Am I good enough to compete?

ammivo started this discussion · 11/4/2010

He everyone! I'm a 19-year-old Swedish pole junkie who wants to take my poling to another level, by competing as a "kitten" (=less than 1 years training) in a Swedish pole competition coming up in January. I've been poling since June and Studio Veena & Youtube have been my only teachers 😉 . The application panel wants to see an uncut 2-3 minute video and I need to send it in within ten days. I've never worked on routines before so this video I came up with today is basically a result of two weeks of intense routine-training 😕 What I would like from you sexy ladies is critique, but since this is such a huge step for me- to show complete strangers my videos, I mean- I would appreciate it if you kept it nice and supportive 😳 I know it's faaar from perfect 🙄 once again-be gentle with me please 😳 AND also if you could please answer the question: am I any good for a 5-monther & worthy to compete as a kitten ❓ Here's the link btw: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7puDBbUITM Enjoy! PS I hope you can look past the fast that my living room is SMALL and MESSY lol DS PPS Don't forget to admire my cute I <3 pole-shirt PDS

11 replies

BACE16 · 11/4/2010
Only 5 months?! 😲 You can do a CAR! Most people would consider that advanced. You look like your having a blast on the pole. I wouldn't worry about if your "good enough" but if you meet the requirements. I say go for it and just have fun!! Your video was enjoyable and showed more moves and skill than other amateur competitions of your level I've seen. However, some of them they limited the newbies in what they could do (no superman, adv plank, shoulder mount, or the like). The only negative I have for you is that you looked like your were struggling to get into some of the moves. Like using the bottom of your foot to help get into an invert and climbing with the bottom of your feet. If the competition requires shoes you wouldn't be able to do those moves how you are now. You should really work on climbing without using the bottom of your feet. But January is another 2 months away and you totally have the time to work on that. Cute routine. Go for it! 😀
yogabeachbabe · 11/4/2010
I agree with everything that BACE said. You are very advanced for only having been poling for 5 month! You're lovely and you've got terrific energy and presence. What BACE said is very important about learning how to climb properly and effortlessly (are you in Facebook and "friends" with Climb&Spin? She wrote a great article and in it she stresses how climbing really conditions the whole body). Are there certain moves/spins/tricks that the panel is asking to see? If not, I would strongly suggest polishing some of the "easier" moves instead of adding in a lot of advanced moves. Emphasize your beautiful CAR, rather than struggling with an aerial invert. Work on straightening your legs and pointing your toes rather than hopping into an Iguana mount. Make it look effortless. I think you're going to do wonderfully! Go for it!
Kobajo84 · 11/5/2010
I agree with what the other ladies said- I was going to say it too- No Monkey Footing the Pole! LOL. You have plenty of time to work on that though. Also, slow it down a bit. Its easy to rush when you have the music going and you're thinking about your next move. Don't hurry through your routine, give yourself enough time so you can wow the audience and let them ooooo and aaahh your great moves. Good luck and keep us posted!
RoxyPink · 11/5/2010
great energy...my thoughts....1. make sure you complete your extensions...for example @ 2:22 it would have been really nice if you continued and held your leg extension. and 2. hold your positions longer. Great job....especially for only 5 months! And now worries....I'm self taught myself....🙂
ammivo · 11/5/2010
Thank you all so much for taking the time to look at my vid! I am happy my passion for pole dancing shines through:) Whaat?! You don't find my monkey feet sexy? 😂 I know it's not a good way to climb and I have been working on climbing pretty, but when I dance I seem to get a blackout and go back to my bad habit-but I promise you I'll work on that! I will definitely try to be more graceful and work on not looking so stressed out-but I find it hard to both do lots of cool tricks (to impress the judges lol) in only 2-3 minutes and making it look slow and effortless :s , but I will try to polish that in the days I have left! No, they haven't requested any specific moves, so that's good I guess. It's kind of hard to know on what elvel to keep it considering how mixed the skills were amongst last year's kittens: one girl, I remember, only inverted once (a basic invert or smth) while another did full flags and handsprings 🤔 But once again thanks soo much, I'll have your feedback in mind these ten days! 🥂
Charley · 11/5/2010
You mentioned trying to fit in a lot of tricks in 2-3 minutes, I think judges are looking for more of a well rounded performer so don't worry you don't need to trick out every second. If you have time, you should reshoot with the suggestions already given and maybe just include your strongest and favorite tricks and maybe just a dash more dance in there. I think you are doing awesome for only 5 months and I think if you slowed down just a tad and like Roxy said really extend each trick the judges are going to be extremely impressed!!!!! I think you have what it takes!! 🥂 Also, though on a side note because you haven't been dancing long I do hope you are ready for a situation where you are being judged because it can be painful. I've seen girls cry, I have personally let nerves get the best of me in a competition and I have seen a lot of hurt feelings. So if you do it, do it for fun and don't let the seriousness of it take away your joy of pole dancing.
sapphiresky · 11/6/2010
Totally agree with all the other ladies comments so far... you're quite advanced for only 5 months, which is an achievement in itself, well done! I'd say the same as the others - no monkey feet climbing, slow down a little and really extend out to the full range of your tricks - point your toes and stretch out in moves like the butterfly. If you're finding yourself too tired to do some moves later in the song, put them at the start when you're fresh. Let us know how you go 🙂
lazydaizy · 11/9/2010
You mentioned trying to fit in a lot of tricks in 2-3 minutes, I think judges are looking for more of a well rounded performer so don't worry you don't need to trick out every second. If you have time, you should reshoot with the suggestions already given and maybe just include your strongest and favorite tricks and maybe just a dash more dance in there. I think you are doing awesome for only 5 months and I think if you slowed down just a tad and like Roxy said really extend each trick the judges are going to be extremely impressed!!!!! I think you have what it takes!! 🥂 Also, though on a side note because you haven't been dancing long I do hope you are ready for a situation where you are being judged because it can be painful. I've seen girls cry, I have personally let nerves get the best of me in a competition and I have seen a lot of hurt feelings. So if you do it, do it for fun and don't let the seriousness of it take away your joy of pole dancing. I agree with Charley. First of all, every girl who makes it into the competition will be able to do the same tricks, so the judges will look for more than that- they will want to see an individual style that will be memorable! Add more dancing, take some tricks out, and hold everything longer. Also, I just competed for the first time in USPDF West Coast and it was extremely emotionally draining. Even if you're going in just for the experience, there is definitely a part of your ego that can get a little bruised if you don't do as well as you expect. But it is exhilarating and exciting at the same time, so I would not recommend against it, just want you to think if you're emotionally ready more than physically.
ammivo · 11/15/2010
Hi again, thanks to all your much helpful feedback and support! When I did the routine again, I tried to be more graceful (still using my heel to help me climb but I'm getting there...) as you suggested, I managed to aerial invert without using the sole of my foot and tried to hold my poses longer (thanks for advicing me to go with a slower song-that helped a lot!) and I did some extra dancing towards the end (completely improvised, as you can see lol). Whatever happens now, I am proud of myself (and gonna try to not think about this any more until I know if I made it) and thankful for all your help! 🙂 This http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7LGiB7qBUQ was the video I sent in btw, if anyone is interested... //ammivo
horsecrazy12987 · 11/16/2010
I don't see any reason why you couldn't compete. I think if you incorporate everyone's suggestions and choreograph something fun that really shows off your passion for pole dancing you'll do just fine. My biggest suggestion would be to work on dead lifting into moves--I notice you have a tendency to jump into some of your moves, most noticeably your pencil mount. It'll look a lot better if you lift into it. I saw less monkey footing the pole this time in your climbs, but you still did it, so just remember to watch that. You have a beautiful CAR--I wish mine looked that good, but for some reason that move kind of activates all my wuss instincts. 😂 I guess I don't feel stable enough in it without the knee wedged against the pole that you get in CKR. Anyway, keep it up. I think if you take a few of your stronger moves and really work on polishing those, everything will come together nicely. Oh, and you might want to try and incoporate some floor transitions. You did have some, but a couple of times you just sort of hopped back up and grabbed the pole; you want to make all your movement deliberate, even if it's just getting up from the floor.
moonflower · 11/16/2010
Great work for such a short time. I agree with everything already mentioned. I think your main goal should be to smooth out your moves. Lift into things instead of jumping. Make sure your toes are pointed and your legs are straight. AND also, you seem to cut short your moves. Maybe you are getting excited about the next one, but be sure to finish one before going on to the next. You worked hard for those moves, so show them off from start to finish. Good luck!