[Mindy4pole]

And congrats to YOU Sarah for Runner up in the "Ultimate" division!! There was some really stiff competition, and just AMAZING dancers!! Watch out world, Texans are coming up!!

Mindy

[Mindy4pole]

My hubby has been absolutely wonderful about my taking classes. I got started poling b/c I was having a pretty hard time after my daughter was born. After ten months, I was still depressed… He encouraged me because he sawhow good it made me feel. But we have that dynamic of being together, too, as we met West Coast Swing dancing. He would take me to class a lot of the time, and then goes and do shopping or whatever and then pick me up. It made him feel a lot more included, and we got to see each other more.

I HIGHLY recommend getting your own pole. I just adore mine, and you can play when ever you have a chance. It is sort of a double edged sword, though. It can be easy to fall into "we’re so busy, I’ll just pole at home tonight." At least for me (a stay at home mom), the social interaction is about as important as all the physical stuff.

Here’s some sound logic for his "stay in level 1" –> if you were doing weight lifting, would it make sense to never increase the amount of weight? Maybe he equates poling with ballroom…? I could (and have) take beginner dance classes over and over happily. But that is because you practice with different partners, and it’s different with each person. But pole is not like that… it is just about you, and what you can do.

One last though… since he doesn’t want to join you poling, are there other classes he could take at the same time? Maybe a ballroom class or an exercise class.

Good luck!! It is so hard to balance the needs of a family!
Mindy

[Mindy4pole]

Thanks guys!!! I really appreciate it! I’ve done some dabbling with makeup, but I just don’t quite "get" how to transition from regular makeup to stage makeup. I’ve used the chafing gel from Monistat as a primer, and it works really well. I don’t know how it will stand up to sweat, though. Angie — I have the neutrals set from Coastal Scents, and I really like it. Which one do you have?

Any tips on applying false lashes? I used to wear them a fair amount, and I remember putting them on in the car more than once, but now I can’t seem to get it to work at all. I have a cheap set, so maybe it’s just bad glue?

Thanks so much!
Mindy

[Mindy4pole]

I just saw a video that cracked me up in light of this thread… I have a combo in my routine that I’ve never seen anybody else do. It just came to me that the moves fit together, so I’ve been practicing it.

So I just saw this INCREDIBLE video of a winner of a big competition, and there was my combination!! Besides just the one move to another, we had similar sequences before and after the move as well. I think it is just that certain moves fall more easily into a certain order.

So, my conclusion is… it’s not the moves, its the performance!! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

Mindy

[Mindy4pole]

My older sister absolutely HATED it when I copied her. We got in some real fights about that when we were little. I hadn’t realized I still have a thing about copying, too. When I actually was doing the monthly challenges https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_redface.gif, I never let myself watch any of the other challenges until mine was done. That way I knew the performance was my own. My head knows, however that you should use every tool available for learning, so I go through time periods where I save tons of pictures of combos I like.

This morning, a thought came to me about the copying thing… I think the ethics of it vary by degree. If we are just dancing together, no one owns the moves or the combos. But doing routines gets into another matter. If you do the Allegra, that’s one thing. If you do a whole segment of Allegra’s routines, that’s a whole other thing.

Stealing moves = ok
Stealing choreography = not ok

Mindy

[Mindy4pole]

Go Sarah!! We’ve got three "Veeners" competing! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif Sarah, VoodooChild (Ashley), and me! I hope to see a lot of you guys out there. And I really hope I don’t make a fool of myself! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/alien.gif

Mindy

[Mindy4pole]

Thanks for posting this!! It drives me crazy when people get territorial about "their" moves. In general, our moves work because that’s how our bodies work. There are some contortionist type things that probably are only reachable through targeted training, but hasn’t anyone heard "there’s nothing new under the sun"? I love "inventing" moves — that is, playing on my pole until something cool happens. But I also love learning from others moves. If you want to learn, why wouldn’t you copy from others???

And Veena — you DO have an amazing style!!! Quit being so hard on yourself!! <Pot calling the kettle black!> https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

Mindy

[Mindy4pole]

IF YOU DO NOT MAKE IT "DIRTY" THEN KIDS DO NOT KNOW IT IS.

I totally agree — "dirty" is in the eye of the beholder. My two and a half year old loves poling. She also loves dancing. One of the dances she made up a while back is her "butterfly dance". You lay on your back and stick your legs in the air. Then you open your legs wide and close them back the way a butterfly opens and closes its wings in the sun.

Someone could watch this and think sexualized thoughts. After all, her legs are in a pretty open leg splay. But that reflects on them, not on her. I’m just jealous of her ab strength!!

Mindy

[Mindy4pole]

I just love seeing this emerge!!! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_bounce.gif

I’ve seen the teaching/competion system in another dance form, and it is great to see it happening in pole! The web makes it happen so fast! I totallly agree that having local competitions is a fun thing. See my blog for my long rant on my personal experience. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

Here’s some things I would love to see in a competition — an improv portion where the performer doesn’t know what music they will be performing to. I think it would really show off who has skills. Also, do big pole jams put on like dances in conjunction with the event. Especially in large competions, the people with similar skill levels will migrate together. And who could resist the lure of watching say — Amber and Jenyne jam together. I really hope that the social side of comps will grow!

Mindy

[Mindy4pole]

I really like brass monkey, and I had the very same question!! While you’re there, you can also hook both knees for a double brass monkey or push out with the arm closest to the pole for Eros (wikipole name). Since you can go into brass monkey from a split grip (straight edge, ayesha), I suspect you could probably come out it that way, too. I think the most common is to hook your free foot on the pole and pull up to a sitting position.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen Brass Monkey from a shoulder mount. I guess you twist your body as you invert? Any chance you’d post a video?

Mindy

[Mindy4pole]

Heh heh heh! "Showing off" is one way to put it… possessed by the music is another! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_bounce.gif

We’ll see how I do with choreography! You should enter, Torrie!

Mindy https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_flower.gif

[Mindy4pole]

The amateur level doesn’t have to have a video — just moola! =) I signed up. WOO HOO! It’s the Friday after my 35th birthday, so I figured WHAT THE HECK!!

I can’t wait to see you guys! We definitely need to do a StudioVeena meet up sometime during the event! I laughed about the Lizard Lounge, too, but hey, it’s not a strip club! Does anyone know if they have their pole up all the time, or just use it for special events?

Mindy

[Mindy4pole]

Thanks for the suggestions! I realized I was making things way to hard, and just did a fade out at 3 minutes. It sounds great, and the time is just right.

I used a program I downloaded called WAV mp3 Editor Pro.

I’ll post a video of my choreography after the competition is done!

Mindy

[Mindy4pole]

LOL! I can imagine your doggie’s reaction — what the HECK is mama doing?? https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_eek.gif

I did hear a story recently through the grapevine, though… Girl sustained a neck injury that paralyzed her — permanently. She was doing a cross-leg release, and slipped and just landed wrong. Just a sobering reminder to always pay attention… Poling, while so wonderful in so many ways, can be dangerous. (If you happen to know the person this happened to, please, let us know. This is the kind of thing we should all be aware of.)

Mindy

[Mindy4pole]

Waaa Erin!! I was looking forward to meeting you! Another time… https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

BUT… YEAH Torrie! I’m so glad you found us on Veena! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

Mindy