2dyzzi started this discussion ·
Hi all, I've been wanting to get into poling for some time now but haven't made the commitment yet! While I am fairly athletic, I have essentially no dance or gymnastics experience.... *gulp* I'm just wondering if the vast majority of people that pole have come from a dance background, or if poling is something that you can just jump into. Thanks!
Sign in or create a free account to reply.
i did dance team in middle school, but no gymnastics or ballet n e thing like that =) i just like to dance ^_^
I did ballet, modern, jazz and tap in HS. I did cheerleading and gymnastics as a kid. Ive been a performer my whole life. I also played softball, swim and field hockey. I will also say you dont have to have any dance background to do pole. There are alot of instructors at my studio who had no dance experience and are fantastic instructors. Poling actually helped them with dancing.
I was a gymnast and was fit but had no real dance background before I started poling. I ride horses (not as much as I used to) and (once upon a time) ran marathons, and that took up pretty much all of my time. This past summer I did a triathlon, my first and last thanks to a bad knee. My swim coach said he had never seen a "nonswimmer" with such strong shoulders/arms, back, and core. I credit pole with that! Give it a go! You could surprise yourself with how good you are! 🙂
I don't really have a dance background. I did ballet when I was young (from 4ish till I think 8 or 9) but then had to quit due to various moves. I did some synchronized swimming for a few years (on an off for about 5 years, again stopped due to moving). But mostly I am/was just a swimmer (used to be competitive and some water polo but now just for fun). Oh yes, and I took one week of gynmastics in 5th grade because all my friends could do cartwheels and handstands and flips and stuff and I wanted to be able to do at least a cartwheel. So I went for a week, learned a cartwheel and then quit when they tried to get me to do flips (on the tramp or in the foam pit) because I was worried about smashing my head open or breaking my neck. Gravity apparently worries me, that's why I swim, but I am overcoming some of my distrust with pole. Although anything where my head is anywhere from horozontal to vertical is much easier to learn initially. So don't worry pole is def something you can just jump right into. It may take you longer to get a feel for the dance aspect or the trick aspect than someone with a dance or gymnastics background, but it is totally doable.
Jenn ·
I don't consider myself to have any dance background, even though I was briefly enrolled in dance/gymnastics as a child. But that was too long ago for me to even remember! I know, because my mom has pictures of me in class. When I asked her why she took me out of dance, she said that I never paid any attention as I was too busy looking at my reflection in the mirror! hahahahahaha... I love going out dancing at the bar, but I am not very much of a graceful or sensual dancer. I decided to get into pole dance because I liked the idea of all the upper body exercise I could get out of it, and I like the idea of going upside down on the pole. In the beginning, all I cared about was learning the tricks, but I have since became more interested in the dance aspect of it. I can say that since I've started poling, my dance style has changed in that I am more aware of my body and movements when I am dancing on a dance floor. I am slowly getting more comfortable with freestyling around the pole, and even if I don't think it's worth anyone else's watching, I feel a great personal benefit from having some private dance time with my pole. So, I think you should go for it! It's totally worth it for the physical and mental benefits.
Veena ·
Don't worry 2dyzzi everyone can pole dance!! I have no dance or gymnastics background. I was a personal trainer...still am. 🥂 🥂
Anyone can do it and you can too!!!! I've never taken a single dance class or lesson and have no training in anything 😉 .
amy ·
Anyone can do it and you can too!!!! I've never taken a single dance class or lesson and have no training in anything 😉 . me either! 😀
Anyone can do it and you can too!!!! I've never taken a single dance class or lesson and have no training in anything 😉 . me either! 😀 I can't tell Amy. You're hot!
2dyzzi ·
Alrighty then! That gives me hope. It looks and sounds like so much fun, and I'm up for the challenge and in need of a distraction. Thanks for your words of encouragement - greatly appreciated! BUT now I'm holding all of you accountable for when I get stuck and need help haha! 😉
Tomboy here, although I was a cheerleader for one season in 8th grade.
amcut ·
It's always nice to see the different backgrounds and what they lend to pole dancing.. I think best thing about the fine art dancers is that their hands always look pretty when they dance. I -try- to have pretty hands, but I look on my footage, and I'm always sporting a t-rex or babyarm. Or the super hardcore hip flexors. ... Does anyone curse their mama for not putting them into child-dance? I find myself lately wishing I was one of those kids who was put into something useful like ballet or babygym. Seriously, Mom. BASKETBALL?! What the hell practical use does that have now!? Booooo!
I've been involved in some form of dance on and off since I was maybe 5 years old. I did ballet for several years, was on a few dance teams after that, and I also did gymnastics for a spell. I was also involved in plays and music (played the violin), so I think I've always been drawn to performance-based things.
OMG, I am the original T-Rex girl!!!!! I am so aware of it that I have put all the other girls at the studio on high alert for it. Eeeep. I was a farm girl and there were always chores, so dance class was not really an option. Gymnastics were OK because they were a sport. I'm not sure just why that made a difference, but it apparently did! I so so so wish my folks had put me into dance class instead. I think best thing about the fine art dancers is that their hands always look pretty when they dance. I -try- to have pretty hands, but I look on my footage, and I'm always sporting a t-rex or babyarm. ... Does anyone curse their mama for not putting them into child-dance? I find myself lately wishing I was one of those kids who was put into something useful like ballet or babygym. Seriously, Mom. BASKETBALL?! What the hell practical use does that have now!? Booooo!
RoxyPink ·
I figure skated competitively for 15 yrs along with 8 yrs of gymnastics....some dance sprinkled here and there. I've always been pretty active. I would love to take some contemporary classes now though! I'm in love with it! 😀
i started pole dancing at 30, no formal dance, nor gymnastics. i took a couple of swing dance lessons from parks and rec, but somehow, i think that didn't matter! i can pole dance but i can't ballroom!
Absolutely no experience of any kind except for lifting weights for years beforehand and very minimal recreational/informal dancing plus yoga. I always say if I could do one thing over again I would have taken gymnastics, although gymnastics can be more harmful than doing nothing if you have a bad coach. I was the ugly/bullied kid in school from about 3rd grade to the end of highschool, so I wouldn't have been caught dead near any sort of sports/cheerleading/etc unfortunately.
deetron ·
I have no dance / gymnastics background.. just fitness instructor, sports and gym addict!! But *now* I wish I had a dance / gymnsatic background!! Feel quite silly at 27 trying to find a beginner's gymnastic class!!
Gsylass ·
I have no dance/gym background at all. I'm uncoordinated, klutzy, awkward, and self-conscious. But after a year of poling I'm learning smoother, more graceful motions, and I think I can finally say, I can dance. 😀 Go for it!!
2dyzzi ·
Definetely cool to find out where everyone comes from. And promising! I really appreciate everyone's honestly - what a friendly, positive group of people. I'm hoping that it comes to me with some practice! I'm pretty obsessed and I don't even own a pole yet! Thx again!
witeroze ·
Does anyone curse their mama for not putting them into child-dance? I find myself lately wishing I was one of those kids who was put into something useful like ballet or babygym. Seriously, Mom. BASKETBALL?! What the hell practical use does that have now!? Booooo! Haha I totally blame my parents too! They always sent me for computer classes and other geeky things 😕 Even though I was always fascinated with gymnastics/dance... I've been extremely un-athletic my whole life but I really believe anything is possible, so I'm setting high goals for myself and I've found pole dancing to be a great way to start 😀
