Kira
Forum Replies Created
-
As far as I know regarding the positioning of the lower hand in split grips the best way is to hold the pole so the thumb and fingers are facing down the pole. The other grip (where it is the same as the top hand, hand just wrapped around the pole) is just as comfy for others but my friend told me "Felix calls it the double twisted grip and she uses it for the spatchcock. I don't recommend doing it!"
Do what feels natural for you. I understand being frustrated with being told different things and each studio's idea of safety, maybe bring it up with the instructor and hopefully they will explain different grips pros and cons rather than just saying 'it's the wrong way to hold it'. I've been to studios that refuse to teach twisty grip moves because of the injury it can do and down the road is another studio that teaches twisty grip because it's the grip of the moment or it's 'easier'.
-
Hiya, you seem to have a good grasp on English, it may help to work a little whilst you are there unless you have enough money saved up already. I worked in restaurants and the shift pattern was great cos I could go to practice time almost every day 😀 There’s a biiiig Asian community in Sydney. Also check out pole dance academy in bondi, that’s run by shimmy and she’s great. When you go to bobbi’s you will most likely meet a guy called Andre, he is amaaazing and will make friends with anyone hehehe. So jealous, I wish I could go back…..
-
that looks scary but really pretty! I can't stop staring at your lovely pointed feet though lol i've never seen it before either, maybe you should name it 😉
-
floorwork! aerial inverts with straight legs and marion amber 🙂
-
I wouldn't let not placing in competitions get you down. Like you, I've done 4 competitions as well and not won any of them but I am always happy I managed to get through a performance in front of a room of strangers and so should you 🙂 Also as you mentioned before – sometimes judges in the competitions have a favourite style and naturally will be drawn to those that dance to their liking. The current trend here is extreme gymnast style but I can't dance like that…. don't give up performing because I am sure you would have inspired a lady or 2 that night to give it a try! 🙂
-
lol you will still spin but you have to put more momentum behind the spin so you kinda have to 'throw' yourself into a move 🙂 I also agree with amy – great static work is when you can't tell if the pole is on spin or not! It's a bit more transition work than you will do on spinny I think…. allegra and other holds will still work on static – hold them for at least 3 seconds and just engage with the audience and you will be fine 🙂 I do prefer spinny though lol good luck!
-
check your inbox, I did a mini essay I'm sorry lol
-
AHHHHH ohmygoodness, just watched this video and it has an amazing drop in it….
1.34 in shoulder mount somersault/flip drop. Eeeesh
-
scarletthoney – i started a post a while back about drops which has some links in it, or at least has lists of drops that you may be able to find on youtube
https://www.studioveena.com/forums/view/Pole_Drops__20110614032901
and another started further back by pole-twista in which Empyrean did a big video list of drops!
https://www.studioveena.com/forums/view/pole_drops_2010-01-19_160852
I get what you mean with drops being tricky, you can't exactly practice them slowly lol just have to have lots of confidence in yourself 🙂
-
I saw somewhere in a tutorial that instead of focusing on unhooking your leg and then straightening it towards yourself, focus on just really pointing the hooked foot and the tension from the extension will naturally take your foot off the pole. Once you are confident/comfortable with pointing your foot you can work on lowering the leg. I hope that makes sense 🙂 it worked for me as I always just tried to unhook my leg straight away and in the process unhook my whole body 😛
-
congratulations!! looks like a lovely space to practice in 🙂
-
GOOD LUCK!!!
-
that's why I prefer wearing heels hahaha – it makes me feel more confident, corrects my posture and I still straighen my legs but you can't see my ugly plank feet 😀
tbh I hate competing but there are rarely any showcases so the worry of being judged is VERY much on my mind when I perform and is often my downfall.
I've taken all your wonderfully helpful critique on board and next performance will hopefully be heaps better! :)) mwwwaaaah thanks guys!! xx
-
Thanks guys, sounds a bit weird but it's what I wanted to hear! getting critique off you professionals is always very helpful 😉
VinterVild – when I did most the moves/spins I was pointing the heck out of my feet but they never look as pointed as other dancers because they hardly have an arch when I am pointing – and I am pointing by tightening all my leg muscles down from the thigh allll the way down to my feet but they still just look like wooden planks :/
Chemgoddess – I agree. I know there were probably too many tricks (and probably added to my downfall as I was really tired halfway through) but I always panic about that in competitions. I know floorwork/dance is not my strongpoint so all I have is the pole and I worry that the judges think I am not capable of doing anything if I just do some pretty holds or spins so I go at it full force and cram in things I think will impress. Which I know is the wrong way about it but it's a habit I will have to learn to break! I panic about if I go 'too slow' for the music I will miss a move and then I will have to freestyle and I just freeze…
eebee – I also agree to an extent. I really felt that music when I was dancing to it and to me the music and my moves were one, so I guess I was in a sort of trance. However I know there is a difference between dancing for yourself or dancing for an audience. And that's the part I have a problem with and again, will be working on. I seem to get embarassed and feel more self-conscious when I try and include the audience into my routine, I much prefer to go into my own pole bubble and dance for myself but I know that is really boring for someone just watching…..
and your point is proven right on the night as someone that was in intermediate did hardly any pole but because she was so engaging and funny she won the audience over
-
I wish this was in UK, such a cool idea! There's a few showcases here but they usually revolve around schools so only teachers promoting their studios are invited i.e professional levels only 🙁 May have to make a trip to NYC to check Flight Club out!!
-
Jorgi – I was lucky enough to go to their studio for a year so I bought the dvds there. Think each dvd was around AU$40 (roughly £20) so with p&p to here it would be around £25?? I'm not too sure to be honest, you can always email them and they'll reply super fast 🙂
An intermediate 3 routine : http://youtu.be/Irsf7ARbtVU
An example of an advanced routine : (2min 18 in) http://youtu.be/bW9MYQsKQq8RoseMay – I have their Routine DVD (Beginners – Advanced, quite an old one), Routine DVD vol. 3 (again beginners to advanced) and Advanced Pole Grooves Volume 2. You're right with Pole Grooves not having many routines but they break down combos as well as having warm ups etc.
Vdub – http://www.bobbispolestudio.com.au/index.php?c=bobbi&m=shop
Hahaha I sound like I work for them…. I wish!
-
Some great lists off you guys, some dancers I've not heard of but going to youtube them now!! My personal favourites are
Lolo/Laurence Hilsum
Bobbi
Dirdy Birdy
Marlo Fisken
Suzie Q
Natasha Wang
-
I don't know if it's along the lines of what you're looking for but Bobbi's do a series of routine dvds and pole grooves dvds which feature about 10 to 15 routines from beginners upto advanced.
It doesn't teach the combos step by step (I think it's for students to watch and refresh their memory) but it's not hard to watch and note down what each move is, that's what I do haha I love Bobbi's routines so much, it always looks 'easy' -even the floorwork – but is such a workout! The pole grooves breaks down combinations for you to piece together so that would be better if you wanted to begin trying to put your own routine together and need ideas 🙂
-
what make is PS? sorry, I don't know it…. I've used 38, 40, 45 and 50mm poles and I'd say 40 or 45 is the best for me (I have small hands). The smaller the poles get, the easier the grip but the 38 kinda felt like it was a bit too thin – especially for my legs but it's down to personal preference really. Leg holds won't be more difficult, you will just feel more pressure on the contact points because of the reduced thickness of the pole
-
geez you are FLEXY! love it! anyway Jess Leanne Norris did it from a dove variation – 3.20 in
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgAzsQYZQ5o
I can't do any of that myself but I guess practice on the floor a lot and also in splits to get used to the hold? other than that i really don't know sorry! but Jess does it slowly in the vid so I hope you get a clearer idea 🙂
-
so glad you started this thread because everytime I have brought up this issue with pole friends/teachers, they look a mix of confused and scared. Then they tend to go 'oh' and gloss over it saying make sure I don't fully lock it out and if I do, do proper stretching (to which they don't tell me what to specifically do…) and it annoys me because I just want confirmation that I'm not damaging myself if I occassionally hyperextend whilst in moves (it doesn't hurt but I'm always seeking approval that I'm ok to keep hyperextending haha).
The main thing for me is floorwork and poses and trying to make it look graceful and aethetically pleasing…. and because most the time I'm programmed to automatically 'Point your feet! / straighten your arms!' etc. and I forget I'm grossing out people with my funny angled elbows so I had to learn a few different arm positions to make it look 'normal' hehe
-
good fang! wish I had that flexibility!
-
Best of luck! Just do what you love and forget that you are being judged, they will see your passion and be won over I'm sure 🙂 Let us know how you get on!
-
Thanks guys 🙂 I've been slacking a bit with stretching but seeing your tips and Ember's photo has motivated me to give these moves a try again. If I get there I will try get a photo 😀 😀
-
The once and only time I ever got close to a flat belly was when I was doing 8-10hrs pole a week, stretches outside of pole practice and eating no bread/potatoes/good food 😛 at the time it was easy to keep up and maintain because I was surrounded by like minded people and I was living somewhere hot and that usually makes me lose my appetite. After having moving back home and a total change of friend circle/job etc etc. it's been really hard to keep up and especially maintaining a flat tummy, partly due to the fact that my body shape means my stomach is always a little rounder or squished together lol
The only way you can get a flat/toned stomach is not so much the journey of actually achieving it, but the process of maintaining it – lots of exercise, precision diet etc etc and for most normal women it's near impossible (I think :P) That's one of the reasons why I'd love to teach pole for a living then I can work on my stomach 24/7 hahahaha
