[Charley]

50mm but I’d like to try a 45.

[Charley]

Honestly – even performing for them knowing they weren’t into it was easy because I knew the routine and knew what I was doing and I was having so much fun. When no one clapped – for me that’s when I felt terrible.

I have clapped for terrible performances but none the less appreciate someone trying to entertain.

It was a much more conservative crowd than I was told. I would never go back there for any type of event again. Now, it’s plain funny to me. I am sure some of the guys wanted to clap and even some women wanted to take part in it but was afraid of what the others would think.

This is why we have studios to teach these kinds of things in a cozier environment.

[Charley]

I don’t know of any place that doesn’t go topless – this doesn’t mean they don’t exist but I don’t think any do around me.

Typically a strip bar is topless. If you are okay with going topless…but here’s the thing. You make money off lapdances not stages. And you may have to dance topless in those lapdances. Depends on the club. So while the performing aspect of it is what we do – there are other parts of it that are a bit harder. You have to have thick skin to be a dancer in a club. I say try it and see what you think.

[Charley]

I would have to! Good for you for saying something!

You don’t judge her lifestyle so why should she judge yours? I am sure there are more than a few remarks you could make about the harley lifestyle – but that would be stereotyping and probably untrue of her. So she should back off.

[Charley]

Oooh I should film it. Never thought to. I will tomorrow before class (I say that and a month later add to the post https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif )

[Charley]

They were pretty stunned and expressionless. I think they have a different view of sexy than we do. They actually said to be stripperish – I delivered.

Oh well. You win some you lose some. I would have loved to have known what they were all thinking though.

Life Lesson – don’t do stripperish, grinding chair dance in a country western mine dance bar!

[Charley]

Good for you, that’s great! I hope you keep progressing as well as you have.

Just want to say the instructor shouldn’t be calling anyone a "problem child" because they struggle. That’s kind of unprofessional and mean.

[Charley]

The whole thing is really funny to me now.

I think they were too offended to clap to be fair about it.

I know when I am on and when I am not and last night I was and I know I gave a great performance – I even did a back flip off the chair!!!!

I just felt bad for seeing how offended they all were when all was said and done. It’s no one’s fault really. But pretty funny – I am a filthy dancer – spreading my filth! haha!

[Charley]

Hey kittyclimber – I know how you feel. It’s easy to feel like you have to keep upping the ante, I feel this pressure too. But really until someone is near flawless with their beginner moves they really can’t move on. Not to say that you must do every single move before moving on because there is always something we put on the shelf for later.

AS instructors we feel like we have to keep showing them more and more but really part of our job is to perfect what they have.

I have intermediates now working on ckr, car and basic invert. I feel like they are getting bored so I am showng them new mounts like handstand to the pole, headstand to the pole and some combinations like plank, car, wrist seat, dismount. They are both struggling with climbing still so I know we have to stick with the moves we have right now. Maybe we’ll work with the bow and arrow and as a new pose but ultimately we have been where we are for atleast 6 weeks now.

[Charley]

Hi! What kind of pole material is your pole? Chrome? Stainless Steel or Brass?

My xpole had some waxy surface on it and I used Dawn dish detergent then plain acetone nail polish remover. I bought this pole from a friends who didn’t realize it was coated for protection during shipping. My Ps poles I just wiped down with acetone or a 50/50 alcohol mix. My powder coated pole also got alcohol and water treatments.

I wouldn’t use acetone on a painted pole like a powder coated because I am not sure if it would eat the paint but it’s fine on chrome and stainless.

[Charley]

There is nothing wrong with YOU there is something wrong with the way you are being trained.

Even if you have to go over something a million times with a student – you do it, you spot them, you help them. not everyone can do everything right off. Fear is a HUGE factor when you are new to something – if they can’t understand that then you really should go elsewhere. It takes time to conquer fear. I takes time to conquer our bodies.

[Charley]

Mary Ellen – from what I know of her is an amazing teacher! Safety is priority #1 and she has trained with some of the best in the industry – KT Coates, Jenyne Butterfly and numerous workshops in Jamaica.

i have been talking to her for 3 years or so online and she has always been super helpful!!!! I really adore her.

a few years a go she was featured on an HBO special too. Here is her website:

http://www.empowermentthroughexoticdancing.com

[Charley]

Allie brings up a good point that I was kind of thinking too. What about doing all the stuff the know one handed on both sides? Different transitions in and out of moves? Fan kicks to pole sit? This is one i give to my strong newbies. Or different dismounts out of pole sit like carousel legs or boomerang slide downs. or pole sit knees to together and sexy little kicks. Basic plank – this is a struggle for a lot of folks but it’s a pretty safe pose.

Or booty wiggles, body waves, figure eights, shoulder shimmy’s…working in heels?

Maybe have them work on dance that is all transitions then another with tricks/spins.

Utlimately though at some point their progression will be different. Maybe you should talk to them about that. It doesn’t matter how long it takes to get there. We all succeed and struggle with different moves. I open my classes to beginners saying this. "What’s easy for you will be difficult for the person next to you, the person next you will find things easy that you struggle with. We are all different and our bodies respond differently. With time, patience and safe practice we will all achieve our goals."

I used to take private aerial silks classes with a friend of mine who is really bendy and stubbornly strong – there were a lot of things – most things she was able to do before me (even unafraid to do when I was too scared to and opted out) That was fine as long as I got my time and my tries (unless I said heck no to dropping from 20 ft in the air lol!) We started at the same level – but separated over time. We perform differently and gravitated towards different moves. I’d still do a private with her to this day.

[Charley]

What about spin combinations based on the moves the do know – front hook/back hook, attitude/front hook, attitude/fireman, back hook to fireman. etc.

Or conditioning moves like sitting, fan kicks, lifts stuff like that. Floor work?

[Charley]

The iguana requires a lot more flexibility than many of us think. I don’t know if that is an issue for you but for me it is and has been.

First things first. You want to have a good forward fold. This will mean stretching daily until you can get a decent forward fold, you also want to have good strong shoulders and core.

The more of your back that you can get on the pole – the easier this move will be. You’ll bend way down, grip the pole behind you, lifting for your shoulders, engaging your core – this also means those lower back muscles, pull yourself towards the pole, your legs should be shoulder width a but more apart and you should be on tip toes, as you lift bring your legs outwards then up.

I hope that description helps.

This a move I still don’t have as well as I would like. I still need a bit of a jump to do it right and I cannot keep my legs totally straight. You don’t want to jump into this move because you can really injure yourself. Because I don’t have a very good forward fold I don’t have as much of my back on the pole as I should to execute the move seemlessly.

[Charley]

stupid questions but
1) for climbing does it hurt everyones foot top for the first leg up?
At first most people experience pain with climbing, over time as you find your way with it you’ll learn to be gentler against the pole.

2)I seem to be unsure of my ability to hold myself after an invert without hands by my leg vice alone, Has anyone had a really good excercize that helped them become better and handling the pole between legs while upside down…i suppose even good for pole sitting..?
I like to use resistance bands on legs – I find my legs can take on muscle fast. I bought some cheap pilates bands from Meijer and I follow some exercises with those (that came in the package.)

3) after pole sitting I’ve never been able to get into the wrist sit, not sure if its my short arm to ass ratio or posture wrong?
First off with the wrist seat you need to be in a half lay back position. I find I am leaning way out from the pole when I get into it. You want your legs to come up vs. out – I see a lot of people doing this move (including me) the first few times with the legs down and spread – this a much harder balance. Make sure you are not sitting directly on your wrist but that it is slightly over to one side. The pole should run right up the inside of your hip on one side. Be sure you are tipping back far enough and bring those legs straight up and open.

Wrist seat takes some adjustments, so do it slow. I used to teach this move from the floor but realized people were not getting into the right posture – so don’t do it from standing. get on your pole in a sit (low sit – close to the ground.)

[Charley]

The Tg sounds like your best option unless you want brass – which I believe now comes in a removable pole from platinum stages. Brass is a pain to clean. The TG can fade out though – my friend has a TG that she had to replace the A and B poles on because of fading over use.

I still like TG over brass because it’s lower maintenance but you do have the option to get brass – http://www.platinumstages.com – but it’s more money and hassle.

[Charley]

First be sure that you only hand tighten the pole pieces….then, here is a trick I have been using….BEFORE I go to take down the pole..so before I loosen the dome, I loosen the pole pieces themselves…not all the way, but just enough so I know they will come apart once I get the pole down. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

This is the best way to get the pole apart.

Once the pole is down it’s difficult to get apart because you have no tension.

[Charley]

Hi Mindy,

Platinum Stages Vaulted Ceiling adapters work with X-pole. http://www.platinumstages.com

[Charley]

Hey Julie – your actually going to switch legs and arms in this move – you will be in scorpio (inside leg hang on both sides of your body)

Invert on the side your normally would – go into inside leg hang, from there you will go into the thigh hold for a moment bring your opposite armpit around the pole and secure, then be sure to grip the opposite leg (it will be your new inside leg) on the pole and release your outside leg(previously this was your inside leg)

I hope that makes sense.

[Charley]

I was afraid everyone would think we are really b1tchy. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif

We really take pole seriously and really want to provide the best experience. We also want our clients to feel like they can grow with us too. They don’t have to switch studios when they reach a certain level – they can go all the way.

I really think our best candidates for instructors are students – if they are interested and willing to do group fitness certs.

[Charley]

Here is how we hire instructors:

1) MUST BE ACE CERTIFIED AND FIRST AID CERTIFIED (or getting ACE certification but MUST have first aid cards)
2) Must be able to dance well, not tricks only and of an advanced INTERMEDIATE level
3) 1 year minimum pole experience (home pole, exotic dancer, etc)
4) MUST have taken lessons with a physical person (doesn’t have to be us, but you must have class experience, if you do not, prospective instructors are REQUIRED to attend classes – they have the option of paying and taking the class as a student or not paying and watching the class – they may not take part if auditing.)

Before teaching a class instructors must be able to show us they can do a 60 minute class with 12 min warm up – cool down stretches and adapt pole moves and warm up/cool down exercises for all body types.

Must have a good personality – this is an absolute MUST. You need to keep students interested, encouraged and excited. It’s not just teaching move after move – you need to be able to link things together and break that down for students.

Qualities we like but NOT required
1) home pole and continues in furthering own pole education and work
2) work ethic
3) people interested in other forms of exercise, dance or gymnastics
4) people with personal training, yoga, pilates, dance gymnastics backgrounds (not I took jazz in elementary)
5) people who want to bring out the best in OTHERS
6) pole addicts! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif

The above isn’t required but what I personally would like to see. Any of things on that list is great. Not everyone eats and breathes pole and there are a lot of amazing polers out there with no kind of background what so ever – so to make them required is silly. We also highly encourage exotic dancers to apply with us. There is an authenticity to the way an exotic dancer moves that many people really want to learn. I also like someone who is continuing to work on themselves. That doesn’t mean always doing the next latest crazy move or combo but someone who really wants to learn new things – spins, spin combos, transitions, floor work. I think it’s important that trainers commit to training.

For us – we take pole very seriously as a fitness regiment and believe to provide our students with the best experience our instructors need to be very knowledgeable. They need to be adaptable (i.e some can’t do a split grip thumbs down – teach them split grip thumbs up.) They need to be able to provide the highest quality of customer service.

[Charley]

also check out http://www.hoopcity.ca – it’s a community for hooping.

[Charley]

hoopnotica DVD’s are the best I have seen with the best instruction. I like their travel hoop but it’s a lot of money.

I make my own hoops – but unless you need 8 hoops don’t do this because it will set you back WAY more than the travel hoop at hoopnotica.

Jenn ordered the travel hoop and 2 DVD’s in a package deal.

[Charley]

You did it fab too Roxy. I tried this recently and found it quite easy but you need to be able to do the bow and arrow split grip. I would work from that first, work on split grip aysha and then work on combing the two moves.

Does anyone know the actual origins of this combination? I saw an older video of Robyn (robbin?) Nobbin on youtube doing it and I know Jenyne has done it, also Felix.

I’d like to know who created the move – I actually thought it was Karol but after some sleuth work across forums I found some older references to the combination.

As far as I can find out this is not a named move but a combination. any info?