Ballerina pose

Audball started this discussion · 12/3/2010

SO I'm not sure exactly what this move is but I think its one I've tried before - nobody uses names of pole moves in my classes, which is confusing! And its not on wikipole, unless there's another name for it? Does anyone have a pic or video of themselves doing it, and how do you do it! IF I've gotten the right name, its a move i'd get into from a pole sit, lean forward, then twist body and hook arm around pole, then try to split legs forward and back - it really hurts my side, thought I'd ruptured my spleen once! But it is a very pretty move! Sorry for such a confusing post, but I'd love to get some help with this move, thanks 🙂

16 replies

onepinkprincess · 12/3/2010
Try looking at the floating ballerina on wikipole I think that is what you are after. Cxxx
Audball · 12/3/2010
Yeah, thanks I think that is the one, just didn't recognise it with the bent knee! Does anyone have any tips for getting into this move? Karol Helms does it at 3:15 here, but of course she makes everything look easy!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfaR-LZJyfM
polebunny · 12/3/2010
i get into this pose from a reverse grab spin. i think i saw this in a tutorial by exdiva69 on yt so i'd search there 😳
Audball · 12/3/2010
Thanks polebunny, but do you know what the video is called? Cos ive searched through her hundreds of youtube vids and couldnt find it at all! 🙁
amy · 12/3/2010
when you go into it- go deep into your sit, super far forward so you can get your shoulders in front of pole. then when you are standing up and bringing your inside arm (left) around the pole, make sure you are also turning out the right knee- opening up this knee helps you to get more twisted around the pole. the more you can get your back to the pole, and the more arch, the less you are using your side and the more the pressure and friction are on your back! karol in the video is doing it lefty but you know... she has extreme back flexibility.... i find this move is easier for people who have a good back arch and a long torso.
Audball · 12/3/2010
Thanks Amyxshi! That makes a lot of sense. I do it with my right arm in the past as I had minor surgery on my left arm and it can still be quite painful. Unfortunately I have neither a good back arch or a long torso, which might explain why its so difficult for me! I'll try turning out the front leg and arching more and see how I get on. WIll post a vid if I record anything worth posting!
glitterhips · 12/3/2010
I do it in a cheaty way since I have a hard time getting into it from a sit and i can't do a reverse grab so I just have to walk into it from the floor but it has been helpful to get me used to where all my POC with the pole should be, maybe today I will try it from up the pole, it does look very pretty on spinny and I don't usually see it in too many performances...
Audball · 12/3/2010
Glitterhips, that sounds like a really good idea in terms of getting used to the move. There isn't so much the fear of falling and getting excruciatingly painful pole burn on the way down! Do you happen to have a video of you walking into it?
polebunny · 12/3/2010
yes it is called "pretzel spin practice uncut...thanks pole junkies!" here is what i hope is a link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLWW3ipdeyE i find i like getting into it this way more than from a sit. 😳
amy · 12/3/2010
FYI- this is a slightly different move than the ballerina, although it may look very similar. in the pretzel spin, you are still holding your weight with your top hand, and your shoudlers are in front of the pole... whereas in the ballerina, you want your back completely wrapped around the pole, and the pole should be in your armpit or lower down your side. different points of contact, different trick! if you go into it from the pretzel, or a reverse grab, you can't get your back wrapped around enough to get into the ballerina where you hold your feet (you CAN get into the straight legged ballerina-- it's in my latest video) and are using tension to keep you in place. well, maybe if you had a contortionist's back and an oversplit.
Audball · 12/3/2010
Oh yes i remember seeing that on, thanks ill check it out! 🙂
Audball · 12/3/2010
Amyxshi, I just looked at your vid again (had watched it before and didnt even notice!) That looks like a difficult way to get in to it, please tell me its easier than it looks?! 😛
glitterhips · 12/3/2010
Hmm now I'm confused, damn moves having all different names! I am doing a pretzel here then since the pole isn't all the way across my back...but I would think you would be able to walk into both the ballerina and the pretzel spin position from the floor? Anyway I thought I didn't have a video of it but I do!!! http://www.youtube.com/user/glitterhips#p/u/3/nmc4uuq2OPI It's around 1:10. Assuming you can get into the pretzel and ballerina the same way that's how I do it, I think I am doing a pretzel though. My bad! 😳
Audball · 12/3/2010
Oh yeah that would be the pretzel alright. I've never thought of doing that just on its own without spinning. Might give it a try too! 🙂 Love you kitchen btw!
amy · 12/3/2010
you can get into a stag ballerina from the floor by doing a roxy spin =)
glitterhips · 12/6/2010
Thank you!!!