Music Mondays: Like a Fool, Kiera Knightley

Posted on by Cathy Vandewater

Yes THAT Kiera Knightley. She can sing! Who knew!

I just saw Begin Again, and boring gender and Adam Levine stereotypes aside (he really does play exactly who we all expect him to be in person), this was a cute movie with lots of great music. Watch Instantly on Netflix, DO IT.

Anyway this is a sweet little number that kinda devastated me (and aforementioned douchebag Adam Levine) in the context of the movie, and  I would definitely do some faux-sweet choreo to it.

Below are also two versions of Oscar-nominated “Lost Stars” (also on the soundtrack), just cause I like ’em!

(The order is Adam Levine’s version first and then Kiera’s, but please know–again, in the context of the movie–that Kiera’s came first because noted douchebag Adam Levine STOLE HER SONG. That douchebag.)

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.

I learned how to make a pole dancing gif!

Posted on by Cathy Vandewater

WHEEEE

a1n3rI

I love gifs. They’re so weirdly mesmerizing.

bitch i'm fabulous

So anyway, I was messing around on my pole this weekend (hence this gif), and decided to try a handstand.

And I was like… wow, okay, that went better than expected! It was definitely hard (you can see me shaking!) but I didn’t feel as scared or as disoriented as I usually do in an upside down, free-standing movement. Progress!

Note: this may seem obvious but it was helpful to me: I just started (literally, one class under my belt) this floorwork/capoeira-inspired class, and the teacher tells us to PUSH against the ground through hand-based movements. Really helpful for handstands on or off the pole! (LOL as if I have ever done a handstand off the pole, but I’m using my imagination).

I also got yet another failed try at taking my leg warmers off without stopping a dance. Listen, I don’t care, I WILL NEVER STOP TRYING TO MAKE THIS WORK. I’m convinced it can be done, somehow, someday.

Oh and here’s a still of my shirt flying up in a handstand with a filter, because why the f*** wouldn’t I put a filter on this? Filters on everything.

handstand

Here’s a photo of  how red my thighs were afterward–without a filter because my thighs are majestic on their own and don’t need one. (Sorry that this is also a closeup of my crotch, the proximity of thighs to crotch could not be helped. I made it small so as to be less offensive).dat burn

For real though, my thighs really hurt.

How’s everybody? Anyone want to do a music swap? Here’s what I’ve been listening to. Share something!

1. Otis Redding, Stand by Me

This version has the perfect amount of lilt for pole. #Classic

2. D’Angelo, Feel Like Making Love

D’Angelo on one of my playlists? Not a surprise. I don’t mind being predictable when it comes to consistently perfect pole music tho…

3. Jah Khalib, Out of My Head

I don’t know what language this is in. Russian? Give it a chance because the hook is hot fire.

4. ScHoolBoy Q, Collard Greens

This beat is really different from everything else on my playlists.

5. J. Cole, Wet Dreamz

Love the beat/vibe on this one.

XOXOXOXO

You should pole dance to “Ready or Not.” For Obama. And ‘Merica.

Posted on by Cathy Vandewater

This post is really just two links which contain everything you need to know. 

Link A: Obama says his favorite song is Ready or Not by The Fugees.

Well played Obama. Here’s your prize for having good taste in music: 

Link B: Leigh Ann.

God bless America!

Footnote: My older sister had The Score back when it came out on CD and I remember listening to it (at age 10) and thinking I was going to learn everything I needed to know about being cool from playing it over and over. 

At age… 24? 25? I found Leigh Ann on YouTube after seeing some pole dancing in a movie and searching–ingeniously–“pole dancing.” I completely fell in love with her movement and believed I could learn everything there was to know about being graceful and sexy by playing her videos over and over. 

If only it were that easy, right? 😀