Pole Stars – Page 5 – The Spin Diaries: Your Guide to Everything Pole and Aerial

Reflecting on a summer of poling (lightly)

Posted on August 24, 2015August 24, 2015 by Cathy Vandewater

Hey bitches.

My mom asked me what I wanted for my birthday this year (tomorrow) and this is the list I gave her (from which she could pick an item or two):

-Ballet slippers

-OR just a package of black socks. Exactly the same thing, practically.

-An over the door pull up bar (like, self explanatory).

-Ear buds.

This is an accurate reflection of my interests this summer.

I signed up for “summer school” at Body and Pole, which, in hindsight, was a mistake.

For one thing, I didn’t calculate how many weekends I’d need to be out of town this summer–camping trip, wedding shower, wedding-wedding, special visit home to visit the Lil Stinker who looks like this now, CAN YOU STAND IT??

My favorite classes–and frankly, the only ones I’m fit enough to do in a row–are all on weekends: ballet, flexibility, and poleography.

The classes available on weeknights are too early (5pm???? Body and Pole you need to calm down, you’re a half hour away and I get off work at 6), or too freaking advanced (we all remember my foray with “floor fusion”).

😐

The upside is, without feeling guilty about spending precious pole $$$ on flex classes, I did definitely did get super into flexibility this summer. And that is (sorry, I have to do it again), 100% due to the lovely teachings of Emily Sanderson, who was just made flexibility director/czar/empress/etc at Body and Pole. Coming back from that low back disc issue, I could weep tears of gratitude at the zero-pressure atmosphere she creates in her class. With her cues and notes on where things should feel “interesting” and plenty of modifications, I always know HOW to push a little harder if I want to, but I never, ever feel shamed into doing stuff that doesn’t feel right. I only wish this was true of all of my fitness classes. #SHADE.

Okay stopping gushing now, I also had a blast with Polegraphy–and omg, I discovered so much amazing music. Body and Pole had a studio-wide “Glass Animals” movement and now that’s my whole stretching playlist.

Here’s a sample of how sick this music is for pole (this is Emily from flex dancing to Gooey. BTW, COULD YOU JUST DIE at her fluidity???):

I could post a shitton of videos here, but, I just did a dump on instagram, so click the the link to the laptop-friendly version of all those. (Re: instagram: yes, I have one, yes I’m still intimidated by other dancers, and yes, I’ve decided to embrace mediocrity and put it out there. We need more examples of what “intermediate” looks like, or MARION CRAMPE WINS).

Huge ups to Tatiana, Kelly, and Irmingard of B&P for their beautiful choreo which was unfortunately butchered by my willing, yet not terribly able body. The struggle is real, but so is the progress!

What have y’all been up to?

Are you on insta? Can I follow you? I don’t know anyone. Come find me at @thespindiaries!

Now enjoy these pictures I took from”Movies with a View,” plus other miscellaneous summer picks. Movies with a View is basically free movies under the Brooklyn Bridge, and the night I took the pics we saw “Dr. Strangelove.” It was motherfucking hilarious. PROTECT YOUR PRECIOUS BODILY FLUIDS.

Oh, and after that, I’ve dropped a few choice yummy jams from Glass Animals. I HIGHLY recommend you use them as Pandora/Spotify inspiration, they’ll turn up some great pole music.

I discovered orange lipstilck… while I was supposed to be getting ready for the movie.

Other stuff that happened: I met this guy whose banter game was ON POINTE.

I went to my best friend from home’s wedding shower with my mom and my sister 🙂

And I did my hair/put on eyeshadow for the first time this summer in real life (ie. excluding shows).

oh yeah and then it was just the usual suspects on Tinder. #brooklyn.

Glass Animals Songs I Like (presented without comment because this post is already hella long).

1. Gooey (the song Emily’s rocking above)

2. Black Mambo

3. Hazey (Click here to see a clip of some dope Tatiana choreo for this!)

4. Toes

5. Gooey Rework

I saved this one for last because we’re working on choreo for it in Kelly’s poleography class tonight–stay tuned!

XOXO

If straddles hurt your outer thighs, READ THIS

Posted on August 10, 2015August 10, 2015 by Cathy Vandewater

Hey guys,

Enjoying summer?

I’ve been taking some time out to do summer stuff and generally chill in my time off, instead of spending it hunched over my computer as during the work day. So pardon my hiatus!

I did want to drop a quick line though because I haven’t stopped training (though I’m mainly doing flex, ballet barre, and poleography–no hardcore pole right now because my favorite teacher hasn’t been in in a while and I’m STILL having bad experiences with other peeps. *SIGH* Just want to get through a Level 2 without wanted to cry y’all). Anyway, I love my other classes, and as usual when I take class with my utterly fabulous, professional, knowledgeable, infinitely patient, etc etc teachers I I LEARN SO MUCH.

Our flex teacher (WHO I LOVE, OMG YOU GUYS, SHE’S THE LITERAL BEST) asks for requests sometimes, and I recently issued a weird one: butt stretching.

Here’s the background: I have a horrific time with frog/straddle stretches. I’m used to some intense stretching, but while other people say they feel these stretching in their inner thighs, they make me feel like my outer thighs as well as hips are being broken. Like, wishbone-being-pulled-apart style.

This cannot be normal, I thought, so I googled “are straddle splits impossible for some people.” Because it feels that bad to me, and I have seen NO progress, despite making visible gains in all my other flexibility–including shoulders, aka fixing my dinosaur arms. (whaaaaat? I know! Miracles happen.)

What I discovered from a gazillion message boards is, sometimes the issue with painful straddles is not necessarily the muscles that straddles stretch (inner thighs) but the opposing ones: hips, outer thighs, and glutes. By targeting these muscles with stretches like figure four or T-band stretches (I don’t know the name for them but they usually involved turning your leg out and pulling it across your body), you have a better shot at getting to the muscles you actually want to stretch: yo inner thighs!

Class was mostly the typical order of operations, with straddles at the end. I don’t notice anything different, except that our figure fours and T band stretches (I admitted to the teacher when I asked for “butt stretches” that I actually didn’t know any besides these, the ones we were already doing) came right before we went into straddles.

Then a miracle happened. My straddles/froggies hurt like a bitch (lol what else is new), but for the first time ever I felt the pain in my inner thighs!!! Then we did some rolling of the hips and weight shifts and sure enough, I was able to go a little deeper. ie. I MADE PROGRESS.

I asked the teacher after class what did we had done differently (because that was MAGIC), and she said nothing–we had just changed the order. We weren’t doing any additional or different stretches, we were just doing those outer hips and glutes ones right before center splits. The teacher said she felt a difference too, and that she going to do her class like that from now on, which made me feel like less of a wackadoo for asking for “stretches for your butt” while others were requesting classy things like “heart openers.” #elegance

Figure Fo' — King of the Butt Stretches: Figure Fo’

So what’s going on with y’all? I definitely didn’t bother with the flow challenge like I thought I would because my air conditioner has just not been keeping up with this heat. When I get home I just sit on my couch and pant like Jabba the Hut, it’s pretty attractive.

I have been learning some cute combos in class though–I’ll post some poleography clips in another blog. But for now, look at this HAWT routine I saw at “Shtick a Pole in It.”

Shtick a Pole in It is a combo pole/comedy show. No, the dancers don’t tell jokes and the comedians don’t pole haha–they alternate! The comedians were surprisingly hilarious and the dancers were top freaking notch. Like, SICK.

I had two favorites performances but in one of them the dancer (terrifyingly) fell so I don’t think they’ll post it. She was fine and actually resumed the routine after a quick break to wipe the pole down, but it was really too bad because she was obviously a pro and her performance was out of this world until her fall. To her credit she was doing an insane trick combo at the time, so I guess it just goes to show that a slippery pole can strike anyone at any time.

Anyway, here’s my other favorite. My friend said she’s a NY Poler and her name is Anna. You can’t see it in the video, but she had a really lovely ease to her dancing and cute facial expressions which took an already sick routine to the next level. I’m fangirling here but I don’t even care because it was perfection.

Check her out!

And if you’re New York in September, catch the next show! I think they said it would be the last Sunday of the month, but that have yet to post. Check the Facebook group, I’m sure it will be up soon!

BeSpun just started its flow challenge again

Posted on July 13, 2015July 13, 2015 by Cathy Vandewater

Awwww yeah, it’s that time of year again. And this time BeSpun’s Flow challenge is less about freestylin‘ and more about choreography, which I love.

Especially because it looks a lot less complicated that what I’m usually expected to learn in less than an hour of choreography classes on the pole 😐

(if only y’all knew what this was SUPPOSED to look like… and there was another minute of totally blundered choreo after this. You’re killing me Tatiana, haha).

So, Flow Challenge. Are we insies? Please share any videos with me if you participate, because I’m a nosy motherf***er and I wanna see. Here’s a link to the first installment of the challenge, and make sure you follow their facebook group to get new vids as they come out!

Is Esmeralda doing a rockstar spin or is it just me?

Posted on July 6, 2015 by Cathy Vandewater

Things you notice while babysitting…

Disney animators done hit the strip club!

Good dance advice: “tighten your holes!”

Posted on June 8, 2015June 8, 2015 by Cathy Vandewater

The girls and I are prepping for a show next Sunday, so we’re rehearsing on our own (this is one third of us, haha).

Our turns are looking pretty tight (heh) which is shocking to me because I distinctly remember thinking I would NEVER get them.

It didn’t help that our teach Maki (who’s only been in the US straight from Japan for like 2 years off and on) kept yelling the same line that cracked everybody up: “TIGHTEN ALL YOUR….. HOLES!” while gesticulating around the butt area.

It’s funny because she’s very proper I don’t think she meant it to come out as vulgar as it did, but, whatever, she’s right!

To stop a turn on a dime, you have to tighten EVERYTHING… holes included. (can’t even type that without laughing, haha)

Wish us luck!

A call for a return to normalcy in pole

Posted on June 1, 2015July 28, 2016 by Cathy Vandewater

Read this, almost threw my computer with YASness. Like, I was so worked up in agreement that it turned into rage and then back to total agreement again. I’ll copy and past a lil teaser here but please check out the whole (fantastic, with videos) blog here: http://www.badkitty.com/news/when-pole-was-easy/

“Pole has gotten older and some would even say better. I remember thinking that Sara Cretul doing her twisted grip was the most amazing thing ever! Now we have, fonjis, flips, and flaming double-back spiral thingies. We have become a legitimate sport. Tara who? Fluffy skirts were replaced by slightly sexy but sensible outfits. Shoes were no longer the norm unless during Sexy Pole vs Athletic Pole vs Pole Art. Like a junkie I continued to chase the pole dragon and from time to time when I mastered a trick or danced in the dark by myself, I would feel a bit of the original rush. But the reality was it became harder and harder to replicate that high. Something was missing. Pole became a serious sport and I was still looking for simple. Pole was hard.”

^omg so much yes, right?

When I first got interested in pole, it was because of people like Leigh Ann. You guys already know how I feel about her. She danced, I couldn’t take my eyes off her. And actually, I remember thinking that the upside down stuff was kind of boring–I like watching her DANCE.

Now Leigh Ann is famous for her insanely acrobatic “Diamonds” video… a lot changes in seven years. But her old videos are just as popular, which I think says something about how we all feel about the new, gymnastic trend in pole dancing.

I won’t call it “easy,” but I miss a time when pole wasn’t so damn hard, and when everybody wasn’t routinely getting injured trying to wrench themselves into poses Ukrainian former-rhythmic-gymnasts-turned-polers did at the last whatever competition.

I associate pole with pain so much now that it’s something I have to build myself up to do, whereas it used to be something I used to really look forward to. I remember that one Leen Isabel cartoon that I can’t find really speaking to me in the winter months… it was a panel of a blustry, dark winter day outside, and then a sparkly, pink, happy studio inside (and maybe a unicorn?). That comic totally represented my feelings of walking into a pole studio after a long, boring, glitter-free day. Pole was magic. Pole was challenging, but in a fun way. Pole didn’t hurt that much, except in small, manageable doses that reminded your of your progress. (Somebody please link me to that comic if you can find it!!)

Am I just being being bitter, or are other people a tad nostalgic too?

Let’s face it, I’m not 110 pounds and have no background in gymnastics or ballet so I also feel like most of the “hard” pole stuff is just not gonna happen for me. So like, I’m just not all that interested in it for logistical reasons (on top of just being lazy and wanting to have fun.

What do you guys think?

How did you first feel about pole when you started out?

Hey guys, I’m writing for Bustle now!

Posted on April 16, 2015July 28, 2016 by Cathy Vandewater

Super excited because I have READ Bustle since it was a thing.

Here’s a blog they let me write about pole dancing and dating 😀

http://www.bustle.com/articles/75217-7-things-to-know-about-dating-a-woman-who-pole-dances-because-you-shouldnt-expect-her

HELLLLLLL

Posted on April 8, 2015April 8, 2015 by Cathy Vandewater

Divina Comedia aka The Hell Show came and went, and good times were had.

Here’s a few photos!

When I got my costume for dress rehearsal it was missing the halter strap. so… definitely ran this number in a tube top. #notrecommended

Locked out of the theater in full makeup. Also not recommended.

Putting eye shadow UNDER my eyes was a first.

Waiting around backstage during tech runs

Chaos in the holding room. and this was only for hell!! purgatory-heaven got another room.

Beyond rehearsing for this and two other shows, a lot has been going on… but nothing worth talking about.

So instead, here’s a couple videos of me playing on spin pole and trying not to barf.

(Spin pole is REALLY not my thing as of yet but I’m working on it).

Here’s me:

Attempting an angel spin. (LOVE this song, it’s Active Child, Hanging On)

Attempting a simple thigh grip and being thwarted. (The Weeknd, Earned It, which is of course a cut off the 50 Shades soundtrack which was an ACCIDENT. I’m sorry).

Oh and then my music cut out at one point but I kept going, and when I watched the video later it was kinda funny. (Cee Lo’s Fool for You, and I’m linking to the version with Melonie Fiona because it’s da bomb dot com).

What’s new with everybody?

❤

Dance Moms is on Netflix, so there goes my week.

Posted on February 12, 2015July 28, 2016 by Cathy Vandewater

I just discovered this show. Not really feeling the fake mom drama/bickering/blahbityblah, but the dancing? The pressure? The real talk on technique? Yasssssssss.

Deep thoughts I had while watching Dance Moms for the first time, in no particular order… with some Abby Lee gifs to help illustrate my feelings.

1. Fuck you, mom, for not putting me in dance classes from age 3. I could have had my splits 20 years ago.

too old

2. Actually I’m sorry mom, dance classes like these probably would have made me hate dancing and would have crowded out all other interests in my life. 7 hours a day? Like seriously?

3. If I were a child, I would find it really confusing to see two authority figures screaming at each other in front of me.

4. Maddie. Wow. It’s beyond technique. This kid just speaks movement, fluently.

5. I feel like there’s a lot of life lessons happening on this show, that I wish I would have learned earlier. For example: corrections aren’t personal–the move should be what the move is intended to be. If you don’t perform it properly, you’ll get corrected. No reason to catch hurt feelings.

6. I feel like it’s the job of families of kids who perform like this to remind them that they’re important as a person outside of dance–but not to contradict corrections they’re getting (ie. “You’re dancing PERFECTLY, your teacher doesn’t know what she’s talking about”). I think kids are tough enough to handle picky corrections on one thing (like dance) if they have a strong support system reminding them that they’re worthy and loved for 100 other reasons (outside of how well they do that one skill).

7. Like, Maddie though. Are you serious? And her attitude is so killer too. I feel like I could learn a lot from how this kid operates–rolling with the punches, trying her hardest for simple the love of doing it right (not to win approval, etc), being fearless.

Let’s take a moment and appreciate her.

8. Don’t argue with your teacher. She’s right. Even if she’s being mean about it. Kendall, you ARE sticking your rib cage out.

9. Accept what looks like a loss gracefully. When Maddie was passed over for the starring spot of a music video (one that required more posing than dancing), she actually won the opportunity to dance her butt off throughout the whole thing–which was a spotlight on her true talent. Because she kept a good attitude, she danced beautifully and in my opinion, totally stole the show.

10. It’s a long game–win or lose competition to competition, dedication to clean technique, hard work, and pure enjoyment of dancing wins over time. Again, totally obsessed with Maddie and it’s showing, but, you can tell watching this kid that dancing naturally feels great and right to her. You can’t hold that kind of talent and attitude down. It’s just too fun to watch.

Other notes from the week: I tried spinning for the first time. My ass is KILLING me (those seats are really hard) but so are my quads, thus I’m thinking this might be good cross-training for improving my extensions.… a never-ending project.

How’s everybody? Did we all catch Leigh Ann killing it over at PopSugar? Totally doing this workout at home on Saturdays when I’m too lazy to go to the studio.

Also, love these guys proving that just because we make it look easy doesn’t make it so.

XOXOXO

Dear men: here’s how to ruin a date with a pole dancer.

Posted on January 16, 2015 by Cathy Vandewater

I’m sure you guys have seen those “ruin a date with an XYZ in 5 words or less” hashtags floating around, and I have SO many thoughts on this, as a pole dancer.