[SandyBrown]

I think I’m at a point in my dancing where I’m trying to figure out my own style. A pole classmate and I were leaving class yesterday, and she commented that she feels weird doing floorwork (which was in the routine we learned yesterday). I’ve noticed that she’s really into landing the tricks. I love doing floorwork, and there’s one instructor in particular at our studio that has the most amazing floorwork. One of her jobs besides being an instructor is dancing at one of the local strip clubs, and it shows in her dancing, yet she is just as flawless and athletic as some of the other instructors that have a gymnastics background (she herself has a ballet background).

I am most interested in watching performers who are successful in combining the floorwork with the spins and tricks seamlessly fluid, and look like they’re having fun while doing it. So, someone who can combine the "pole fitness" with the "pole erotic". It’s funny because I was just thinking about the two studios I’ve been a student at since I began poling, and they are polar opposites: one was focused more on floorwork, sensuality, etc., and the other is more into the spins and tricks and the overall fitness aspects. I remember myself and my classmates being a little bored with learning so much floorwork, but looking back on it, it has helped me to think more about being a well-rounded poler.

And in regards to the discussion on pole dance becoming a Olympic sport, I have mixed feeling. On one hand, it would be nice for pole dance to be recognized as not only erotic but athletic. On the other hand, I feel that it will turn into something in the likes of Oona and competitors will have to become more structured in what they do in order to get the highest score possible, and I think these performers will focus more on the tricks than anything else. Executing the tricks is always cool to see, but after a while it becomes boring to me.

I wonder if people associate floorwork with erotic pole dance and more tricks with fitness pole dance. Could that be a reason why some may not like floorwork as much?

[SandyBrown]

yeah foxy i was wondering the same thing! I actually wrote wendy and asked and she said show up at least an hour before with your ID and get your tickets…she also said that if you bought through USPDF and not the theatre (which i did) that USPDF bought some of the best seats in the house…and then resold the tickets to us adn therefore we dont have assigned seats. She told me it was roped off and first come first serve type deal for tickets purchased through the them…I didnt get a place for the workshops either yet…and they seem to be pretty late on everything so Im not too surprised. Lots of bugs to work out…but as soon as someone finds out I hope they post it just so we kno!

I think Foxy was referring to if you needed tickets for the actual workshops, and you won’t for that. Since you bought you comp tickets through USPDF, I would bring the ID just in case something weird goes down while trying to get to your seats. That sort of happened last year, where people who did not pay for the VIP tickets started to sit in the VIP section at the Bleecker Street Theater.

[SandyBrown]

thurs
jenyne USPDF- amyxshi, tracee
alethea USPDF- TrophyWife

sat
amber USPDF- amyxshi, tracee, Foxy_Rei
alethea USPDF- amyxshi, tracee
karol USPDF- TrophyWife
Jenyne B&P- sandybrown
Alethea B&P- sandybrown

sun
karol B&P- amyxshi
Leigh Ann B&P- sandybrown

[SandyBrown]

I just signed up!

I look forward to meeting you all!

[SandyBrown]

Hey y’all,

I’m a student at NYPD, and Wendy (the owner) is currently in the process of finalizing the location of NYPD’s new Manhattan studio space (Us NYPD students are psyched about it. It’s a much bigger space, conveniently in the same building as the current space. NYPD will occupy both spaces). I spoke with her about it today, and most likely the new space won’t be ready until the week before the competition (they have to set it up, design, etc.). I would say that’s why you haven’t received an email about the location. Also, since you signed up on the Mind Body scheduler website, Wendy will have a list of who’s supposed to be in which workshop, and when you signed up you were supposed to have gotten an email from the website confirming that you paid and for what class.

[SandyBrown]

I think S Factor, NYPD, and Shockra all have an intro class and your friends can take before committing to a level/package. I would suggest your friends check out each studio a few times to see which one vibes with them the most. I’ve never been to S Factor, but I think they have levels (similar to the studio I was at prior to moving to NYC) and you may have to hurry and sign up when the levels are open again (someone please confirm this). I know nothing about Shockra except that you may be able to do inversions at an earlier stage of your poling.

I go to NYPD, and there are two main pole classes: Climb & Spin and Climb & Invert. You’re recommended to tale Intro to Pole prior to Climb & Spin, but you don’t have to. Unlike S Factor and (I think) Shockra, you have to test into Climb & Invert in order to start the more intermediate/advanced tricks and spins that are not taught in Climb & Spin. Also, spins, transtions, and the like won’t be taught in Climb & Invert because the instructors know that if you passed the test, you were able to do majority of the testing items to pass. Also at NYPD, there’s no pressure for people to quickly sign up for additional classes after Intro to Pole. You’re even given a discount card to be used when you decide to buy classes.

[SandyBrown]

Jeremee!

I just sent you a message! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_razz.gif

[SandyBrown]

OMG! Veena just welcomed me! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_razz.gif

Thanks everyone!

[SandyBrown]

I agree that sexiness is a matter of personal interpretation. I love watching dancers who can combine the sexy move/transitions/poses/eye contact in the midst of their spins and tricks. To me, they are more entertaining to watch, and I’m sure that many of them (regardless of their background in dance, or lack thereof) had to really practice it in order to be good at it.

One way to try this is to freestyle to a song by only doing transitions/walking/poses/eye contact, and leave the spins and inversions out of it. I’m going to do this the next time I go to open pole at my studio.

[SandyBrown]

I realize that this topic is old as dirt, but I wanted to give my take on it.

I actually agree to a certain extent with the comment that was made, even though the execution of the comment was really wack. While I can’t really form an opinion on if spinning is harder than static (I was only on a spinning pole briefly), I sometimes pay attention to the women who come to the studio that I go to, and I notice that a lot them have not built up the coordination to use a static pole. So I can’t imagine having to learn on a spinning pole when the coordination isn’t there yet. In that sense, I would say that spinning would be harder.

[SandyBrown]

Thanx for the link. I saw this video before, but haven’t really tried it yet. But i will! Have to start somewhere, might as wel from the ground! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif

I haven’t tried this move from an inversion yet, but the way that I learned it was from the floor. I stood on one side of the pole (on the left side, in my case) and I hooked my right leg. My right hand was high on the pole, and I jumped up a little so my left leg was bent with the pole really close between my left leg and my stomach. My left hand was below me on the pole with my thumb towards the floor and my wrist up while the right hand was still high on the pole in a regular grip (it’s called the push-pull grip at my studio). I sort of pulled away slightly from the pole and straightened my right leg and pushed that leg over the pole. I adjusted both legs so that they were straight and my thighs were squeezing the pole. I hope this made some sense.

[SandyBrown]

Hi everyone! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_sunny.gif

amyxshi: Do you take the Turning Tricks class at Crunch? I was thinking of taking it soon. I started inverting back in November, so I hope I will be able to keep up with everyone in that class. So far, I’ve only been to the Pole Dancing class once, and I found out about Turning Tricks through one of the advanced students.

[SandyBrown]

I’m now on the volunteer list for both the amateur competition and the pro competition! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

But I purchased my ticket before I found out. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_mad.gif

Does anyone want to purchase my ticket? It’s for the 7:30 pro division show, row P, seat 107. I have a pay pal account and can be paid from there (I’ve never had to use my pay pal account to actually do this, but it should be pretty simple, right?). I will mail the ticket to you as soon as the money gets into my account. It’s the $85 ticket.

[SandyBrown]

I’m thinking about getting a 45mm, but when I first started poling, it was on a 50mm. The transition to the 45mm wasn’t that difficult, but I could definitely tell the difference in my grip. Spins feel better on the 45mm, but I’m noticing that I feel more supported when inverting on the 50mm.

[SandyBrown]

I read on Body & Pole’s website that they are expanding their studio (tearing down a wall and all that good stuff) this week, so the studio will most likely be bigger to accommodate more people. Also, NYPD is getting a bigger studio in the spring. Most likely it will be before the competition begins.

[SandyBrown]

Sandy – I’ll be in that workshop with you! I signed up for Jenyne and Alethea on Saturday and Leigh Ann on Sunday @ Body and Pole. I took Jenyne’s workshop last March at NYPD and she was awesome!! She came in and laid out all of these professional photos of her doing things on the pole and told us if we saw anything we wanted to learn, to ask. She also came around and asked what we were working on, and what we needed help with. She is soooo sweet and humble and patient!! She wants to see you succeed. No one should be intimidated by her because she is SO NICE!! Unless the skill level is specified, I wouldn’t worry about it because Jenyne will work with people at all levels. Anyway, looking forward to meeting some of you in March!

GatorGirl4Life: I just signed up for Alethea’s Saturday workshop and Leigh Ann’s as well! I look forward to seeing you and hopefully some of the other ladies here. March can’t get here sooner!

[SandyBrown]

I’m one of those who has also had problems with upper back pain when inverting.

I was at my pole studio this morning and did pilates with one of our instructors. We did a pilate move where we were lying on the mat and we engaged our powerhouse/lower abs to lift out hips off the ground and over our head, spread our legs in a V, then lowered them down with our powerhouse. I noticed how I can use that move to help me with my inverting. So far I’ve been jumping into my inverts due to me being taught that way at another studio. I want to be able to invert (whether from the floor or from a climb) using my ab strength and do it with proper form.

[SandyBrown]

I’ve been involved in some form of dance on and off since I was maybe 5 years old. I did ballet for several years, was on a few dance teams after that, and I also did gymnastics for a spell. I was also involved in plays and music (played the violin), so I think I’ve always been drawn to performance-based things.

[SandyBrown]

I took my first pole dance class on March 1, 2008 at the age of 24. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

[SandyBrown]

Thanks for your advice, TrophyWife! I bit the bullet and decided to take Jenyne Butterfly’s workshop at Body & Pole for that Saturday (duh duh duhhhhhhhh!!!!!). One of my pole dance classmates from the Atlanta studio I used to go to wanted to sign up for a workshop and asked for my recommendation. I told her that any one would be fine with me, and she tells me that she’s going for Jenyne!

I tried to initially play it safe and look into Wendy’s workshop, but being that I’m one of Wendy’s students at NYPD and Im in her int/adv Climb & Invert class, she most likely would have wondered why I signed up for her workshop, LOL.

I’m excited because I was so impressed with Jenyne’s performance last year. She was so amazing to watch and awe-inspiring. I tried to be a hater because I wanted one of my NYPD instructors to win, but she deserves major props. I can’t wait until the competition!

[SandyBrown]

I’m a little worried about taking some of the workshops, at both NYPD and Body and Pole. I’ve been poling on and off for almost 2 years, but I would be nervous to take a workshop with these ladies. Also, I just started inverting. For anyone that attended workshops last year, were you nervous?

[SandyBrown]

holla at all the NYPD girls who made it…lauren, gabrielle, and brynlyn! those are some talented and straight up fly ass chicks. proud to have them all as instructors!

I’m proud to have them as instructors too! Gabrielle and Lauren are my favorites. I knew that Lauren was entering, but Gabrielle and Brynlyn weren’t sure when I last spoke to them about it.

were they all awarded pro status after the comp in march? i dont remember any announcements being made about that.

Brynlyn received her status back in March when she placed in the Top 5. Lauren and Gabrielle got their statuses at the East Coast regionals. Gabrielle texted me when she got hers.

[SandyBrown]

Some girlfriends and I attended a pole dance showcase in Atlanta. It’s always great to see other pole students (it helps you to see how other studios operate as well), check out some new moves, and see other women embrace the art of pole dancing. The women who performed ranged in having completed a 6-week level up to having been there for 18 weeks. What I noticed about the women is that, regardless of how long they had been taking classes, they all looked the same: they weren’t smooth, lacked, transitions, and looked a little awkward coming out of the most basic of spins up to the inversions they were able to do. They lacked the performance aspect, and they lacked the sex appeal. Then again, I realize that not all studios have a focus on those key aspects. I’m glad that the studio I started off with in Atlanta taught me how to make smooth transitions, establish eye contact with myself in the mirror, how to walk, and all the other key ingredients that I think make a sexy and confident pole dancer. I’m also glad that the studio I’m with in NYC now has taken what I’ve learned and has perfected it and challenged me with new spins, poses, inversions, to make myself an well-rounded pole dancer.

[SandyBrown]

I am a victim of the fake X Pole as well. I won one from eBay about a year ago. When I got it, it came in a box with everything, except the X Pole carrying case. I tried putting it up, but I was also in the process of moving out of state, so I stopped. I actually left it home. I emailed the X Pole people to ask if I could purchase the carrying case, and was told that chances are that I have a fake pole. I called today, and the X Pole rep asked for me to look and see if the upper dome has black rubber around it, and it does. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_sad.gif Since I bought it over 6 months ago I can’t really get a refund back. However, she told me that if I decide to buy another one, she’ll give me 10% off. She gave me her name and everything in case I call back and get another people.

I’m upset that I was taken, but at the same time I’m glad I know and that I never used the pole.

[SandyBrown]

Hi!!!

Can you please add me as well? I have a booty, but I need to perfect my clapping, bouncing, and all of that. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

http://www.youtube.com/user/LadyBug1383