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.

the constant problem of finding music for classes

Posted on by Cathy Vandewater

you guys. uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuugh.

How to say this. I like hip hop.

I like rap.

I shock and confuse many people with my knowledge of crip walking.

Yet, I’m sooooo not down with The Music Those Dang Kids Are Listening To These Days.

Honestly. It’s not cool anymore. I mean, why is everybody always trying to “beat the pussy up?” What did the pussy do to anybody? I can’t even.

So, the point is, I get requests in my class for 2 Chainz a lot. (I know, I find the numericals and zany misspelling of “chains” to be cool and exciting too). So, I go to pull a few songs for my ‘pod.

Here’s what I found. First few seconds of this song=head bobbing, I dig it!

Then came the verses.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH.

Same problem with “Ball” by TI. These hoes so drunk, huh?

How can I lead a class of women through a class with shit about poppin’ pussies blasting in the background?

WHAT DOES POPPING A PUSSY EVEN MEAN.

What the infinitesimal fuck. Seriously. I like hip hop and rap. So do my students. But why is it ALL written like women are never going to hear it? Is it really that hard for somebody to just write a single damn rhyme that doesn’t degrade and insult the ladies who just want to listen to it and dance like everybody else?

This isn’t even about feminism (although sure, we can take it there, buy me a drink some time). It’s about me wanting to play some good beats in my class and I can’t because seriously, I’m not going to have a class of my cool, smart, hard-working girls listen to shit about bitches and hoes choking on you-know-whats.

Damn it.

Okay, I feel better now.

Can you guys recommend any good pole songs? My chicas tend to like hip hop/R&B and my playlist is getting stale, but I seriously can’t find anything that’s not really gross and offensive. Like choking on dicks.

Class tonight, 7pm, Beginner Spins (week one)!

Be sure to sign up @ our new site–danceyourwaynyc.com/schedule.

Much love and happy twirls!

Cathy

10 Item Pole Wish List (Oh god these are so boring)

Posted on by Cathy Vandewater

So let me safely assume no one cares about this. Right? Oh my god, I’m the one writing this and I barely care lalalalalala so boring.

I’ll be brief:

1. Splits

Self explanatory. I’m pretty close on my left side. And let’s just pretend straddles don’t exist right now, okay?

(Wouldn’t mind Alethea’s two-disc stretching DVDs regardless, hint hint wink wink).

Image
Seriously though, this is how awkward I feel like I look in my new heels.

2. Heel pownage

I’d still like to WALK in my new heels. But seriously, I just got legit stripper lucites and I can’t even climb in them, let along do stuff where my feet touch the ground.

3. Straight leg inverts

Yeah, right now I’m kinda doing that crunching thing.

4. Aerial inverts

I actually haven’t attempted this at all but it seems much, much harder, no?

5. All my students from this term to come back

My current regulars are so rad!!! 10/10 stars ladies, you’re so fun and excited to learn it makes me pee a little. Please come back FOREVER 😀

6. A few really awesome-yet-not-slutty dance vids I can safely post somewhere

The ones I’ve shot so far have been a strange combination of awkward and unintentionally raunchy (CAMERA ANGLE CHANGES EVERYTHING).

7. My pole to finally break in

Seriously, how long does this f***ing take?! I come home all excited to try something I just did in the studio and fall on my ass. Or worse, my face. Yes, that happened. Yes, I am ashamed. No, don’t tell my mom.

8. New pole shorts

Black +  cotton +  Forever 21=mad cheap looking after two washes. I want some from the place I got my shoes but they were like $25. Pole shorts, Y U SO SMALL YET SO EXPENSIVE?! Honesty, there’s so little cloth… I don’t understand.

9. Mastering spin pole

By mastering, I mean not screaming and jumping off. Seriously, why is my g-d pole like one of those rodeo bulls on spin mode?

10. A way to work a Silence of the Lambs reference into my curriculum

“It takes the lotion off its skin or else it falls off the pole again” is not working. Seriously no one gets it. Suggestions? Was EVERYONE born before 1994? I can’t even.

Alright, time to stop entertaining myself and teach (SHAMELESS PLUG) my 7pm spins class and 8pm Intro class tonight.

Just this one and a 6pm Spins on Thursday and we’re done for the year! Gah! Come quick! Save yourselves!

Happy twirls,

Cathy

Cheating on my studio… somebody call Maury!

Posted on by Cathy Vandewater
Diane Lane, looking guilty after doing dirty, dirty things in Unfaithful…aka how I look on the way home from ANOTHER DANCE STUDIO (gasp!)

Le Femme Suite, Zack’s, EDC (which I now work for! 😉 ), ECP (ack, the acronyms, so confusing!), Sacred… let’s just say me and my pole get around.

Well, not really my pole. She stays at home.

To be fair, I hung out with most of these studios before my current “relationship” with the studio I now teach at.

But I do still grab a class or two at a new place just for the thrill.

Usually it ends up being more stressful than just practicing at home, because I like my “conditions” a certain way. Yeah, I’m picky.

Also, it’s really hard blending in with a class full of people trying pole for the very first time. I know that sounds arrogant, but anybody who’s spent almost a year on the pole would look very different from somebody in their the first couple of weeks (thank god).

Oh yeah, and then inevitably the instructor starts interrogating me about my dance history in front of everybody like I’m a spy from another studio (wait, am I?! OMG) and then chasing me down after class to ask what club I dance at. (Yes, this really happened. And in case anybody else was wondering, NOWHERE. I’m a civilian, if ya catch my drift). And when that happens, I have the urge to confess everything–I’m not really a beginner! I’m a spy!  I work… SOMEWHERE ELSE.

DUM DUM DUM.

Okay, it’s not really that dramatic.

But more than anything, I usually want to say something along the lines of… how come you guys don’t space your poles further apart?

Because I’m a persnickety pain in the ass, you guys.

Anyway, after yet another guilty experience cheating on EDC last night and having it feel sooo not be worth it (Skinny poles! 3 girls to a pole! No Dry hands?!!!), I’ve compiled a list of annoying stuff about “Other” studios (aka Out of My Comfort Zone, ahhhhh) to keep me on the straight and narrow:

1. Training wheel poles

Let me explain: standard pole width is 50mm. CHEATING ASS POLES are 45mm. These skinny bitches will trick you into thinking you’ve got a great grip, until you hop on a regulation pole and promptly slide off it and onto your ass cheeks. More on these in another post.

2. Teachers who don’t teach

Half the reason I take other classes is to get fresh perspective on explaining the moves, or admiring another teacher’s style. Now, I know the fairy spin. I don’t really need it explained. But the rest of the class that’s totally baffled by the fact that you “taught” it by simply demonstrating… yeah, they’re gonna need a little more than that. Come on, TEACH something. Because I’m in the back of the class doing the work for you. And I’mma start passing out my business cards while I do it, girl!

3. Too much booty work… or too little

Okay so pole is like ball room dancing. Stay with me, this is going somewhere sane, I promise. Now, you can do the Rumba… or you can DO THE FUCKING RUMBA. You get me? There’s a way of technically doing the moves that completely misses the art of the dance, and that’s by leaving out the passion (ie. Dancing With the Stars rehearsals).

On the other hand, passion alone is a junior high school gymnasium at the homecoming. Humping does not art make.

SO. My point: if I’m taking a pole dancing class, I expect to learn to dance on the pole and not roll around on the floor with my legs open, true. But that said, instructors who just teach you a series of tricks without any transitions or accents… they’re doing  a gorgeous dance a serious disservice.

4. TWA: Teachers with an attitude

I get it, it’s your class, you’re the head bitch in charge. But there’s never a reason to make fun of anybody in your class. True story: I ran into a new class late one day and didn’t get the memo about heels (NOWHERE was this on the website, or the registration email people). So the teacher–who’s instruction style I later realized is somewhere between “sarcastic” and “just plain mean”–targeted me as “new.” As in, after going off about how clueless Some People in her class were, she’d end all her verbal instructions with “Don’t worry New Girl, I’ll help you with this one.”

It was really satisfying when it was time to actually dance. Because by the end of class, this chick was my NBF and asking me to demonstrate the spins for everybody–“that’s how you should look, people!”–and then following me out asking if I’m a professional. How’s that heel taste in your mouth, miss thing? You wouldn’t have had to put it there if you were NICE.

Of course, I was friendly right back, because that’s how you treat people. Bitch.

5. Websites that tell you to wear pants

This is a small thing, but the idiocy of it really turns me off. I get girls coming to my class all the time in pants and leggings (even though our website recommends shorts), needlessly falling off the poles and having a terrible time. It doesn’t have to be that hard. Just wear shorts, girl!

But here comes the crazy: some studios will tell you pants are fine!!

…

*ahem*

PANTS ARE NOT FINE. PANTS WILL CAUSE YOU TO BUST YOUR ASS.

Okay, that’s out of my system.

…

But seriously, people.

I was considering taking classes with this one place until I saw on their website: “No shorts allowed–yoga pants only.” …Dafuq?

Needless to say, I didn’t go. I don’t really trust the expertise of a place that doesn’t know the #1 principle of pole dancing–“Skin Sticks.”

Anyway, that’s enough bitching for now, lovelies. Any pet peeves or bad experiences you want to share?

Heck, tell me about your favorite teachers or studios–I love a little healthy competition 😉

Classes from 7-9 this Thursday–don’t forget to say Cathy sent you!

Oh, and best thing ever: an OPEN HOUSE (Re: free half hour classes) is coming up at our studio on August 2nd. Take a fun, totally free intro to pole class with me at 6:30pm, and stay for awesome pole stretch, choreo, lapdance classes that follow.

More info on this next post.

Happy twirls!

Cathy

Sex, lies, and videotape: on watching yourself

Posted on by Cathy Vandewater
“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!

Until next time…

Happy twirls!

Cathy

Let’s talk about sex

Posted on by Cathy Vandewater
Nobody does this.

It’s kind of sigh inducing when you say “pole dancing” and people hear “Elizabeth Berkley in Showgirls.”

Let’s get something straight.

First of all, nobody licks poles. Poles are gross. Poles are covered in sweat, rubbing alcohol, and Dry Hands (that stuff golfers use to grip).

Second of all, there’s nothing particularly exotic or sexy about a pole dancing class. I’d say it’s on par with Bikram yoga, as far as the amount of time you spend with your legs in the air, or showing the wall mirrors your crotch. Heya!

It is much more fun though. You listen to hip hop! You spin around at high speeds! You wear heels! (Actually that part sucks. And it’s only sometimes).

But still, only slutty sluts who are slutty do pole dancing. Right? Otherwise they would just do yoga! Those whores.

Let’s set aside the fact that yoga sucks and talk about what pole does for your body.

Actually, let’s not. Let’s talk about why I hate yoga: there are no distractions. Yeah, yeah, I get that that’s the point. But when you’re uncomfortable, why think about it? You’re stuck in an unnatural position for an ungodly amount of time with nothing to detract how irritated and in pain you are. (A sampling of my thoughts during a yoga class: “THIS IS UNCOMFORTABLE. WHEN ARE WE DONE. OH GOD WHAT IF I SUDDENLY HAVE TO FART”).

It may be good for your body, but mother of god, yoga sucks.

But I digress.

Pole dancing tricks you into thinking you’re having fun while beating the crap out of your body. I bet if you were to tell me to do oblique crunches, leg lifts, squats, pull ups, reverse abdominal work, and glute squeezes for an hour, I would give you the Rage Comics “Bitch Please” face. And yet, that’s exactly what an hour of dancing accomplishes, plus aerobic work.

Take a pinwheel spin with an ankle hook, or an extended-leg hangman, for example. (Youtube that shit!). You don’t notice because you’re whipping around a pole like a little kid and generally having a blast, but wow are you busting your abs and increasing your flexibility. True story: doing nothing but desperately trying to make a pinwheel spin look good, I somehow built up the flexibility to so a split in six months. I’M NOT EVEN KIDDING YOU.  It might have even taken less time, but I only recently discovered this when somebody asked me if I could do a split, and I laughed at them–“Haha, no way, look at how pathetic this attempt at a split is going to–OH MY GOD I JUST DID IT.”

That’s a life long dream right there, accidentally fulfilled by pole dancing. I also do zero additional exercise outside of dancing, yet magically wake up with batman abs after drinking or it’s hot out (thanks for the chiseling, dehydration!).

Of course, I’m not exactly objective when it comes to pole dancing, because I’m a teacher now. But all the same, I want you to respect it. Cherish it. And before you talk trash,  maybe even TRY IT!

Why?

  • A. It’s harder than it looks (seriously, give the girls that do this some credit).
  • B. We would all be making much more stripping instead of seriously dancing or teaching…except that we’re interested in seriously dancing and teaching
  • C. Looking sexy while pole dancing doesn’t mean you’re slutty… it means you worked your ass off in practice
  • and D. If you knew how fun it is, you’d be doing it too!

Curious? Consider giving it a spin! (see what I did there? WORDPLAY.)

You can check out some of the classes my studio offers here, and call or email to learn more. Just ask for Cathy! (Or “Britney Spears” or “The White Girl.” They’ll know who you’re talking about).

Hope to see you… happy twirls!

Cathy