

More later when I’m not swamped.

Happy twirls!
Cathy

Pole Dancer=/=Stripper (It’s about to get ranty in here)

Posted on by Cathy Vandewater

You guys.

Seriously, you guys.

It’s going to get real in here.

Here’s what a pole dancer looks like:

Swap out the skirt for shorts and you basically have my class outfit.

Try not to get too turned on.

Can we have a come to Jesus talk?

Because everybody and their mother seems to think pole dancing=stripping.

*insert rage face here*

Okay, I get that the two are related. They’re not exactly mutually exclusive. But just as every stripper is not a pole dancer, every pole dancer (or even “exotic” dancer) does NOT remove clothes for an act, or dance for money. Or men, even. Speaking for myself, I don’t think I could ever come up with the balls to! My usual audience is a room full of women in sweatshorts 🙂

Funny enough though, a lot of people get the idea that all pole dance instructors come from a gentleman’s club background.

Not that there’s anything wrong with that–that’s where many AMAZING dancers got their start–it’s just not fair to assume.

So allow me to set the record straight with my own fascinating story:

October 2011, I bought a Groupon.

Why? Because it sounded like fun! And it was like, 30 bucks for 5 classes. Having taken $15/hr belly dance classes for years (and those classes don’t even involve expensive props!) I knew this was a deal.

So I bought the shit out of it.

Here’s what happened: it kicked my ass. I had no idea how hard it was going to be.

I walked out of that first class bruised, stiff, chafed, and bloody (the skin came off both of my wrists).

I thought I was in shape, and boy was I wrong. But throughout all the pain and frustration, in my first class, I achieved exactly ONE spin. Out of at least 30 attempts.

One weightless, thrilling, wind-blowing-in-my-hair, HOLY CRAP BOTH MY FEET ARE OFF THE GROUND spin.

It was the most fun I could remember having in months.

I was hooked.

I bought a 5 class card for that studio in Brooklyn, and then one in Manhattan so I get could my fix 5 days a week–in my borough on the weekends, and in Manhattan on my lunch breaks and nights when I wasn’t working my evening job.

I bought nice shorts… then several bottles of Dry Hands… and then, shocking myself, my own $400, professional pole. Not the cheapy kind meant for prancing around, looking sexy next to, but the kind that could actually support your weight for serious tricks.

All the obsessive practice at home paid off, and this past spring, after class one day, the instructor said the manager of the studio wanted to talk to me.

The manager asked if I’d be interested in teaching.

Several months of training, studying, and assistant teaching later, I’m an instructor.

I love it, and the best part is–I can tell my students are having as much of a blast as I am.

What I am not: a stripper. Or a go-go dancer. Or anything that has an iota of connection to titillating men, earning tips, or pleasing a single person but myself and my students.

A few other things that might shock you:

1. I wear shorts and a T-shirt or tank to classes.

So do my students. Nobody comes in hoop earrings and thongs (although if that’s what makes you feel good, WEAR IT–no one cares!)

If it weren’t for the poles though, it would mostly look exactly like any other exercise class.

2. In almost year of dancing and training, the only people who have seen me dance have been teachers and students

There are exactly two exceptions to that: a friend who wanted to learn how to climb (he couldn’t do it!!! LOL, pole is tough, bitches!), and another friend I showed off a new spin to. That’s it.  Don’t get me wrong, I love guys… they’re just not really the reason I dance.

3. I teach because I’m ambitious… not because I’m “retired”

“Driven” doesn’t really cover it… I’m a hustler, baby! When given the opportunity to turn a hobby I love into something bigger–a livelihood, and a way of sharing something I enjoy and believe in–I had to take it. And I’m so glad I did. That said, if I were in the strip game, I’m sure I’d be making more money, so why would I retire at 25 to teach?! Logic, people.

4. I’m not slutty, and I don’t have low self esteem

If anything, having such an expressive outlet has made me respect myself more than ever–and I see that effect in my students too. On the whole, they’re the classiest, smartest, most confident group of women I see all day. Considering that this is New York, and I also work in a corporate office, that’s really saying something. Pole dancers are BOSS girls.

Probably because they don’t have to prove anything to anyone.

As for me, if I wanted to show off my sexy, I’m sure I could find any easier way to do it than busting my ass trying to hang upside down on a pole. Let’s not get it twisted.

And while we’re on the topic of bodies, since starting such a demanding sport, I see mine much less as a decoration and much more as a machine. I don’t care if you think it’s pretty. I care that my legs can hold my body weight.

So there you go. I’m not a prude, but it really bugs me that people consider pole dancing so intrinsically sexual. For me, it’s always been challenging, fun, AND gorgeous to look at. It’s time to get those descriptors in the mix, too.

Happy twirls,

Cathy

PS. Classes this weekend! 1pm Intro and 2pm Spins!

PPSS. Here’s something awesome to look at: