Just a thought. I would probably get better, right? This might make a good 30 day challenge, a la 100 Sandwiches, but less sad and offensive.
I FINALLY put up my pole this weekend–after tons of drama with a missing top insert and a faulty X-joint, and it was kind of stupid the amount of progress I made just doing stuff over and over for an hour.
Here’s some clips of shit I was working on, including struggling into something resembling a floor handpring and patenting The Sad Juliet Spin. I probably didn’t invent it, but can I name it tho?
I was also working on chopsticks—OW OW MY RIBS–and hands free back bends (the power of Indian Burn compels you!!) but I can’t show you them because that was from practicing before my evil neighbor came home and thus I was listening to music at an audible level that got my video banned from YouTube 😐
PS. If you’re been wondering where I’ve been for like a month, I had a big show I was rehearsing my buns off for with my bellydance troupe for a show call Rakhasa (sp?). We don’t have a video of the performance yet, but here’s a teeny snippet of an early rehearsal that I’ll probably get in trouble for showing you, whooooops. I’m in the blue tank:
And here are some pictures of the show, wheee:
blocking one hour before the show… outside
…because we are GODDAMN PROFESSIONALS
Chillin’ backstage, getting nervous!
Thanks Brian Lin!
a couple of my favorite people 😀
Oh and one last thing…. does anybody get why this is funny or do I have the world’s most obscure sense of humor?
My bank constantly calls to remind me I’m poor, so I put its number under “Yo Bitch.” That way every time I see my missed calls I get a little chuckle. Anyone? Anyone?
Today in Things Everybody But Me Probably Knows About: PoleFreaks.com has routines (with breakdowns!) that you can download for free after signing up for their newsletter. This is a pretty awesome alternative to pole choreo classes that many people might not have access to. It’s super fun to work on a routine at home, if you have a pole. And most of the moves appear to be beginner level, at first glance. Get on that!
They also have workouts that cost a small amount ($3.99) which is something I might look into when my class cards run out and Christmas shopping has got me hella poor.
Sorry if this came off as an advertisement–I genuinely just found out this existed and thought it seemed like an awesome resource. The blog looks interesting too!
Anyway, I know I’m being really naughty about writing pole posts, so here’s a party favor for stopping by:
SONGS I AM CURRENTLY DESPERATE TO POLE TO:
Again, this is kinda-sorta a half ass attempt at blog hopping. I need to get on that…
1. TeeFLii feat. 2 Chainz, 24 Hours
This is sexy, but upbeat enough to keep me choosing the cute creative moves over endless hairflips and body rolls.
2. James Blake, Retrograde
I saw one of my (belly dance) teachers perform to this recently and it actually brought tears to my eyes. Understated but gorgeous song.
3. Tinashe, 2 On
Yes this is all over the radio, but it’s so. fucking. smooth.
4. Jeremih, All the Time
Another one all over the radio, and yes, it’s filthy. Sorry. This is a good rolling on the floor jam.
5. Misery, Maroon 5
Okay clearly this one is as old as the hills, but it popped up on my ipod the other day and I realized it would be for some really dynamic, story-telling choreo.
OMG and one last thing–can we talk talk about Nicki Minaj’s chair choreo at the VMAs? I know everybody was all about Beyonce, but I’m way more into the moves from the Anaconda set. She was CRISP LIKE CELERY on those tick-tocks. Love it.
Here’s the video a couple of scrolls down on Jezebel because Amtrak thinks MTV.com will be porn.
My first ever show! On campus at Pratt Institute in 2008. I was so terrified, I purposefully didn’t wear contacts so I couldn’t see the crowd.
It always reminds me of the feeling I used to get as a kid, when I couldn’t wait for my birthday, which happened to be a week before school started.
So, the big news is that my belly dance partner and crime K and I are debuting February 13th at Jebon on St. Marks place. I am so. Freaking. Excited. We’re been rehearsing really hard for a few months now with all original choreography, so now that we’ve done the work, it’s the fun part: costumes.
Hahahahaha fun? Bitch please. Try horrifying.
Let me first clarify that I like my body. It has served me very well in my time. That said, I am (ew barf I can’t believe I have to use this word) “womanly.” I have visible abs, but I’m also a little soft in places. This seems to me to be perfectly natural since, duh, i’m a woman. I eat healthy and I got plenty of exercise (in the studio, the gym, and carrying groceries up to my 4th floor walk up).
My body does what I ask of it on the pole, on the floor, and every place in between, so I’m thoroughly happy with it and the worrying ends there.
That is, until I put on the belly dance costume.
(NOTE:: ****I should clarify that the top half of this costume i’s not so much a costume as it is a balconet bra I bought at H&M. I have ginormous boobs, and “real” belly dance bras only come in small, medium, and large. I’m quite small (32″ band) AND large (D-DD), so, my options are limited.)
Me and K now, after a show
So anyway, here I am in the studio, under florescent lighting, in a freaking BRA, undulating my way down into a crouching position from THE SIDE. SO YOU CAN SEE ALL THE FAT ROLLS. AHHHHHH. And I’m panicking. Is 2 weeks enough time to lose 5 pounds? Can self tanner somehow magically help?
The really f***ed up thing is I’m in the greatest shape of my life right now. I LOVE how I look in clothes (thanks, pole!). But I feel like the standards for a body being displayed during a dance performance are totally different.
Like the hardcore-ness of your body is directly related to your amount of skill and self discipline in dancing.
Like no matter how hard I work nailing difficult moves, a soft middle screams “wannabe” anyway.
It’s very discouraging. And it doesn’t help that K is TINY. She’s both petite and about 90 pounds, so not only do I look a little on the flabby side next to her but I look like a freaking giant too. This is bad, guys. Please help me. I have two weeks.
Here’s my plan so far:
1. Focus on healthy fats and protein
I can’t starve myself right now, mostly because I really do need a lot of food for my lifestyle. I’m talking back to back pole classes and THEN a workout at the gym. None of these places are convenient locations for fainting. Also, fuck starving yourself. No.
BUT. If anything dials down on belly pudge, it’s skipping bread and sugar, right? Can’t hurt anyway.
2. Take care of my skin
I feel extra repulsive when all that extra flesh is also dry and icky looking. Now until February 13th is officially Exfoliation and Lotion Time. And performance night is going to require a shit ton of freaking shimmer, I don’t give a fuck. Yes.
3. Fluids?
This one I’m a tad sketchy on. A trainer friend of mine who also happens to be a show wrestler (hulk hogan type as opposed to skinny guys in jumpsuits, on mats) swears by this: chug tons of water in the weeks leading up to the event (to flush out bloat), then scale way back on fluids the day before and day of the event. I think I remember reading that Adriana Lima does this before Victoria’s Secret shows. I also remember thinking that it was batshit crazy.
Honestly I probably won’t do this one, except for the “drinking tons of fluids” part. That part seems good.
4. Self tanner
Yeah, actually, maybe not. Flabby and orange isn’t really an improvement on flabby and pale. Strike this one.
5. Beg K to let me change the angles on certain things
Crouching from the side… eesh. Or maybe we can incorporate some veil work here? Specifically holding up a veil to cover ourselves as we crouch from the side?
Here’s a funny story: one time, a woman came into my spins class and said she’d been wanting to take my class for months. I asked her why she waited so long. She said she thought she needed to lose 10 pounds before she could take a class like pole. (She was very, very slightly overweight by the way, this was not a safety issue).
Wait, did I say funny story? I meant a sad story, about a woman who didn’t think she was good enough at her current weight to take a damn EXERCISE CLASS.
WTF society, look what you’re doing. Stahp.
Anyway, how do you guys feel about the weight issue with pole? It’s hard to see all the top people in our sport looking soooooo tiny in their equally small costumes, and feel like we still have permission to even try.
Does fear about your body hold you back from performing? From wearing certain clothes to class?
Have you ever tried to lose weight for a show? (if so TELL ME ALL OF YOUR SECRETS)
And here’s your official invitation to the belly dance show! Yes, they spelled my name wrong. Come for the frozen sake, stay for (possibly orange), nervous-looking belly dancer 😉
This is a totally unrelated photo of me as a zombie on Halloween. But also kinda a reenactment of how red my eyes have been. FLUPACOLYPSE.
Hey ladies!
First things first–I had the flu! Bought the t-shirt, went through the tissues and a bottle of Nyquil, bonafide flu-vivor over here!
Actually, for all my joking, yes, it sucked. But it was very short lived–suspiciously so, which leads me to believe that my flu shot was indeed NOT useless. I basically sweated and shivered like I had malaria for 24 hours and then felt better enough to move the next night. To a 4th floor walk up. Modern medicine! I dig it!
Anyway, wash your hands, people. It’s not the end of the world, but it’s no fun either.
But down to business. Here’s the big news: EDC’s lease is up and we’re moving!
We’re going to be in a temporary space for a minute (same neighborhood, don’t fret!), but we’ve got our sights set on a bigger, better, more permanent space, and we need your help! So if you’ve been considering taking a class or a series, now’s a great time to do it–through Indiegogo!
For the same cost of a drop in or 4-week course, you can make a donation directly to our Awesome-New-Studio cause AND score invites to the re-launch party. Oh yeah, and you’ll be helping us out, son!
I hate telling people to donate money (worst girl scout cookie salesgirl ever), but since you literally get a class out of this my conscience is clear. Especially because I know our classes are bomb. You can quote me on that.
Can’t wait to get back on the pole… I’m thinking of doing a little “last dance” vid at the old apartment, if my energy holds out.
Everybody staying healthy? I hope so. Did I mention you should wash your hands? Like, right now. Get up from your computer and find a sink, nasty! And for god’s sake, use the alcohol and your own rag in the studio. Never hurt anybody, and it certainly might help.
PS. Class tonight! Last week at the current studio, so pop in and say goodbye to our lovely space. Pole Spins is at 7:30pm and Intro (first timers!) is at 8:30. Sign up here!
The Spin Diaries: Your Guide to Everything Pole and Aerial 