Caitlin
Forum Replies Created
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I'm been so busy I've started to reply to this so many times but never managed to finish! All the advice is fantastic, I'm really grateful, thank you – there are definitely some things I would never have thought of! And above all, I will keep the mantra "smile, point your toes, keep your head held high no matter what happens :)" close to my heart at all times, it is beautiful advice, thank you!! I keep having to remind myself that the only reason I chose to do the competition because I want to perform, not to win – I forget surprisingly often!!
I had my chorey done AGES ago but silly me was lazy about cutting my song down to the length required for the comp. I cut the song the other night, less than two weeks from show time, and realised it requires way more significant changes than just cutting a section or two out as the transitions won't work in the same way… I think I've sorted it now, and there are only a couple of bits that are different, but still it is an unanticipated stress and I hope I don't go on autopilot and that muscle-memory and all those hours of visualisation don't kick in and make me switch back to my old chorey!!
Of all the advice I have read, one thing that has also stuck out has been eye-contact, and keeping facial expressions alive. I am fine at the start of my routine but as I go on I lose myself in it and have been told that I close my eyes a lot! I suppose a little of that isn't a bad thing as it shows how much I'm getting into it, but still it must be a little alienating for people watching…? Just something to work on, I guess.
I have made my costume by buying a simple black bra of a brand I know that fits, and using a glue gun to cover it in material and sequins 🙂 I chose a pirate theme in the end so I used red and white striped material with gold sequins. For the bottoms I cut up a pair of cheap black K-Mart undies until they were as cheeky as I wanted(!) and then covered them in a black velour fabric with gold glitter in it, and sewed red sequins around the waist band (with a gold bit at the front to match the bra and look (kinda) like a buckle. I also made floaty split-sleeve things with shimmery white organza and stretchy gold sequin armbands and am wearing one whale-net stocking (on my left leg which I use less for important grips!) I'm also making a headband/bandana-type thing out of the remnants of the red and white material to match the bra, and will iron on a skull n crossbones patch 🙂 I had a blast making the costume, it's definitely one of my favourite parts! I never thought of myself as creative whatsoever but when it comes to making something fun and sexy to dance in – hell yeah!! Oh yeah, and I have a cutlass, but I'm losing that pretty early on in the routine. One tip I can definitely give other fledgling competitors that I've found so far is PRACTICE WITH YOUR PROPS even if you only plan to have them as you walk on. You'll feel SO stupid walking onstage trying to be sexy with a plastic toy cutlass if you haven't played with it in front of the mirror and it can throw you off WAY more than you realise!!
I found out recently that the poles in the comp are both 38mm, which I desperately need to practice on, as I've been on 45s and 50s exclusively recently. It's only the layback/CAR stuff that worries me, but I'll have a chance to try it out this weekend. I've also only been practicing on one, but I have ear-marked bits where I should have time to move between the two. I was really pleased I actually managed to find a couple of youtube videos of the venue so I could see the heights and distance between the poles – the was valuable information!!!
Anyway, thanks again everyone for your thoughts so far, and I hope my little insights so far can help some others who are preparing for their own first time on stage 🙂
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Ooo RikkiL – how do you come out into a Hip Hold?? Is it similar to the drop into a Scorpio?
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Ok, so I know this post was from quite a while ago, but my left hip is really quite strange, so I thought I'd search the forum for other people's experiences…
I'd be interested to know how everyone's doing now, a few months down the mine and if their hips are any better/worse. Did you find the physio was the way to go? Or did something else work better in the end?
The one that bothers me is my left, and when I try to move my leg is a circular motion, rotating the leg in the hip joint, either lying down or standing up, it really grinds/pops/catches. It actually literally feels like the ligaments are crunching against each other or against something else. And stretching for the front splits is absolutely fine, but when I stretch for the centre split (either leg out to the side) it just feels wrong. Tight, but not muscular tight, more like something is caught. It also means I can't do an extended cradle as I struggle with anything that needs a straddle.
It's very annoying! I will go to the physio soon (if that's what's recommended) but it'd be nice to have some idea what I'm in for too, and to know what other people have found helped or hindered their recovery.
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Sorry I didn't reply to your FB message! For some reason I don't seem to get emails about messages on FB anymore, I don't know why 🙁 Sorry about that honey! I love your profile pic, btw 🙂
I think the rest of the poles are just Bobbi's own poles, as far as I know. I phoned and asked Vanessa about the PCP and she told me which one it was, but I've never noticed it so it can't be that much different from the others.
I'm signed up for Flex on Thurs again this term – I'm getting steadily closer! To right and left splits anyway, centre splits may never happen! I'm not going this week tho as I got my tattoo finished on Sunday so I'm having another healing week. I'm free most of the time really tho! It'd be cool to do a practice on a Sunday maybe if you fancy it? What are you doing this term?
http://x-pole.com.au/contact.htm Check it out! Totally unneccesary! But pretty funny.
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Hey Joy 🙂 We need to meet up soon! They've actually just got the one PCP at Bobbi's, the one nearest the door in the Penthouse room, so I'm going to try it out tomorrow!
@5Butterflies That's awful! I hope you've recovered from your fall now. I liked my X-Pole when it was all I knew, and to be honest I never had any problems with mine back home, but I frequently borrowed them off friends for teaching and had heaps of problems with theirs jamming or the chrome peeling off etc. And I've heard AWFUL things about their customer service, but again I never actually had to utilise it. PCP just seem more professional and customer-service focussed (and on the contact us page they don't have a picture of a woman lying on the floor staring provocatively into the camera with her hand between her legs… come on X-Pole, you're not doing yourselves any favours!!)
And yes, it would take a home pole a long time to work up the same amount of wear and tear as a studio pole does in one year, luckily!
Haha, so no-one has ANYTHING bad to report about Pussycats for home use?!
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Haha, how funny! I didn't even see the dates.
Just had a look at your pics, I’d love to see a clearer photo of the ones on your upper arm/shoulder, the colours look beautiful 🙂
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Wow, I love this thread! I love looking at other people's tattoos, especially when they are meaningful and artistic.
I only have one, which is a work in progress. I'm 10 hours in at the moment, with maybe 4 left. I'm going to be quite sad when it's over tho as I've been really enjoying the process. Eventually I'll get more, and I hope to be able to go back to the same guy as he is awesome.
There are pics in my album:
https://www.studioveena.com/photos/view_album/4e2e0d66-3d40-4c35-a85c-3d560ac37250
There are so many different meanings interwoven in it that I won't bore anyone trying to explain. I'm the only one that needs to know after all!
Great thread Glitterhips!! Altho for some reason I can't see yours 🙁
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Had to update…! I had my third session on Sunday, and I have one more booked then she should be finished…
https://www.studioveena.com/photos/view_album/4e2e0d66-3d40-4c35-a85c-3d560ac37250
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MissMegi77, do you know of a link for the cradle to reverse grab? I can't quite picture it…!
I always loved the Carousel to Reverse Grab to Back Hook/Back Attitude… feels like flying!
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Hey lovely Veeners!
I had my first session on Sunday! Very happy with the result so far…
https://www.studioveena.com/photos/view_photo/4de4193e-518c-43a4-aa89-03f70ac37250
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Are Cleopatra and Candy the same thing? And is the only difference between a Cleopatra/Candy and a Shoulder Mount the grip used? I'm confused!
I had a dream the other week that I could do the splits really easily… I did them over and over again and it didn't feel like a dream, I was so disappointed when I woke up! 🙁
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I've always wanted to get into circus arts but as others have said the time time/money factors and the fact it can be tricky to find somewhere to learn have meant that I haven't got into any of them yet. I started hooping while I was travelling round Australia with my husband as it was much easier to carry around a hoop than a pole! But now I've stopped that again as I am now living in Sydney and don't have the space to hoop.
When I have got back into poling for a while and got my strength up I am going to emroll in a silks/hoop class and I really can't wait. I love hooping and started poi too a while ago which is also really fun, but none compare to pole, I just love the inversions and the strength it takes.
My friend and I did a skill swap for a while back home – she taught me belly dance and I taught her pole dance, which was really fun.
If I had time and money I would definitely be taking up loads more physical hobbies, but life definitely gets in the way a lot of the time!
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It's been a while since I've posted anything but mine is CaitlinMidori. When I get a pole in my house again there will be lots more, but not for now!
I'll have to go through and add everyone on here tho, it's fantastic having so much inspiration.
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It's beautiful Moxie, the shading is REALLY well done 🙂 very cute design!
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Wow, there's some beautiful artwork on some of you ladies! I love rib cage pieces but I'm always concerned about how they'd stretch with pregnancy or just with random weight changes…. but it's just such a sexy area! @Ghettobarbie yours is very pretty, what does it say? @Miss Enzo your flowers are gorgeous too, tattoos are all the better when they have meaning like that.
I'm glad to hear that they don't fade or get damaged even when they are on an area that has a lot of contact with the pole too! I've wanted to get a foot tattoo for years but haven't quite decided on the design yet, and now I know I don't have to worry about climbing! @Shellectra, I've never heard of a transdermal on the foot before, brave you!
I'm so excited, I went for my second consultation yesterday and the design my artist has done is beautiful! It's gonna be huge, covering the whole of my upper back, but it's absolutely gorgeous!! I have the final viewing next Mon and my first session the following Sunday… gonna be expensive but I can't wait to get it going!
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Hi Joyful, hey lovely Veeners!
So I'm in my second week at Bobbi's and finding my lack of strength quite frustrating. Going from being able to Aysha to barely being able to invert sucks, but I know I just need to keep working on my strength, it'll come back with time and hard work! And patience, which is the harder part, lol
I'm not finding Summer's classes the most inspiring tho, Joyful… She's very sweet and very skillful and very sexy, and seeing as I'm relearning things I have already mastered in the past it doesn't matter too much, but I'd definitely like to try some other Bobbi's teachers soon.
Would still love to meet up with you too! Have you done your catch-up class yet? I'm going to miss my Int2 on Friday so I'll have to catch that one up at some point. I'll msg you my number and maybe that'll make it easier to try to meet. How is PG going? You'll be great and I'm sure after a few classes you'll be coming up with your own routines easy. I find Bobbi's routines pretty samey tho – but I can only comment on the ones in the courses rather that the Pole Grooves classes. But Bobbi's definitely seems to have a style that they don't really deviate from. I don't mean to knock them tho, it's definitely great practice and I need all the help i can get with the dancing side anyway. I may have asked before, but have you (or anyone else) done a Floowork course at Bobbi's? I'd really love to try that.
Thanks for the info on the Titanium as well. I'm pretty sure I'll get a TG X-Pert when I can afford it. Just need to find out if my sponsorship is actually going to happen first!! And a few more paychecks.
Sapphiresky you're definitely right about being able to learn from anyone. Everyone finds different aspects difficult and you can learn loads by jamming. That's what I REALLY miss from back home. My friends and I didn't take classes because there weren't any. I taught beginners but my group of friends just got together whenever we could and played around together, used Jamilla's DVDs or tried stuff out from Youtube etc. I really miss the social side and just trying new things and the opportunity to experiment which classes don't seem to offer (or at least not Bobbi's, I haven't been anywhere else). I'd LOVE to train with Jamilla.
Yogabeachbabe – There really is no "wrong" side to invert, I know, but Bobbi's always teach it with the pole on the right side of your body, and as annoying as it is it makes sense because if you want to invert from a spinning climb with your right hand as dominant, you have to invert to the left of the pole. It's not a big deal, as there are ways around it, but for class/routine purposes it has to be that way around. But I'm glad to be learning it on both sides, it can only help my poling in the long term to have a solid invert on both sides.
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Yay! Go you! I bet your boyfriend loved it!
That's awesome Chilli is going to help you too, that's really nice of her :o) you'll get it in no time, I'm sure.
I'm in Int 2 on Fridays at 6:15 with Summer, Flex on Thursdays at 6:15 with Ria, and Int 1 on Tuesdays at 6:15 with Summer. I'd love to try a Pole Grooves class tho so I'll definitely come along to one at some point. Dancing has always been the hardest bit for me, much harder than the upside down stuff, so I definitely want to do a Pole Grooves course at some point and it'll be a good taster :o) Determined to get my splits tho so I'd be reluctant to miss Flex, maybe it'll have to be an extra rather than a swap! There are practice times from 1pm til 5pm on Sundays too so I'm sure we'll work something out YAY!
I was thinking I was gonna go for Titanium Gold if I buy a pole, so definitely let me know what it's like when you try it out!! I used to have the standard 50mm chrome plated X-Pole at home which I got on fine with on the whole but my hands are SO sweaty so something grippier would be better. I like the thin brass Bobbi's poles but I don't wanna get too used to them that I can't feel cmfortable on anything less grippy or fatter. Can't wait to try a TG!! What do you have? I haven't tried any other than chrome and brass so any tips would be great!
I'm living in Surry Hills at the moment, moving to Redfern over the next few days, but I'm from the UK originally. Been in Australia about a year and a half travelling with my husband and we started off in Perth, but we arrived in Sydney about 2 months ago and got jobs and now if all goes to plan my work want to sponsor me so I could be here a while!! And I'm DEFINITELY always looking for pole buddies, I've met some of the nicest people in my life through poling :o) And I've missed it so much while we've been travelling.
Hehehe…I also REALLY want to enroll at Aerialize for a silks course next term, if you think you'd wana try that too!
Anyway, have a great weekend Joyful! Hope we can meet up v soon! x x x x x
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I'm really new to Sydney (been here just under 2 months now) so I didn't do term 2 at Bobbi's, I'm just starting in Term 3. I'm actually enrolled in Int 1, Int 2 AND Flex – I've been waiting SO long to get back to pole I thought I deserved it! HAHA!
Are you in Int1 at the moment? What is your song? I did Int1 back in Perth too and we did The Way I Are by Timbaland – it will be forever ingrained in my brain!
It's so random that I found your post, I was intrigued by the title, esp. since I am having to relearn inverting etc, but I didn't expect to find another Sydney-based Bobbi's student becuase of it!
I'd love to get together sometime, I may even be buying a pole again soon (Ihope I hope I hope) as I miss having one at home, so maybe we can even have jams! Otherwise it'd be cool to swing by to your class once in a while, or we could both go to the practice session before your class on Sunday.
Anyway, can't wait to meet you and good luck for tonight! You're not gonna look like an idiot at all, you'll be hot stuff!
x x x x
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Hey Joyful,
Which Int 1 class are you in? I'm enrolled in the one on Tuesdays at 6:15pm.
I have also had to downgrade when I got to Sydney as I haven't done any poling in over a year and as a result I can barely even invert anymore, and there's no way right now I can go straight into the straddle when inverting. When I learned to invert I also learned it on the "wrong" side so I am having to relearn it totally. I know it will be worth it in the long run but it just feels completely alien with the pole on the right side of my body!
I'm afraid I don't have any bright ideas for you (especially no brighter than the instructors) but if you'd like a buddy who is also having to go back a couple of levels in order to get the foundations right again, it'd be great to get together. It's always less frustrating when you have someone else to get frustrated with!
Send me a message if you wanna get together, but good luck either way. You'll get it, I have no doubt!
Enjoy your weekend, and roll on next week when Term 3 starts!! 😀
Caitlin
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Yes, VERY good to know, thanks lots Sarah!
(piccies??) 😀
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If I ever remember who had it or where I saw it I'll try to repost it – with permission, of course!
It was pretty cool…
I have my tattoo consult booked for a week Monday – too excited!!!
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I remember seeing a picture of a girl who had poles tattooed down the backs of her legs, like stocking seams, with little pole dancers on them all the way down… I think they were mini Felixes! Can't remember where I saw the pic now tho, whether it was here at Studio Veena or Facebook or something…
I want to get something pole related into mine, but I think it will be more symbolic (freedom, grace, defying gravity etc) than literal.
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Thanks for the advice guys! I actually went to Bobbi's for a term when I was in Perth and was taught by the amazing Allegra. I found the classes a bit strange after having been self taught for so long, but they definitely put me through my paces! And I did meet a lovely friend there too 🙂
Elizabeth Street is SO close to where I live too! This definitely might be the way to go…
Have you guys, or anyone else, tried any other schools in Sydney? Just wondering where else people would recommend. I'd LOVE to be taught by Jamilla!! But she only teaches the really advanced classes, so it'll take me a while to get to that level!
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This is a great thread 😀
Vickie, Bettie is cool! Did Ali do her?
K8, I love yours, the shape and colours are absolutely gorgeous, and such perfect placement on your back.
In fact, they're all great, and very inspiring!
I'm going to get my back tattoo extended very soon. I've had the ideas for a while but just spent some time looking for the perfect artist. I think I found him at the Sydney Tattoo Expo tho, so I'm well excited, shouldn't be too long now!!
And I won't have to worry about how it affects my poling, as I'm STILL not poling. Not for over a year now, I hate it hate it hate it! :*( I'll be able to start again soon tho, just need to get paid a couple of times first…
Keep the tattoo pics coming girls! I love foot tattoos too Ollie, I've got mine in mind but can't do everything at once. And I know how you feel about your back one too! I really don't like mine as it is, but I can't see it so it doesn't bother me. But hopefully once I get it extended it will be wicked!
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WOW!! That’s amazing!
Ummm… It’s looks a bit like a type of Jade, but it’s not really because it’s not a hip hold… It looks to me like she’s only holding on with her left arm, and keeping her centre of gravity on top of it by pulling her left foot with her other hand… I guess there’s probably a bit of pressure from the left thigh, but not much…
Nope, never seen THAT before!! Thanks for the link!
