I need some help/ advice/ a kick up the a**e

lozzii started this discussion · 9/8/2010

Hey ok I dont want to rant or feel sorry for myself but I wanted to know if any other Veenas had felt like this and had any advice for me. I recently moved cities and therefore moved away from my pole studio which i loved and more importantly learnt to pole. I have found a new pole company and started there. ( they are the only place to pole around here) They have a grading system and its their policy to start everyone regardless of their ability at the bottom and get them through the grades back to where they are. The problem is it has taken me three lessons to do grade one so I feel a bit bored and frustrated as I feel im wasting my money. The problem I seem to be having is that every thing seems to have a different name, everything I seem to have been taught they do a completely different way and therefore im doing it wrong especially as I tend to favour my left side. They do alot of dance/ transitions sequences for each grade which I have to learn before I can pass the grade and I cant do any spins/tricks that arent in the grade. I want to say that all the girls that teach at this new place are lovely and I cant fault their pole dancing. I am not the type of person to think that these things are beneath me and I believe everyone should practise the basic spins and always do some refreshing but not pushing myself is starting to get me down. I dont know what I would do if I didnt have a pole at home and Studio Venna to rely on! Thanks Lozzii xx xx

5 replies

polebunny · 9/8/2010
if i was you i would probably take veena's lessons, set up a home practice schedule and then take advantage of anything they do offer, like do they every have drop in classes or workshops that might be more rewarding for you? that way you can be a part of a studio but also learn at your pace
evennotodd · 9/8/2010
That stuff drives me crazy, and so many studios do it, too. I do think it's a way to take money out of you, but if that's the studio's philosophy, then you may not have a choice. A new pole studio opened up a lot closer to where I live, but I haven't gone there because I would have to go through eight weeks of beginner classes to get to intermediate. It took me a year to get to intermediate and I don't want to start over. One thing you can probably do is talk to your instructor and have that person give an assessment of your abilities. If you have different names for what they're teaching, let them know. If after that they still want you to go through an entire beginner series, it's time to leave. Stress that you won't take any more classes because you're not being challenged and learning new moves. Follow polebunny's advice about getting a home pole and following Veena's lessons.
Charley · 9/8/2010
I would do Veena's lessons and the studio. Veena's lessons will give you a ton of exercises to do to help you build strength along with teaching you moves...talk to the studio and tell them that you are in this for the long haul...they will usually work with you. Ask about being able to audition to be able to move up a grade. Tell them you are doing online lessons. I do give homework but I also tell them taking lessons here is great too because they can rewind the instruction as many times as they need, they can ask questions and they are always welcome to come back to me with questions and ofcourse I will spot them and move them through more advanced moves.
danceinside22 · 9/9/2010
that's exactly what happened to me. I've already learned what the beginners know MONTHS ago, but since I'm new to the studio I can't test out. I have to take THIRTY classes before I can even get into the advanced class and when I sat in to watch they were working on the chopper. I completely understand how it feels to have to start back at the bottom. I've decided to just keep poling at home and go to the workshops that the studio offers. Good luck!
lozzii · 9/9/2010
Hey Thank you everyone for the advice I have paid for a block of ten lessons so I have to finish the block I think im going to speak to them I dont mind about doing the grades but would like to spend some of the time learning new things as well I cant see that they could really have a problem with that. I have decided to document everything I can currently do and then work out where to go from there and I think making my own pole schedule is an awesome idea. Thank you again for understanding so glad i have everyone on here to ask all my questions xx