[Charley]

Dustbunny – the next showcase will be July 16&17. I'd love for you to join us onstage and perform.

 

I think Showcases are a great place to explore yourself as a performer.  I've been the three I've produced and I can say that my creativity has started to come out a lot more and I've started thinking more about performance value than tricks which is going to be helpful if I continue to compete.  I get as nervous before a showcase as I do a comp though.  I think the difference is competitions push me to perfect and learn, showcase push me to get creative.  I think have the chance to do both will make me more confident on both types of stages.

 

If anyone ever needs help setting up a showcase feel free to pm me.  Also even if you're just performing for other students in your class that helps a lot.  I love performance based classes because students get the opportunity to perfect, find themselves and experiement.  Not everything will translate well but you know in a safe environment with friends you can hear that.  

Another idea is to maybe do a pole jam with friends then end with some performances.  

[Charley]

Thank you Marlo – great point "Even when you have supreme skills, you can be out performed or more of what the judges are looking for."  IPDFA does have their criteria listed on their website for anyone who is interested.

I don't think it's fair of whomever that was to take the well warned victory away from Mai.  I am sure Felix would be disappointed in that kind of behavior too.  There is room for all of us and all of us to be champions.

I also think that the pressure that community sometimes puts on it's performers is a lot for them to handle too.  Just because Felix Cane is the World Champ and amazing and glorious doesn't mean she can't have a bad night, not feel weell, be tired or simply just not be in it that night…and that doesn't mean the judges hate her or doing something wrong, it means it wasn't her night.

Also, when you look at competitions like Worlds and IPDFA – these international competitions – that is the BEST of the BEST from AROUND THE WORLD – how do you judge who's the best at that point?!?!  These competitors are the best in the world – really everyonbe deserves to win and when you're on a world stage like that, everyone has won.

I'd hate to see pole dancing turn into baseball with pole dancers yelling at judges the way we yell at umps. 

[Charley]

Sorry for multiple postings I had to check out info and yes IPDFA is the one with online votes but it's just for a free trip I believe everyone whose video you see is IN the comp however many of them cannot afford to go to Tokyo which was Shadows problem last year because she was going to go defend her Pole Fit Champion title which went deservingly so to Rafaela.

I have heard many great things about this competition from Shadow who was there in 2009 and last year I heard from a friend who is a friend of a friend – you get the picture, that was involved with it and said it was a fabulous comp and everyone did really great and worked so hard.  I've heard good things about Ania who runs it.

Sounds like someone is just upset that Felix didn't win, but Felix's official title is World Champion and Mai Soto's title is IPDFA Ultimate Champion.  Make any sense?

[Charley]

IPDFA is the one that has a voting on finalists or semi finalist – can't remember now but that doesn't mean we vote the people into the comp, there is just one winner of the online votes and they get a free trip to IPDFA – I believe that was Zoraya last year?

[Charley]

IPDFA is held in Tokyo.  Worlds was held in Zurich I believe (where Jenyne fell) as was the recent Aerial Pole International.

[Charley]

Puzzling indeed!  I'm not sure why Felix didn't do well at IPDFA but I doubt it had anything to do with judging being unfair – even Felix has to have a bad night now and again, right?

There's alot of heat in the pole kitchen these days and I suspect it's only going to heat up.

With that said I'm gonna make some food!

[Charley]

@Amcut – I so try to aim my vagina and nipples away from the class!  HAHAHAHAH!

I usually wear undies under my shorts, hard to imagine right because my shorts are sooo tiny.  IF I'm shaved up I'll wear just shorts but I always use a panty liner in my shorts/underwear because many of them don't have a white lining and because I think the less my vag touches them the longer I'll be able to use them, plus panty liners help absorb sweat – TMI but I'm a sweaty girl and it's not just my hands.

IF my undies are bigger than my shorts – which does happen, I will make sure the undies and shorts match so that I can get away with it, lol.  

Anyway, for what it's worth I don't like my vag touching the lining of my shorts/undies or bikini bottoms – I've got vag issues.  So I always double up.

FYI – the kmart shorts – I have two pairs and if I spread my legs and I do a lot – they do show lady bits :S  Not sure if I just have a wider one than normal or not. 

http://www.poledanceplayground.com makes great shorts with a full covering lady bits area.

[Charley]

I feel if someone hasn't asked for feedback then feedback shouldn't be given.  The pole community has to be PC, pole dancing is intimate and personal and needs to be handled with care and kindness.  It takes a lot of courage to put a video up of yourself dacning around a pole – that's a huge thing for most of us, most of us aren't trained dancers and gymnasts – we're afraid everyone will think we suck.  It's important to nurture the creativity.

Also part of my class that uses criticism is also in place so students can learn to criticisze themselves PROPERLY.  Like "I suck" is not an appropriate response to watching yourself back – learn to look for things that can be improved but also learn to look at the things that were great – learn to more of the great, polish the not so great things.

I'd hate to see the pole community go the way of musicians forums – where everyone is so hung up on themselves that think everyone else sucks, that they cannont appreciate a different style, they can't find something to say about someone's work because it's not what they would typically listen too.

I think we should be afraid of stepping on each other's toes…it keeps us respectful of others. I know that some people can take it, I count myself as one of them, but I'd be really put off if someone I didn't know posted a critique of my video – I'd feel picked on.

[Charley]

I think that constructive criticism needs to happen in a safe place – not at the end of a performance or the middle of a practice/class and needs to be well thought out.  I don't think public forums are the best places for it simply because for example if Is aid critique my video for all of time the *negative* things written would be there for all the world to see which can be embarassing.

I believe to constructively critisize someone you need to open a door for conversation which can only be done in a safe place.

My class that does use constructive criticism is designed for serious/experience dancers and dancers looking to further their own journey.  The class isn't their to necessarily give homework as much as it is in place to promote experimentation and creativity…not every experiment will work and its a safe place to try everything you've ever wanted to try and be, and explore different sides of you and above all FEEL these different women inside of you.

Part of me wishes I could get more constructive criticism because I criticisize everything I do and getting fresh eyes and opinions would be great but I am not sure I would liek that on a public venue.  I do on occasional send videos to people I trust and respect for insight.

 

[Charley]

I'm considering cancelling everything and just heading down Sunday…I need sooo much help.

[Charley]

Tonights the night!  Good luck to everyone!!!!! YAY!

[Charley]

With the caterpillar fall – I just kind of walked it off and went back to it but the tornado scared me so badd I've been really freaked out about it ever since!!!!!  I do need to get back to it.  Funny thing is the caterpillar fall was far worse than the tornado fall – I just fell on butt out of the tornado but ever since I am so scared…although when the fall  happened I got up and just did it again because I had a crowd, lol!

[Charley]

I've fallen twice once way back when I was working on the caterpillar – I took my legs off the pole accidently and fell pretty bad.  I fell out of a tornado back in October and have been kind of scared to do it ever since.

[Charley]

I really agree with what Amy says and to be honest it took me a long time to be able to make my weaker side look half way decent – especially with inverts and often times they do still feel awkward although I'm finding just the sheer determination and practice is helping a lot.  I think it's good to train your weak side simulataneously with your strong side.  For example, in classes, once we feel we mastered something, I make students do it for equal time on their bad side, sometimes people find certain things easier on the weaker side.  I always ask students to experiment with leg and hand positions because you never which side a move is going to like.

Another exercise you can do is set yourself to up to dance to a song and so all of your spins on your weak side and bigger harder moves on your strong side.  Just getting good at your basics on your weak side will really increase your strength – think about it, it's the same way we trained our strong side.  Plus, it generally doesn't take as long to get comfortable with the basics on the weak side because you already know the form and the technique.

Once you get to where you're inverting on your weak side, train it the same way you did your strong side, over and over until it feels okay. 

Hope that helps.

[Charley]

Never teach for free.  By that I mean never set aside specific time to work with an individual and teach them for free.  If they respect you and your talents they will have no problem coming up with a way to pay you.

In regards to pay scale.  Consider your abilities as an instructor, not a dancer, because many can dance but not everyone can teach.  If you don't have much experience as an instructor then I would look at this as a way to offer affordable training to someone in need and to also grow your own experience as a teacher.  Don't let someone convince you to offer your experience up in exchange for the experience of teaching them.  There are a lot of people who would pay you.  So keep that in mind.

I'm a firm believer in paying someone for their time and knowledge, especially if it's knowledge that makes me a better trainer or dancer – knowledge that I will implement on a daily basis is priceless. Everything you teach an instructor is money in their pocket so also think about that.  Even if they offer you a job at the studio, I would still expect interested instructors to pay for lessons.  Afterall, it's really about respect.  

I've been known to give people deals for those in financial hardship but I still look at being paid as part of respecting that this is my job and my life, my talent and knowledge is worth something to the person receiving the information.

Sorry, if I come off strong but this is something very close to my heart.  I have had some issues we'll say with being respected and paid for the work I do, as well as being paid honestly for the work I do. 

Let me know how it goes!  If you ever need anything you know how to get a hold of me 😉

GREAT PERFORMANCE!!!!!  I hope to see you at ME Class on the 8th – you deserve some sexy dancing time on mother's day 😀