Music Mondays: The Devlin’s, World Outside

Posted on by Cathy Vandewater

Do you guys remember when Natalie Portman was a stripper and popped what looked damn near a center split in Closer?

I do. Here’s some grungy Natalie realness to kick off a rainy Monday:

Did anybody go to the Aera show last Friday? I was there and seated uncomfortably close.

Bae got his foot (only one) washed as part of the show and I could smell Sam Doblick’s hair. CLOSE. SERIOUSLY CLOSE.  (His hair smelled really, really good btw. #adonisstatus).

This is my foot literally on the stage before the show.

This show… this show was just boss AF. I noticed so many more details being close and seeing this a second time because I wasn’t as concerned with plot points, who was who, etc.  Even bae noticed how the dancers stayed in character even in the wings, and how gorgeous the acro work was (we couldn’t really see anything that happened on the floor from where we sat last time, and wow, did we miss a lot). The grace and poise was utter perfection. Can’t wait to catch another show from these guys!

But that was Friday. Saturday, I had a show with Bellyqueen in scenic New Jersey! Only being partially snarky about this because we DID actually get to side outside and eat snacks in the sunshine under a tree.

Pre-show grind with the Fire Blossoms!

It was pretty fun! We did the same choreo we’ve been working on (and experiencing technical difficulty in rehearsals with. Ahem).

And then, I swear to god, after 10 years of trying: I put on my own false eyelashes without resorting to smearing the glue directly onto my eyelids and just mashing them on. Proud moment. I never remember to take a pic of my hard makeup work until after the show when I’m sweaty and gross so this was taken literally on the way to the stage 6 minutes before showtime.

 

 Last random thought: today’s Teacher Appreciation day so be sure to be extra nice to your pole instructors! They make some hard shit look easy AF, be kind to them, maybe bring them a Luna bar or a bottle of Dry Hands or something.

If You’re in NYC, Go See Aera’s Fades Away Tonight

Posted on by Cathy Vandewater

So many of my favorite teachers from Body and Pole are in this, and, to quote the guy next to us at the show, they really should have charged more because “This is a SHOW. ”

fades away 2
Not to sound like Stefan, but this… experience… has everything:  men 9 inch heels, latex, opera on the pole, lip synching, Ben Affleck (not really tho), wall climbing, jumping from silks to pole, BDSM, pasties… the list goest on.

The dets:
Friday nights April 8 – April 22, 7 PM at the House of YES
2 Wyckoff Ave, Brooklyn, New York 11237
Tickets: http://www.eventbrite.com

Oh and I guess there’s a party afterwards tonight. Check the Facebook page for specific info if you’re going and let me know what you thought!

PS. Word to the wise: ear plugs.

fades away party

Things That Piss Me Off, Entry #3,012: Teachers That Tell You You Can’t Be Taught

Posted on by Cathy Vandewater

Y’all I am PISSED.

EXTREMELY PISSED.

Let’s say there was an adorable bae named Bae. He’s basically the cutest and the person that bought me that crazy stripper light thing for my pole.

He  took me to urgent care on Christmas Eve when my ear exploded. He also fearlessly looked into its yucky, green depths to report what was happening. (Warning: this video is gross).

Sometimes he sneakily meditates while I’m in the shower, but he always answers my questions. (Shouted from the bathroom: “Babe can you check if the milk is still good?”)

His answer:

IMG_4385
“Milk is good.”

Bae wants to learn to swim. He doesn’t know how, and as an adult, he’s made the gutsy move of taking swimming lessons. I’m a lifeguard so I was all, I’ll teach you to swim! And he was all, “I’m serious about this, it’s not your problem!”

He took his first lesson. And you guys, the teacher told him he’s too top-heavy to float.

…

…

.

Obviously, I flipped out. We started our own lessons. Bae does indeed suck at floating, but we worked on it. A week later, I walked into the pool at our gym after work and saw this: him swimming with a pull buoy.

Sorry Michael, you're just too top heavy.
Sorry Michael, you’re just too top heavy.

Two weeks later he’s swimming without any assistance, and his teacher (who maintained that he simply could not be taught to swim up till the third lesson) is amazed at his progress and moved him up to level 2. Bae now practices on his own more than I hit the pole studio, and loves being in the water.

What’s the secret sauce? I don’t know. But I’ll tell you one thing, I didn’t tell him he couldn’t be taught.

Who does that???

Now don’t get me wrong: certain body types are better suited to some sports than other. I have big hips and trust… it takes a lot to get them up over my head on the pole, for instance.

But a teacher DOES NOT…. let’s say it again, DOES NOT try and pass their bad teaching off on a person’s body type. That shit is uncalled for.

First of all… have you seen Michael Phelps? I rest my case.

Second of all, maybe try another approach? On the pole, if somebody can’t spin yet, how about dips? If they can’t dip yet, let’s work on walking. With swimming especially, there are so many tools available to get someone moving in the water, whatever they need assistance with. Flippers, pull buoys, kick boards, you name it. A teacher’s lack of imagination or problem solving skills should never be dumped on a student like that.

Have you guys ever had an experience like this? Did you speak up, or work on your skills on your own? Did it turn you off to a sport or skill altogether?

I hope not, but if so please help me bitch about it.

Why are you here? Please take this pole. (freudian slip)

Posted on by Cathy Vandewater

Quick question: WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT DO YOU WANT.

JK, but not really. I’m curious about you. How long have you been poling? Years or just curious and thinking of starting?

Do you read pole blogs for information and tips or fun and commiseration?

I’m at a crossroads here. I miss teaching a looooooooooot.

I feel like I’d like to start just posting simple, cute combo videos with breakdowns, because that would be fun for me, and an excuse to dance more.

But, drawbacks:

1. I don’t know if y’all want that shit. I’m a firmly “beginner-intermediate” level dancer, and I get the feeling everybody else is doing flips and shit and would find level 1/2 combos boring. (Maybe that’s just on instagram?).

2. I get inspired by music and I know if I post me dancing to a song via YouTube it will get taken down immediately. (Does anyone know a way around this?)

3. I feel a lot of pressure to have a gorgeous background for vids, but let’s face it, I live in a studio apartment in Brooklyn and you can choose either a view of the bathroom or a view of my refrigerator, and that’s what I’m working with.

So anyway, please take this pole, and give me some advice or something in the form of a comment. Or tell me how stupid this blog is or about your cat, or whatever, that’s cool too.

 

Me and my boobs are A STAR

Posted on by Cathy Vandewater

So like 9 months ago I participated in a student photo shoot at Body and Pole.

They were having actual students from all the different classes take pictures doing what we normally do in class to make some images for B&P’s new website.

I gave up hope long ago of ever seeing these because it had been months, but lo and behold–I go on the site to sign up for flex class today and OH SNAP it’s my boobs!!

No literally: just my boobs. That’s me (right boob, technically) in the pink, right behind Kelly WORKING in this photo. Check that demi-pointe action, are you serious???

Screen Shot 2016-03-23 at 3.24.19 PM

So yeah, only my boob is in this photo, but you know what? I will take it. Because I’m confident that I was doing something weird with my face anyway.

Luckily, BOTH my giant boobs made it into the flex photo, though unfortunately, my neck was nowhere to be seen.

😐

Screen Shot 2016-03-23 at 3.23.48 PM

In my defense, we had to hold some extremely uncomfortable poses for a very long time.

But definitely check out the new B&P website–especially the level descriptions for pole, which have a very helpful video breakdown of what you learn in each level. It helped me I.D. a few things I may have been skipping over. Good stuff!