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Hi Glitter,
I’m short too, and have a reasonably short torso too (and short stumpy legs… I’m all ass! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif ) I’ve been able to do the yogini and ballerina type moves.
I think maybe your problem might be a lack of flexibility thought your back and/or torso? I initially found the ballerina difficult because I couldn’t twist to reach the pole above me. I would feel a stretch all the way down through my side, and over my hip when I tried. After practicing it a while, I became more flexible and just got it!

Try this stretch… it might help a little:
Sitting on the ground with your legs out in a V. place your left hand on the inside of your right thigh. Take your right hand up and over to grab your left ankle. Now pull up and back through your right arm pit. You should feel a good stretch all down through your side. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

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I was not talking about the actual performance, I was talking about everything else. You have to be this "personna" from the moment you step foot on the property (if not as soon as you apply) for the competition.

Personality, on and off the stage during the length of the whole competition with judges, spectators, friends and other contestants.
Appearance,
clothing,
costumes,
hair/makeup on and off the stage.

I also find this part laughable considering all of the issues that they had with performers slipping during the competition:

The head judge reserves the right to stop any performance at any time, due to either: a candidate’s or spectator’s health and safety is at risk and/or the explicit nature of the candidate’s performance

But this is my take on it. I have been in beauty pageants when I was younger and the part about how you look and act the entire weekend played a big part of how well you scored. Forget being yourself, you had to be this plastic person in order to place.

I understand what you are saying, Chem, but if I may add my 2 cents… I don’t believe the judges were looking for a plastic barbie doll type person at all, but the best person to represent pole dance and fitness to the world. This was the World Pole Dance and Fitness Championships… the winner will gain a lot of attention from within the pole community, and from a more widestream audience, too. She represents pole dance, and pole dancers to the world. Given how hard all of us in the pole community work to gain greater recognition and acceptance of our performance art, we all have a vested interest in requiring high standards from the performers who are going to represent us to the world.

In no way am I suggesting that performers or competitors should be anything but who they really are. But, I think it’s fair enough that the judges are looking for someone who is naturally gracious and well presented. Think of the competition like a job interview – the candidate that gets the job is the one that shows the best performance, the most appropriate presentation, and the most valuable personal attributes. A performer may be able to do the most amazing, mind blowing tricks combined with perfect grace and movement on stage, but if offstage she is haughty, arrogant, selfish, and nasty to other people then she is not the best ambassador for pole dance to the world (because the overwhelming majority of us are so kind, supportive and empowering https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif ). Similarly, she may put in one great performance on stage, but if she’s the sort of person who staggers around blind drunk in a beer-stained thong bikini trashing the hotel and stealing stuff for the whole competition weekend (Haha, not that ANY of the performers would do that sort of thing!), she is also not the best person to represent the pole community.

So I can see why it might seem like the judges were making the competition more of a beauty pageant, I think they were sincerely looking for a great performer who is gracious and graceful, commands respect and respects others, is fit and healthy, is strong in body and character, and presents herself well so she can represent all of us.

[Ritalin]

I saw an interview with Felix where she said she calls this move the Eagle, because she feels like she’s flying. Heh https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

But yeah, we call this a reverse grab to Swan (or pretzel), and I think the extreme leg exension is called a back catch. I find it much easier on a spinning pole, and it pinches much less too. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

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OMG, That article made me so damn angry. What an ignorant, bigoted, supercilious moron. I used to enjoy watching David Mitchell on QI, but I don’t think I’ll be watching any shows where he appears every again!

I particularly enjoyed this quote:
"Even if you say that it’s just dancing and good exercise, surely it would be more empowering to learn a dance that can be employed in contexts other than strip clubs?"

Well, a) Pole dancing can be applied in many contexts, such as a pole dance fitness club, or as an aerial performance art like silks or lyra. And b) Perhaps dear David would have us all learning something like Tango instead? Is that a more ‘socially acceptable’ dance form? I suspect dear David is unaware that the Tango originated in Argentinian brothels to lure customers, and represents the interplay between a prostitute and her pimp.

Ugh, so angry. What an arrogant, uninformed arse.

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This may sound a little kooky, and maybe I was just lucky… but to try to stop your hands sweating you could try NOT wiping them. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

When I first started pole, my hands used to sweat REALLY badly, and I couldn’t grip the pole very well, and I was always wiping them and the pole down. The class I was taking started teaching us freestyle by splitting the class in two, and half danced while the other half watched. This meant there was always someone watching you dance, so you had to dance for the entire song, instead of just slacking off and hoping no one noticed! Because there was always someone watching, I got into the habit of not wiping my hands down when I was dancing. This meant I just had to get used to the sweat problem – so it was a great way to increase my grip strength.
Anyway, after a while of NOT wiping, my hands stopped sweating when I was on the pole. I figure perhaps the constant stimulation of wiping sweat off your hands encourages your sweat glands to produce more. And dried sweat will help you stick to the pole too! (as gross as that sounds).

Anyway, it’s one theory. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif You could give it a go. (for spins! I wouldn’t advise doing inverts with sweaty hands!)

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I’m gonna join Amcut’s Whooping tour!

WoW playing husbands have a problem with the amount of time their wives pole?
Oh HELL NO!

I used to be pretty WoW addicted, and I know how much of a time sink raiding is. You should be allowed to pole while he’s raiding – it’s not like he’s going to want to have a conversation with you while he’s in ICC or anything, so he needs to pull his head in! I’m fortunate that I don’t have any of these problems… my boyfriend is a poler, who I met at pole. Sometimes, poling *is* the time we spend together doing stuff we enjoy. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

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I really dont like wavy legs in an Ayesha, Chopper, Shoulder Mount V, or any of those similar variations. I think it looks much better with lovely straight legs held in place, rather than bending at the knee and waving them around. I also don’t like when people bounce in the splits. This probably goes back to when I did gymnastics as a child and we were told never to bounce in our stretches, heh https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif, but I also think it looks a little crass. And same as most other people, non-pointed toes infuriate me! It’s such a simple thing you can do to make your moves look so much prettier and tidier, and it engages your legs muscles too, making your calves and thighs look longer and more toned.

I’m pretty proud of my side climb, so I’m a little sad that everyone thinks it’s so ugly! It’s not the most pretty move, sure, but I think mine looks like a tidy and presentable transition, anyway. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif I do it as a spinning climb, to make it a little more interesting, too. I’m not such a fan of people doing a straight climb who bring one leg up and then the other. The way I was taught is the way Felix climbs… by lifting your ankles together, and I think this looks prettier.

I think I like most other pole moves, even the ones everyone else seems to hate, like the Wrist Seat, Teddy, Yogini, and Genie. I’ve seen good dancers make all of these look beautiful. What really irks me is people who execute their moves lazily, without bothing to try a full extension. Particularly moves like the Scorpio and Gemini, if they grab their back foot and just hang there. I much prefer to see it with an arched back, pulling the leg away and opening up through the hip, even if the dancer isn’t very flexible. In my opinion it’s not enough to just ‘get’ the move, and check off that your arms and legs are in place… you gotta own the move and make it look good!
Just my opinion. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

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In my experience, the spinning is usually because your hips may not be tucked under enough.
When I do the wrist seat (we know it as the Hello Boys), I have my lower hand under one butt cheek, and my upper hand directly in front of my face. I lean back into it, and crucially, I tuck my knees to my chest before I unfold my legs into a V. This helps you tuck your hips under and rest the pole more toward your tail bone, and I personally think it looks tidier than just opening your legs out from a sit. But, your mileage may vary. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

All the best!

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Ahh, I know that one as the Dragonfly spin, and can be done as leading leg dragonfly, or trailing leg dragonfly.
I’m not sure where I heard the name though… I think one of our students may have brought it back from Singapore??

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Is 1.56 like a twisted grip reverse aysha…from a shoulder mount!?

I think it’s a shoulder mount into a dragon, into a reverse ayesha, and pushed through to a twisted grip hold.

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And in fact, through the wonders of youtube, here is a clip of her performing at our studio (I’m so observant I didn’t even notice someone with a camera while I was watching!!)

Heehee, yeah I think it was either me or Lisa with the camera… probably Lisa actually, as I was dying from just performing, haha!

Amy is such a beautiful and amazing dancer… she’s incredibly strong for such a tiny person, and she’s almost inhumanly graceful! She’s such a lovely person and a great teacher, I’ve driven 800km to her studio for lessons on several ocassions, hehe!! I’m so looking forward to having her come back to teach us again. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

I know she’s travelling through the UK later this year performing and teaching too, so if any of you have the opportunity to get a lesson with her, she comes highly recommended! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

[Ritalin]

Hi Foxy,

You need to have a really tight, solid grip with your top knee. Your bottom knee does take some weight, but it’s more bracing you away from the pole.
Hook your top knee first, so it’s got a really good grip, and then place your bottom knee against the pole. Make sure your knees aren’t too far apart, because you need to hook your feet together. As soon as you position your lower knee you need to push your hips right forward, so they are in line with the pole. This should help shift the weight onto your bottom knee, and stop it sliding out from under you. You’ll then be able to start looking for the sweet spot – I still haven’t found it… I’ve just grown used to the pain!
(Obviously, practice all this stuff with your hands on the pole.)

Let the pain begin!

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Is there another vid of the move? That one doesn’t seem to work for me. :/

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Hi!

When you get your legs waxed, the wax pulls off not just your hair, but the top layer of skin cells which contain the oils that help stick you to the pole. Try moisturising your legs in the morning, and then poling in the evening. Make sure there’s no resideue from the moisturiser on your skin though, as that can make you slip too.
I have quite dry skin so I use a moisturiser called Aveeno. It’s really good and sticks me to the pole like you wouldn’t believe. I know Aveeno is available in North America and New Zealand, but I’m not sure about anywhere else. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

Hope this helps!

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Amyxshi:
I find when I’m doing the Butterfly (non-extended version) that I have enough grip from my leg and lower arm that I can take off my upper arm – either to switch grips as I suggested to Sass, or to y’know… just generally wave around for comedic effect! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

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Sass… The butterfly/lotus is probably the easiest to get into from the Ayesha, though I doubt you’d have enough room to pull out to an extended butterfly using the forearm grip. Once you’re in a nice solid lotus you can then switch your hand grip to a split grip and swing your lotus into the sailboat or gemini, or stretch out to extended butterly if you prefer.
I can show you tonight, if you like. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

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I too am annoyed by monkey feet, non-pointed toes, wedgie-picking, and hand-wiping. But also: when people lean out away from the pole while walking around it. I think it looks awkward.

But mostly I get annoyed when I try to video myself on the pole. When I’m dancing, even in front of the mirror, I feel like a pretty graceful butterfly, delicately and expertly spinning around the pole in time with the music. When I check the video camera… I am very sadly disappointed to realise I no longer look like a graceful butterfly. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_sad.gif Le sigh.

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Heh, I’m sure you’re not driving your teaching nuts. She’s probably a bit bukmmed she can’t help you out with it more. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif

As someone else said, maybe try gripping the pole higher up your thigh? You could practice this at home, even.

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For the Superman spinners:

The spinning seems to be caused by rotation through the shoulders, due to having your hand too low and close to your body, when you’re in the superman position. If your hand is too low, and near your butt when you’re in position, your shoulder compensates by twisting your upper body back towards the pole… and your body starts spinning! If your hand is higher, you can hold the pole behind you while still having your shoulders pointing forward and this seems to reduce the amount of spinning. That’s my current theory anyway – devised last night with Sassafrassle, a couple of other girls, and judicious application of a swiss ball.

So! To stop spinning when you’re in a superman – make sure your hand is higher on the pole so both your shoulders are facing forward.
<3

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I’m also having a bit of trouble with this move…
Like Jeng, I can get into it just fine, but once I’m there, I start rotating around the pole so that my hand can’t maintain the grip on the pole. This invariably leads to shrieks of despair as I try and prevent myself falling on my face because my hand has slipped off the pole. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif Does anyone have any tips on how to stop that spinning effect?
Thanks heaps.

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I think I know what you mean, Frida.
The first style you describe sounds like you’re leaning out & away from the pole, and sortof hanging on your arm. you’re right, it’s easy to build up speed and momentum this way. However, when I teach I try to discourage people from walking around the pole this way. You’re not in control of your centre of balance if you’re leaning out from the pole like that – you’re relying on gravity and momentum, and if your hand slips, you’ll fall over! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif I also think it may limit your movement and the amount of ‘sass’ you can put into your walk.

I tend to walk around the pole with my shoulders over my hips – just as if I were walking normally. I keep my top hand on the pole, but I’m not taking any weight on that hand, and I could take it off any time I like – run it through my hair, down my body, add a flourish to a dance move, whatever. From here you can do anything you like to inject your own personal style and sass into the way you move – eg. swing your hips, drag your toe sensually, lift your knees up & strut, flick your ankles up behind you cutely… you can play with it and be as sexy or as sassy as you’d like. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif
Hope this helps!

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I found the trick with this move was to really roll your hips under – so you’re tilting through your hips, and not just relying on lowering your legs.
Also, I found that if you try to do this move perfectly symmetrical, the pole will roll over your pubic bone and hurt like nothing on earth. In that case you want to choose a side and have the pole roll over either your left or right groin. Sorry for the graphic description, but hey! It gets the job done. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

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It sounds like you might be gripping the pole a little too tightly. This can result in your wrist wrapping around the pole, because your hand isn’t keeping up with your arm and the rest of your body. It can feel quite sore and twisted.
Try loosening your grip just a fraction – experiment with your grip from the chair spin first. I don’t recommend you go straight to experimenting with your grip in the reverse grab, incase you fall off!