Charley
Forum Replies Created
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Here is a list I have compiled using google – there are many, many more certs out there.
http://www.polefitnessstudio.com/certification.html?filename=Certifications
http://www.verticaldance.com/poledancingcertification.htm
http://www.urbanfertilitydancer.com/licensing.html
http://www.polefitnessstudio.net/certification.html
http://www.empowermentthroughexoticdance.com/ETEDInstructorTraining.htm
http://www.poledancinglasvegas.com/pole_dancing_certification.html
http://www.poleworx.com/pole-dancing-certification.htm
http://www.frommindtobody.com/Instructorcertification.html
http://www.sobepoledance.com/pole-dance-certification.html
http://www.lrustudios.com/pdcertification.html
http://www.felixcaneinc.com/certification.php
http://www.poledancestudio.com/mastercertification.php
http://www.discoveriesdance.com/
http://ripped4real.com/Poleology.aspx
http://www.lady-katherine.net/certification.html
http://www.isabellesalsa.com/newsite/pole-dancing-teachers-training-course.php
http://www.studiosoiree.com/InstructorTraining.html
http://www.teachexoticdance.com/certification/types/poleposition/
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I think I could like with a pink stage lol, although some of the guys might feel weird about it.
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Just a thought – if you can powder coat a pole…could you powder coat the xstage pie plates???? I could have a pink x-stage lite????
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I think you can get powder coating at an autobody shop. You would probably need to sand the pole first though…not 100% sure.
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We made a stage based off of the Jay Silver plans – my stage was actually reinforced in the center because the pole sta on top of it, pole didn't actually go through it – but it was very sturdy and very good!
We used 3/4'' plywood I'd suggest maybe using 1'' thick if you can though. It was also VERY heavy but very effective. I have the XSL and it's just as heavy as that stage was but less cumbersome because it's smaller. The cool thing about the Jay Silver plans is you can really get creative and make an awesome custom stage. My stage was over $100 in parts but well worth – I wish I wouldn't have left it at the studio I used to teach at. If you powder coat the pole it will be super grippy too 😀
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I feel like pole is as specialized as yoga or pilates, there are a lot of things to know and while I was a good teacher before certification I am a better teacher now. I learned so much more than just how to teach a trick or when to teach a trick but class management, how to minimize use of my body, effective communication and more.
I have never done ballet, gymnastics or any other kind of dancing, never attended any kind of fitness class so for me, this was an important step and I got a lot out of it.
Not everyone will need certification because of their various backgrounds, degrees and certifications in other things but for me, pole is my passion and this was a way for me to learn a lot all at once.
I really recommend certification especially to self taught pole dancers. I still try to take as many classes as I can and teaching pole dance has afforded me the luxery to train with ballet teachers, pole teachers, aerial teachers, yoga teachers and whole host of other skills. Going through the certification process also gave me an unlikely education in how to find amazing trainers. The men and women I have trained with in various skills have been extremely knowledgable about their craft because they too took the time to really study it. I've been able to identify unsafe teaching in other skills/dance because I was taught what a good teacher should be.
As I said before I lack formal training in most of the hobbies I like to immerse myself in and I feel I would be better at most of those things if I had the option to pay for real training…there is just so much to know about everything.
I am a person who enjoys studying and learning so the process to me was not only something I should have done before I ever taught a class but really enjoyable. AND certification wasn't so expensive if I look at all the money I have spent on taking private lessons- upwards of $150/hour…if I'm willing to spend that much money on pole tricks I should be willing to save to my money and spend it on learning to be a better teacher too. My certification was the equivilant of 15 private sessions – which I would easily do in a year if there were than many available to me – I've already spent just about $500 on pole dancing and related training this year alone and that's a drop in the bucket in comparison to what my regular clients pay to come take lessons with me. So, to sum it all up, I feel better having gone through training, I learned, I feel like I offer better products now because before I had nothing to draw from.
Just my personal story. Teaching has given me a great appreciation for paying for education.
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I'd also like to add that my experiences with fitness instructors is likely unique to me because I do know that there are a lot of top notch instructors out there teaching pole with fitness and/or dance backgrounds. I think there ARE those who probably don't need pole certification like Amber Richard – pole is in her veins! Not to mention that she is studying physical therapy. Marlo, Michelle Stanek, Alethea Austin, Karol Helms are all amazing instructors that I've taken classes with but at the end of the day pole is their life, certification is an amazing process that really aids in giving you a lot of knowledge in a short amount of time. I consider a few months a short amount of time when you leverage the time it has taken for the aforementioned talents to not only get good at their craft but also get good at communicating.
Plus for me, I hated telling students I was a self taught dancer without any prior experience, now, I can tell them I taught myself but I took the time to get certified and immerse myself in pole.
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I'd also like to add that my experiences with fitness instructors is likely unique to me because I do know that there are a lot of top notch instructors out there teaching pole with fitness and/or dance backgrounds. I think there ARE those who probably don't need pole certification like Amber Richard – pole is in her veins! Not to mention that she is studying physical therapy. Marlo, Michelle Stanek, Alethea Austin, Karol Helms are all amazing instructors that I've taken classes with but at the end of the day pole is their life, certification is an amazing process that really aids in giving you a lot of knowledge in a short amount of time. I consider a few months a short amount of time when you leverage the time it has taken for the aforementioned talents to not only get good at their craft but also get good at communicating.
Plus for me, I hated telling students I was a self taught dancer without any prior experience, now, I can tell them I taught myself but I took the time to get certified and immerse myself in pole.
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I taught for a long time as an uncertified instructor. I had just began research when I ran into Empy and she talked me about her certification, I was in a place where I realized, yes, I was a good instructor but I needed something behind me because I don't have any background in anything. I am self studier of many things and have lacked formal training in most things I do. I like to read and learn and study the things pertinent in the moment. I actually studied and purchased many books about anatomy and fitness but what I didn't realize was that a certification would give me all the basic knowledge I needed. I started teaching in a time when most people didn't even have fitness certs so a pole dancing cert seemed absurd. Pole dancing began evolving, so did I.
I've had the pleasure of working with many instructors from all walks of life and training and I find that those with just fitness certs don't seem to feel the need to learn pole dancing. When I say learn pole dancing I mean all the moves, all the transitions, study the basics, look for NEW basics, look for new ways to teach a move, look for new ways to do a move.
People are not written pole syllabuses – they are people, there are so many ways of doing the same thing that feel better to certain people and it's about learning HOW people learn and what THEIR body can do. It's knowing how make adjustments and find ways to make every body type successful with pole dancing, running a class that might have extremely slow learners and extremely fast learners and finding a balance so EVERYONE is learning something on their level and not bored. It's about knowing when to advance someone and fidning a tactful way to hold someone back. It's about finding as many ways to do something as humanly possible. I spend a good 40 hours a week teaching and studying. I'm always learning but I don't see that from many others who do have fitness or dance backgrounds…I feel like those I have run into anyway, have a lockdown idea of what needs to be accomplished and do not stray from their syllabus. It's like if you cannot get something the way they are showing it to you they cannot offer variations or other ideas.
I learned a lot about running classes with my certification and how to reach everyone in the class – how to equalize a class of different body types and abilities. I learned how to better organize my classes and how to teach with verbal ques, how to save my body given how many classes I teach a week.
I'm very proud to tell students I am certified in POLE instruction. I had to undergo training and hours of my life to pass a test, not just a written test but a practical exam as well. I want students to know when they come to me they are getting the best for their money. I wanted to be a specialist in all things pole and my certification has given me so much towards that and more. My certification comes with after care that I have used time and time again.
Recently I've been lucky to take private lessons with some celebrity instructors and I will tell you that while they are not certified instructors they all knew pole. Pole was in their veins! David Owen took me through SEVERAL ways of doing and training the same trick, different transitions into and out of and spotted me so well I think he may have been holding me on the pole. Alethea Austin really imporved a lot of my existing moves and taught me some stretches that I don't have to be her to get something out of. Natasha also had variations on themes that helped me achieve a lot in a short time. I don't think any of them have fitness certs but what they do have is hours and years in the study of pole. Which is my point here, certification programs give you so much of the aforementioned knowledge withough the years and years of training with hit and miss teaching/pole tricks.
I think certification is important if you are like me and haven't been doing this stuff your whole life but would like to be a guru of all things pole.
In addition to my certification with Empowerment Through Exotic Dance – which I will renew next year, I also plan to take another pole cert – I would love to do climb and spin but it's a little pricey for me – although a good value for everything it gives you, and will likely do X-pert.
I'll also say this, one of the reasons I certified with ETED is because Mary Ellyn herself has been certified with several programs. To me, this action speaks of honesty authenticicty…she took the time to discover and learn herself. She found certification to be important enough to not just write one but to also take some.
I also believe that pole specefic training and certifications are an important part of the growth of pole dancing as an industry and having recognized organizations and certifications allow us to reach a broader audience. I won't take a yoga class with someone who doesn't have certain certs that I am aware of as being good programs so why should someone take a pole lesson with someone who doesn't have credentials? Just because someone can lead you through a warm up and a cool down doesn't mean they can teach you anything about pole in between.
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For those who are attending the Midwest Pole Comp – I heard that Collette's seminar is about this very thing. I'll be in there!
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YAY! You are back!!!!!!!!!!!! xoxoxox!!!!
We need a bud light chat night!
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Carolyn! Thank you so much for coming out! Your family actually sent me a napkin with a note on it so I found out – it worked out perfect because we had Divine Em's big day coming up too! I was walking around the entire show knowing you were both getting lapdances! Thank you for being such a great sport and coming up for it!
Hope it was a great birthday celebration for you!
Your parents rock by the way!
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Congrats everyone! I can't wait! Gonna be so much fun!!!! Thank you Empy for putting this on, I know how much work it is!
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I believe it's called the Electric Switch.
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Yes the X-stage lite does ship to canada and comes in 45 (that's what I have.)
If you go to http://www.xpoleus.com it will have 3 flags to choose from and click the Canadian one ofcourse 😀
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Elisabeth – your videos are my "to get" list!
I think the problem with more advanced tricks like the TG lift is that the hand placement is not the same for everyone. I've been working with/for tg lift for a year now and it was really me personally finding the hand positions that allowed me the best leverage for my body. When I consult about this move, I refuse to teach it, I have seen dancers be successful with different hand positions based on their body type – for example a long legged dancer will bring her top hand higher than I do, I like my hands closer together then allow my lower hand to slide down to where I like it – it becomes very individual at that point because you have to find your leverage.
From a general teaching stand point in a class it's always rather difficult to find the right groove in which you are breaking down tricks thoroughly and then taking those tricks into dance (especially because there are people involved who all learn differently and not every body should do every trick) – I would think that a DVD that contained BOTH elements would be extremely basic, too long or would lack in either the dance or move instruction.
I make "take away" classes for my students and those routines never include crazy tricks simply because the explanation for some tricks might be 5-10 minutes just on that and then when you get into proper explanation of taking that trick and dancing into and out of it – it becomes very long for the viewer…the viewer would have to proficient in the trick first which brings you to – how to get viewers proficient with tricks you can then move them into dance. I've been trying to work with ideas for my take away class to please my more advanced students but it's really hard.
I agree that some DVD's don't take as much time as they could but honestly there are so many reasons someone might not be getting a trick, so many things that are often done wrong that you could point out but then there are other things that you wouldn't ever imagine. It's very difficult in a minimal amount of time to explain every enterance and exit out of a spin and troubleshoot every problem under the sun that I think most of what I have seen DVD wise has been pretty good. The only DVD's I thought lacked explanation are the Fawnia DVD's but that was such a different time and a different market – I still love them if anything just because Fawnia is in them 🙂
I think pole is young and there is lots of room for DVD's. I like to see each DVD simply because every instructor/dancer is unique and you never know what you'll learn (for me from a teacher stand point) but sometimes I find unique and beautiful transitions, spins and different ways of doing tricks I already know.
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I had one and I sold it and bought an X-stage Lite. They are very dangerous. When I contacted the company they implied I'm simply not a good enough dancer…lol!
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My first competition was a personal disaster! So many things went wrong from the poles to my routine to my inability to understand how to train for it. But you know what, at the end of the day it was truly a great experience.
I actually ended up freestyling about half of my routine because the spinny poles were too spinny for me so I had to cut a lot of my routine just minutes before the show – I wanted to cry. I went out there and I made myself dance, no matter how that comp turned out, I am proud of myself for having the guts to walk out there and do my best under difficult and unusual circumstances, when I saw what I actually did – I realized I didn't look that bad. I didn't have any more drama than any other competitor had! I realized everyone had stuff they hated about their routine/performance and we were all in it together.
I learned so much from what I thought was the end of my career and the end of the world. I told myself and everyone else I would never do another competition – that I was horrible and couldn't do it again. Here I am, in another competition with a good head about it, good heart about it and excited again to give a performance.
If I'd have pulled out I wouldn't have made the friendships I made and met the amazing women I met and learned so much. Comps are more than just your performance, they are an experience and a fellowship with your fellow dancers.
Comps are stressful and deep inside everyone wants to win, but winning isn't nearly as important as pushing yourself out of your box, pushing yourself to do something you wouldn't normally and you're sharing that experience with other girls who no matter how good you think they are – are feeling the exact same way you are. They're afraid, nervous, want to win, want their friends to win, want to give a good performance, are insecure about the choices they made, costumes, body image – all of it. You're not alone with your feelings and thoughts, I promise. Once you get back stage you'll see everyone has the same fears. You'll have a great support group and learn so much about yourself and others.
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The bad kitty ruffle bottoms are tiny but I like them as a layer on or over shorts. If I wear them under shorts I usually tie the ruffle ties around the top layer shorts. I really like them but they really aren't for just walking around in.
I love pole dance playground shorts – if I have to wear shorts that is – typically I buy boy short underwear from Deb's, Forever 21, Rue 21 or anyplace like that and those work really well for me but I don't like a lot of coverage. If you live coverage check out the pole dance playground shorts. Unfortunatly you have to find someone who sells them because you can't buy them through pole dance playground directly.
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Choice E is the only way to make everyone happy, I work for two studios and when submitting my bio for the midwest pole competition I listed my 3 affiliations. I am certified through Empowerment Through Exotic Dance and I work at PoleFIT Revolution and Vixen Fitness. I wanted to be sure to mention everyone who has supported me.
Hope you find a way to put it all together I know we were limited on words so mine reads a little like a list of everyplace I've been lol! 😀
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Chrome is generally well received – I have a few girls who love stainless and a few who only want to dance on tg or brass but overall if you're getting 5 poles and 4 will be for students – maybe 2 chrome and 2 TG and ofcourse your tg because you already have a preference.
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Not that I have heard of but it's always possible – the chrome is a coating. I have had great experience with X-pole's customer service – I haven't had any pole issues I had a carry case break on me and they sent me a new one within a week but that was it.
One of the studios I work at has 5 x-poles and we haven't had a single problem with them.
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For this application I think Minx would be your best bet – especially if you are taking them down a lot – that means you'll be tightening them often so they should hold up pretty good. Minx makes a 45 too – check that out – you could get a few powder coated and a few stainless to offer variety. If it's humid there stainless should be okay – I usually prefer mine on humid days 🙂
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There isn't a pole out there that is 100% however I'd go with X-pole over any other company any day because if there is a problem they will correct if QUICKLY. Peace of mind is worth something.
I've bought from all 3 manufacturers and had a good deal of support from Randy and Minx – he's a great guy but the poles aren't so great in a few ways. The pole is basically held up by a flange that has 1 screw – this means as you spin on your pole that screw is moving around and eventually will leave a LARGE hole in your stud – this happened to me and many S Factor girls that bought minx's – there's really nothing you can do about it. Overall I am liking their new stainless it's grippy – there was a time when they were putting out polished steel and it was soooo slippy – they seem to have fixed or I've gotten better – hahaha. I don't feel like their pole is as safe unless you also screw in the bottom to the floor – so that's a lot of damage if you don't have a studio.
X-joints take getting used to. I've already stripped the joint on my pole and can't get it out – eventually I'll replace it but for now it's stuck solid and I have no reason to replace it. The X-joint can be a pain – I have 2 poles that use it and 1 is okay and the other I stripped – not a big deal – I know X-pole will help me out when I need it. They've been so wonderful. Thing is – not every product is perfect so I don't get upset about that but I do get upset when companies refuse to fix the problem like Platinum Stages does – they like to wait and blame you where as X-pole likes to educate you and get your pole back up as soon as they can.
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If you come across one please pass it along – I just got my jade and I'd love to learn the drop. another drop/slide is out of x ankle – you go into a calf held x ankle instead of a thigh gripped x ankle and basically loosen your grip and retighten – it works the same as the inverted grop. Scares me – I haven't worked on it in years!
