I followed BeSpun’s Flow Challenge*** on a whim (you guys all know my obsession with Leigh Ann) and it’s been TORTURING ME.
I’ve been home for a wedding and thus away from my pole while these gorgeous flow videos are going up and I WANT TO TRY ALL THE FLOWS RIGHT NOW AHHHHH.
(***Important note: “BeSpun” autocorrects as “Pubes” on an iPad. The more you know.)
Anyway, check them out–if not to submit to the video battle, then at least to get a little inspiration or a new combo to play with. Of course because they are from Leigh Ann’s studio they are SeXXXy OMGZ, and I am totally okay with that.
Are we loving these moves? Hating them? I just hope they look as good without shoes because lol nope @ the shoes.
And here’s what I’VE been up to: some flying, some weddinging, and some holding a baby-while-playing-dominoes. The usual.
Elegance.She was helping me add.
And speaking of flow and being at home, I got yet another Netflix DVD from a queue I clearly made two years ago called “Strip to It: Core Moves and Fantasies.”
The point of the DVD is obviously to teach you a few moves to put together and “perform” for a significant other, but, shhhh, the off label use: a terrific crash course in filler moves for pole!
If you’re one of those people who does TRICKS TRICKS TRICKS in class but has trouble smoothing things out in a routine, these are some super cute basics to mix in. Obviously, the DVD is called “Strip to It” so the choreo is on the sexy side, but you can definitely dial it down to flirty, or even add a gymnastics edge to make it more your speed. I mean, basics are basics, am I right? And the best part: you don’t need a pole or even a whole lot of space to practice these at home.
I must have forgotten that this is New York City, and that a pole audition would mean some of the best polers on the planet.
This occurred to me (how serious the competition would be) on the subway this morning, and got so nervous on the way to my audition that I had to jump off the train a stop early and nervous-pee at JC Penney.
I wish I could I could tell you my fears were unfounded, but, they weren’t. I walked in the room and there was a girl doing a center split and another chick on the pole in an elbow-hold Ayesha. It took all my willpower not to bow my head, grab my bag, and slip right back outta there.
But I, took a few deep breaths, resigned myself to possible humiliation, and stayed. While we were warming up before the free dance, the other girls hopped on the pole and did tricks that are way, way beyond my reach. But–and here’s the advantage to being second to last in line–I noticed that as the other girls began freedancing, the ones with the best tricks were the least proficient in flow.
And, you guys, flow is my jam. THIS IS HOW I CAN DISTINGUISH MYSELF, I thought.
So, when it was my turn, I did what I knew, and what I knew I could rock. I avoided a few flashy tricks that I’d just learned because I knew nerves and a lack of muscle memory (plus some seriously dry air and a cold pole) would thwart me. I listened to the music, tossed my hair and threw myself into my spins (which the other girls were skipping in lieu of poses). I got so into it that it caught me by surprise when the song was over. And then I heard some lovely words: “Very nice fluidity!”
I didn’t quite match up with the best of the best, trick-wise, but I think I stood out in my own way.
No officially word yet on whether I got “it” (more on what “it” is later), but, I feel pretty good about holding myself together in the face of some serious intimidation.
I think my takeaway is, don’t let what other people can do make you feel less-than. We all have something special to offer.
And it also brings me back to my answer to one of the interview questions today, on why I love pole: it’s because, no matter what level you’re at, you can make what you’re doing look BEAUTIFUL. If all you’re doing is walking, it’s entirely possible to do it fabulously. And you fucking SHOULD. Life is too short, mang.
Anyway, cross your fingers form me and take a chance this week, in my honor. I BELIEVE IN YOU.
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!
Uhhhhhh…. dedicate 5 or 6 years of your life to pole and develop a taste for pain?
…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.
“A personal project like anyone else’s personal project. Mine’s just a little more… personal, I guess.”
Wouldn’t it be funny if you were dancing in front of James Spader, and he kept exactly that expression on his face the whole time?
Mmm, James Spader. But that’s not what this post is about.
This post is about videotaping.
And the lies we tell ourselves about how sexy we look.
(See what I did there?!!)
Concern for my sex appeal wasn’t the reason I started taping my dances. Actually, it was pure, primal fear of getting fired.
I’ma keep it real: when I’m training, I usually stop 5 or 6 times per song to curse, make faces at myself in the mirror, and instant-replay anything I screw up. I also take regular breaks during a song to booty pop at random, scratch, and think about life while languidly drinking water.
This is not acceptable during classes.
(Apparently).
(Educated guess).
Anyway, this a problem! Because a huge part of all of my classes is the “review” portion, where students monkey-see monkey-do their way through a continuous, full length routine… and I’m the one leading.
It’s hard enough remembering which moves to do (only those from that week’s curriculum) and which sides I’ve done them on (left and right need equal practice!) without stopping to think. But then there’s the whole “talking everyone through the routine as I physically do it” aspect. IT’S RILLY RILLY HARD, YOU GUYS.
I figured I better scare myself straight on the stopping thing, so I got a tripod to videotape my dances with. Just to mind-fuck myself a little. I wasn’t really planning on watching myself.
But watch myself I did.
Friends, here’s what I couldn’t unsee:
-Confused, bored-looking facial expressions (I think they were meant to be sexy?)
-Speeding up my walk right before I attempt a trick (so much for the element of surprise)
-Walking exactly three steps right, then three steps left before every trick (yawn.)
-And best of all, for every one handed spin, I saw myself balling my free hand into a fist and scrunching it against my chest while spinning.
HAWT. I don’t know about you, but I find nothing more aesthetically pleasing than a dancer who looks sleepy and developmentally challenged.
The good news: taping yourself, as painful as it may be, can be huge helpful for diagnosing (and treating) the following problem areas that make for a lumpy, awkward, DEFINITIVELY UNSEXY PERFORMANCE.
You can do better, children. So be brave and tape yourself! I guarantee that after you stop crying, the following areas will improve:
1. Spotting and eye contact
It’s easy to forget while you’re in the studio, but your dance should be directed at someone. Aiming your performance–even at a camera–should remind you to flirt, angle your body toward, and spot your spins on an audience. Or one person. You minx, you.
2. Flair
No, we’re not talking about the pins in Office Space. “Flair” in pole dance is that je ne sais quoi that lets the audience know you’re conscious while dancing. Hair flips, hip swings, touching the pole, running your hands along your body; all of these little moves go a long way toward a hypnotic performance.
3. Form
You know how you hear “point your toes!” in class all the damn time? Now you’ll see why–IT LOOKS GAWD AWFUL WHEN YOU DON’T. While you’re at it, arch your back too, and stop looking at your shoes.
4. Flow
Are you a pole noob? I guarantee that this is what your dancing looks like: 1. walking around the pole excruciatingly slowly 2. triumphantly blasting through two or three spins 3. freezing 4. walking around the pole excruciatingly slowly 5. repeating the sequence from step 2.
Then comes the best part: realizing you’ve used a mere 32 seconds of a four minute song.
If nothing teaches you to pace yourself while dancing, the agony of watching yourself do this on tape will.
5. Cheating
Oh, you thought I wouldn’t notice, did you? You thought you could just hop a little to get higher on the pole and sneak in a little more spin time. NBD, amirite?
WRONG.
Watch it on tape–a little “jump” completely breaks your flow, and is the angel of death to your spin momentum. Watch it and weep, cheater: you fool NO ONE.
So talk to me. Do you hate watching yourself on video? Do you keep the really embarrassing stuff to learn from, or delete it right after?
My proudest video moment: I caught it on video that time I was doing an extended sitting spin and whacked my foot on a bookshelf. I of course stopped the video and saved it immediately.
Speaking of dance vids, if I get brave enough, I’m thinking of posting a few tutorial vids in the near future. So if you’ve got any form or technique questions, or specific tricks or spins you’d like me to cover, let me know!
Meanwhile… U mad cause you don’t have a video camera? Want me to pick on your bad habits for you? Come to a class, yo!
The Spin Diaries: Your Guide to Everything Pole and Aerial 