"Showy" performance moves

Wrecklice started this discussion · 10/22/2015

Hi all! :) My studio is performing in an upcoming adult-themed show, and as a new instructor I'm going to be performing for the first time! I was wondering whether anyone had some good experience with audience response and moves. From what I've heard, you can do the most complicated inverts and holds, and they might be met with a lukewarm response, whereas a simple hip dip to backswing combo gets wild applause. People, huh? If it helps to apply some context for my own choreography, I'm looking for beginner to intermediate moves. I'm at a point where my Gemini is comfortable and Butterfly is a work-in-progress - but part of this was me wanting to show that introductory moves can be beautiful and impressive too. My routine is going to be more of a contemporary style. Any thoughts?

18 replies

dustbunny · 10/22/2015
Maybe take a look at some of Veena's routines and combos. You may get some ideas and inspiration from the beginner to intermediate ones especially those that focus on flow rather than tricks. ☺
dustbunny · 10/22/2015
Oh and congrats on getting out there and performing! It can be a little nerve racking but if you keep your routine to moves your comfortable with I'm sure you will have a blast!
Wrecklice · 10/22/2015
Thanks for the suggestion and the 'grats, dustbunny! It's not so much that I'm having too much trouble putting moves together, I was moreso wondering whether any more experienced performers out there have a shortlist of crowd-pleasers, since what impresses us isn't quite the same as what impresses a crowd of people with no background knowledge on poling :)
dustbunny · 10/22/2015
Ok in that case. I have gotten good reactions from leg hangs like Gemini. Also head and handstands against the pole with leg waves are always a winner. People love shoes too, most non polers are amazed that you can walk let alone dance in them!
dustbunny · 10/22/2015
A simple basic plank but with split legs (up and down instead of crossed at the ankles) also looks impressive... I'll keep popping in to add more ideas as I think of them. ☺
dustbunny · 10/22/2015
Splits are good if you are flexy enough.
Wrecklice · 10/22/2015
So many amazing suggestions :D Thank you so much!!
Veena · 10/22/2015
Exciting! Yes, feel free to grab anything out of the routines and combo section. There's stuff in the quick lessons too. One thing I find most important in a performance is eye contact, or at least the appearance of eye contact and interest in the audience also looking like you're enjoying yourself is really important! Yes, people love splits even if they are not full splits!
Baudelaire · 10/23/2015
It's amazing what audiences love compared to tricks you think you've worked so hard on and then just go under the radar. I always find a "look mum no hands" trick is a good crowd pleaser - hangbacks, cross ankle release and leg hangs. Make sure you hold your tricks for atleat 8 counts too. It gives you time to extend through the pose and especially if spinning gives the audience time to take in what you're doing. Best of luck!
tacha666 · 10/23/2015
If the audience is not from our little pole world, then they are amazed by anything inverted where you don't hold yourself with your hands, leg hangs, car/ckr and the like.
Lula Geddes · 10/23/2015
yes, agree with tacha666, generally they tend to be amazed if you are not using your arms. Over time I have tended to find that 'untrained' audiences are very impressed by the cross-ankle lay back, the superman and the jade.
Wrecklice · 10/23/2015
So many amazing suggestions! And yes, it's so crazy what impresses people!
stardust · 10/24/2015
And not forgetting sad girl drop, especially starting up high up and end at near bottom, general audience love it as it seems 'dramatic' ;) Good luck with your performance!
Runemist34 · 10/25/2015
Wow, really liking this thread ;) I've performed a couple times on stage, and watched a lot of different performances- mostly Burlesque, but I've also watched things like pole dance, and strippers, and just about anything else I can watch ;) Probably the biggest thing to remember: Confidence! It can be pretty scary getting up on stage and showing off, and when it comes to pole and burlesque, you're sometimes showing off more of your body than you normally do. Pole dancing is a lot of strength and showing off, and you need to remember that people are looking at your body, at how you move, at your display! So, if you're the more shy, "hide backstage" kind of person, the way I am, you need to find what I like to call your "Inner Diva," also called the "Inner Drag Queen." It's basically the part of you that KNOWS you're fabulous, and has no problems showing it all off! Eye contact is definitely a big one- you can actually look above the heads of everyone in the audience (as long as it's not super multi-tiered!) and they will think you're making eye contact. Proper posture, slower movements (being able to spend time in a move, allow people to look at you), and big gestures so everyone in the back can see what you're doing! For me, I always found that moves that seemed "impossible" were the biggest. Things like a Star, or Knee hold, or a Jade Split.
RoMo · 10/26/2015
I have to agree with what a lot of the girls before me wrote -- some of the most "audience impressed" moves are the easiest -- CAR, CKR, Plank, etc. I performed at a school event and did Butterfly, flat line Scorpio and Remi in my dance and didn't get half as much applause as one of the new girls who did CKR and Plank. The audience LOVED her CKR on spinning pole. I think it's the "Look, ma, no hands!" effect that does it. Also, I agree with Runemist34 - eye contact, or the illusion of it, it key. I did get lots of feedback from friends and audience members saying that they felt I was dancing "for them" and that made my dance really stand out. Whatever you do decide to do, good luck, break a leg, smile and remember that you're all that and then some! :)
Panama Trixter · 10/26/2015
I love doing pendulum spin to back hook! This one is always a crowd pleaser! Especially the bigger you can make your pendulum swing!!
tacha666 · 10/27/2015
What is the pendulum spin?
Panama Trixter · 10/27/2015
Pendulum spin, also known as the snake spin, and I believe Veena called it the reverse grab. However if you are turning it into a back hook you can't let your back get on the pole in the reverse grab, you have to switch your body around.