So hot right now. Trendy pole tricks. I have no idea.

Rachel Osborne started this discussion · 7/6/2014

Not that I can actually rock the pole with the latest super fly tricks nor will I, but I am v interested to know what moves/themes strike you as being So Hot Right Now. Like, for a few years it was all about the Allegra. The Jallegra. The Iron X. Spatchcocking. Air walking. And so on, until now you have to be a super flexi gymnast contortionist muscle machine at elite pro level. And the trickle down effect is...certain moves and styles get polers sweating to try them. What do you notice as being in right now?

20 replies

Kira · 7/7/2014
All I ever see on my newsfeed are bendy moves or moves where it looks like your joints are going to snap at any second. I physically shudder when I see those moves where your elbow is bent one way and then your wrist is bent another and that 'grip' is holding your whole body weight. I'm guilty of trying a grip like that, it looked so graceful and easy but it killed my shoulder so I stopped. I think people are trying to find moves which involve the least contact points possible and a lot more chinese pole moves seem to be filtering in. At least that what I think!
Veena · 7/7/2014
I don't follow anything that shares the newest tricks so I can't tell you whats hot. If you are just looking for new ideas that do not require contortion level flexibility, I do post often to our SV, FB page and my Instagram account with my variations on things. Many of the clips are on my profile here as well. FB https://www.facebook.com/studioveenacom Instagram http://instagram.com/studioveena
facebook.comFacebook InstagramInstagramCreate an account or log in to Instagram - Share what you're into with the people who get you.
Rachel Osborne · 7/7/2014
I follow you on FB :). You have some gorgeous combos - thanks for sharing the creativity. I have no hope right now of busting out any hot pro moves, and heading into mid 40s am unlikely to trouble the pro circuit or Cirque lol, it's more I'm interested in how pole is evolving. When I started last decade there was just a Pantera and Pole Katz DVD, no youtube or social media and it was a few tricks plus spins and climbs. And dancing. Now it's much more gymnastic and contortion/-y and I see new moves which are extreme flexi or strength and just way out of most poler's reach. Plus, the Chinese/Indian pole gymnastic stuff. And things like Remi sit I think are new. I'm just wondering whether others think pole is changing and if the extreme tricks are becoming mainstream, and what the next evolution will be... Musing really. :)
Rachel Osborne · 7/7/2014
Raven, yes, agree about contact points. It's terrifying what some super supple young gymnastic polers can do! I do love the pole art/contemporary/expressive stuff coming out now: the innovation is amazing. Some pole has even gone political which is fab. Crystal Belcher Strange Fruit routine for example
Lucca Valentine · 7/7/2014
Crystal Belcher is so amazing...I have only been cruising around pole videos for 3 or 4 years and the Titanic seems to be much higher on people's "to do" list than it used to be. Not extreme or crazy or in every routine, just seems to be more popular than it was. I really hope a place in the pole world sticks around in which crazy tricks are not necessary to appreciate a really brilliant pole routine. While I appreciate the legitimacy having pole in the Olympics would bring...I personally don't enjoy those types of performances and it makes me a little sad to lose the sensuality and expressiveness of dance.
Phoenix Hunter · 7/7/2014
I've been seeing a lot of crazy meathook type tricks. I don't like the way it looks on that shoulder. I am amazed when people can do it but it looks very unpleasant. I saw a lot of these at a competition I watched recently. meat hooks everywhere!!!
AllysonKendal · 7/8/2014
I feel like the Russian layback was all the rage a few months ago.
Krista Bocko · 7/8/2014
I have never been a trickster....and I don't pay much attention to the majority of what comes down the pike as far as working on it. I often know names of the moves I've seen photos of, so I'm somewhat current with that, but unless I have a desire to learn it cuz I think it's pretty or I can achieve it, I don't bother messing with it. I want to focus on playing with and varying what I already know. There is SO MUCH in that arena that will keep me busy for a long time. :) The style I gravitate toward is not gymnastics/power moves/contortion, and in fact relatively few 'tricks' are done on the pole in this style that I like, such as the floor/pole fusion stuff, punctuated by a few on the pole tricks....not that the floor/pole stuff is easy or not 'tricks', it is deceptively HARD and often at times is much more difficult than doing a 'regular' pole move.
calipolepixie · 7/8/2014
Planche, b girl moves like one handed press ups & handstands, handstand pop ups. And I've see a lot of meat hook variations, machine gun & chopsticks lately. I do notice a trend of more crazy moves that have very few contact points & kamakazi type jumps on to & pop offs the pole. And some variations of Chinese pole moves being modified for regular pole. I too stopped really trying to do every hot trick out there because well, a lot of pole tricks are just not for me for one reason or another & I found out that when I obsessed over getting every hot trick, I had more pole ruts & started to dislike pole...it was not fun anymore, it was frustrating. When I started just enjoying my journey wherever it took me, my love of pole started to grow again! But for the most part, I'm 42, the possibility of hurting myself far out weighs my desire to acquire a crazy new move lol. Nowadays, if I feel comfortable in trying a new hot move, sure I may try it but if it doesn't feel right to me and/or the contact points feel unsafe to me, I won't do it. It's always good to be open to try new things & step out of your comfort zone here & there but knowing your limits, respecting your body & safety should be forefront. However, I do try to visually & mentally learn how to get into & out of the popular moves that I personally won't touch/don't care for, so if my students want to try it, I can properly spot them & explain/teach it to them in the safest way possible. And I always make them do it low to the ground using a mat for quite awhile until they get super comfortable with the move :-) I didn't think like this at first (took me 2 years to wake up!) but now I think that poling should be about following your niche, finding your style & growing in your element. Layla is a perfect example of this. She & other polers like her, have inspired me so much & made me realize that I needed to stop trying to win the race & just enjoy the challenge.
goldendiva · 7/9/2014
I think "hot" pole tricks are getting popular because of social media like IG. The crazier the trick the more likes it gets. I was a gymnast and dancer most of my life but most of these tricks are too extreme for me. While they're cool to look at in pictures that's not the style of poling I'm into. The problem I have is that it seems like advanced pole classes at my studio cater to learning these types of tricks just for an IG pic but there's little focus on technique. I've seen girls have 3 people help force them into a trick during class just to take a picture when they can barely get into or out of it safely. I've seen instructors teach an extreme trick when half their students can barely do a proper leg hang or other basic tricks/combos. I do hope that the trend goes back to focusing on fluidity of movements and technique. I think that it's important to learn the fundamentals before learning contortion tricks that your body may not be ready for. It also seems a little discouraging to newer polers who aren't that strong or flexible yet, when that's the majority of what they see.
portableninja · 7/9/2014
Thank you goldendiva, for saying so well what I have been thinking for a while. The focus on the pole tricks arms race and "how many likes can I get on this picture?" at the expense of learning good technique or just having fun, is what led to me taking time off from pole. There are a few threads going about Layla Duvay - I never met her, but I've been watching her videos a bit and I'm really enjoying them. She is not a trickster, but she still rocks. And I think that's important. If you haven't watched her videos, you should.
goldendiva · 7/9/2014
Thanks portableninja I'll have to check out her videos. I've been struggling with staying motivated since this trend began, it'll be nice to get some new inspiration.
Rachel Osborne · 7/9/2014
Golden diva fantastic post agree x 1000000
Kira · 7/9/2014
Golden diva - love your thoughts! I actually just seen someone post a photo of a move of the moment and they commented that when they had tried it yesterday they fell but they wanted a photo so did it again with an incorrect technique which got them into that move. They actually said that! I mean...is it really wworth it? :/
BagLady · 7/10/2014
This is a really interesting discussion. GoldenDiva brought up a good point about social media....the thing with that is this technology is still so young we're pretty much experimenting on ourselves. Hopefully we will hit some saturation point where we can no longer 'out do' ourselves or each other and simply be able to 'do' and focus and share that. I watched a pole dance video recently that was so over the top... from the set, to costume to non-stop crazy pole moves..it actually made no impression on me. It felt like melodrama. All the arts incoroporate a sense of balance and harmony, when one sees crazy tricks one after another, crazy tricks are no longer exciting. Oh and thanks for mentioning Crystal Belcher...I just watched her performance and it's really touching.
Krista Bocko · 7/10/2014
You're right, BagLady....this is what turns me off of straight tricks on the pole. Some can pull it off (thinking of Marlo's Glassdrops) but mostly it's like a straight, continuous line. No accents. No crecendo. No pow!
AllysonKendal · 7/10/2014
I can see both sides to this... Everything you all said with is correct and obviously nothing should ever be attempted with incorrect form or unsafely for the sake of a picture!!!! However I do think "getting that perfect picture" can be a motivating factor for some people. And motivation is a good thing (as long as you're being safe). I have to say I did WAY more flags then I ever thought I'd do, hoping for the perfect pic to post on the 4th of July. I didn't get perfect, but it certainly got me motivated to flag like a billion times!
chemgoddess1 · 7/10/2014
I have been seeing a ton of flow type stuff that borrows from acro. Eve Bembo, Rachele Ribera and Nadia Sharif have been doing some really cool stuff that looks easy but is super hard. I have also seen a push toward the hanging pole. As for tricks, it seems to be a lot of grounded stuff using the pole.
Krista Bocko · 7/10/2014
I freaking LOVE the grounded stuff using the pole. You will rarely find me more than 10 feet off the ground, I want to master the floor/pole fusion.
Veena · 7/10/2014
I was writing a reply regarding crazy tricks. Ives decided to make it new topic. I'm running out to see my niece perform in a local play then I'll make my post.