So I am thinking about submitting for my first pole competition!
I missed Midwest Pole last year cause I was getting married, and my family threw me a bridal shower that weekend. Don't get me wrong, it was awesome, but there was no pole dancing there lol. I am super excited to have a competition in the St Louis area that I don't have to travel to, hurray!
There will be 2 divisions: Essentials and Elite.
Midwest Regional - Essential Pole Division:
This level is open to dancers who have accomplished a skill level consisting of mastering the following moves and who may be working at the advanced level but have not yet mastered advanced skills nor qualify for the Elite division. (See the advanced division)
Open to any aged dancer including ages 40 and up.
Open to both men and women.
Open to students as well as instructors who are not yet qualified to compete at the advanced level.
NOT open to previous competitors of the Elite division.
Static pole only.
Moves are limited to
Floor work, transitions, spins, combination moves of any number of one or two-handed spins in a row
3 Compulsory moves: done in any order
+One split grip spin without legs on pole (Bottom hand thumb up or thumb down is acceptable)
Example but not limited to: Straddle spin, Carousel spin, Chair spin, etc
+One spin combo on static of at least 2 spins, both upright or horizontal, each with one full rotation around the pole for each spin. May not touch the floor between these two spins. No inverted spins.
Examples but not limited to: Reverse grab to back hook, front hook to back hook, straddle spin to back hook, Inside leg hook spin to attitude hooked heel spin, front hook to fireman, spinning supermen to tuck spin, etc
+At least 30 seconds of continuous floor work (crawling, reclining, kneeling, somersaults, shoulder/hand stands, etc.)
Clarification of moves allowed:
Horizontal and upright full and half bracket spins - two handed or single handed. Unlimited combination of spins with either aerial or grounded transitions between spins, transitional moves and poses which include at least one foot on the floor at all times and all floor work including splits and inverted poses while not on the pole.
Example of moves allowed: Fireman/basic spin, cradle/tuck spin, chair spin, upright chopper/boomerang spin, spinning superman, reverse attitude grab/blind spin etc. Any number of combo spins such as front to back hook with grounded or aerial transitions. Transitions: Pirouettes, back slides, standing knee hook pose, etc. Floor work: splits, shoulder stands/plows, head/handstands, somersaults/rollovers, etc
Exception: Head can be below hips during back arch as long as one or both feet are on the floor.
Examples of moves not allowed: No inverted spins such as inverted chopper/boomerang, Phoenix (combo of reverse attitude grab to twisted grip inverted chopper) No spins or poses which require a step up onto the pole in order to execute (no standing fireman) No hands-free spins. No climbing, seated poses or standing poses on the pole up above the floor. No horizontal or upright poses on the pole such as sits, planks, standing crucifix, laybacks, suspended mid air poses of any type (feet off floor) inverts, ballerina, knee holds, flag, superman, etc.
Note: A good rule of thumb to follow - You must have one or both feet on the floor at all times except for spins and floor work.
Horizontal spins are allowed - inverted spins, standing or climbing spins are NOT.
Clarification of floor work: Hips may be over the head during floor work. Example: Handstands/forearm stands, somersaults, shoulder stand positions, etc. Handstands/forearm/shoulder stands may be done against the pole but you must not lift or sit up onto the pole as in reversing up from a layback position into a seated position.
Midwest Regional - Elite Division:
Open to all dancers regardless of their months or years of experience.
No limits to the type and skill level of moves allowed.
Any aged dancer may apply including 40 years old and over.
Open to men and women.
Open only to residents of the Midwest States
Choice of static and spin or using only one pole. One pole will be on static and one on spin.
3 Compulsory moves: done in any order
+One spin combo on static of at least 2 spins, both upright or horizontal, each with one full rotation around the pole for each spin. May not touch the floor between these two spins. No inverted spins.
Examples but not limited to: Reverse grab to back hook, front hook to back hook, straddle spin to back hook, Inside leg hook spin to attitude hooked heel spin, front hook to fireman, spinning supermen to tuck spin, etc
+One sequence of three distinctively different poses on either spin or static pole, changing body direction, without returning to floor between poses (Ex: Ayesha with straddle legs to ayesha with straight legs to ayesha with fang legs does not qualify but Ayesha to Brass monkey to pole sit does qualify) The key is changing torso alignment, not necessarily changing hand grips although change of hand grips is allowed if desired.
+At least 20 seconds of continuous floor work (crawling, reclining, kneeling, somersaults, shoulder stands, etc.)
Moves not allowed: None
