aliceBheartless
Forum Replies Created
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yay! I found some awesome stuff I have been wanting for awhile now!
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The cat phrase comes from what cats are called: males = Tom cat, females = She cat. So the only time to use “she” is in reference to the cat’s mother. I think a big part of the “don’t use she situation” has nothing to do with not using pronouns, and everything to do with not using 3rd person pronouns in the presence of who you are talking about. Especially if the situation requires any sort of formality.
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Agreed ^^^ I have never tipped the tripod rig I have used (it's not mine, but custom built for the company I performed with) but you definitely lose some height at the top. We only typically rig ours to 21 feet, but it does have the capability to be at 28-ish feet, I think. And we have always performed silks on it, and even in the wind, it has never come close to tipping. Any rig, tripod or quad, can tip if it's not fixed/weighted, and especially if the act requires swinging.
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Contact Le Studio in Culver City. I know they have some top-notch aerial teachers there. I know that the website says something about private referrals, but I think it would be worth contacting the studio to find out. I have seen their kids performers, and they are insane. 🙂 I know also that Jenyne has performed in some of their events in the past. I don't think they do pole there but they are fairly comprehensive in other apparatus, including silk.
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I believe that using "she" instead of a proper name is considered rude in some languages, particularly in the presence of the referenced "she". Especially when "she" is not a familiar. Like someone mentioned above, using the familiar du vs the formal Sie in German. I suppose theoretically on a forum, we're all present, all the time. Afterall, she is the cat's mother.
I agree with checking out the next level, or taking the same level again with a totally different teacher. Often, we just need to hear things another way when i'ts an issue of mechanics. Seems like you feel a need for some change, because its no fun to be stagnant. I also think that sometimes stepping back from something that has challenged us to frustration is a good thing. We work on something else, gain strength, and come back to it later. Some moves just take a really long time to get. But while working on them, it helps to be learning some other moves/tricks/spins just to keep the mind fresh and satisfied. 🙂
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I forgot that I also have the iron X top in addition to bondage top and spider back. I love that one, too! I am about a 32d-ish, if that helps for size comparison. I did see someone layer the spiderback top with the pole fit monokini once, and it did look really cool. so maybe as a layering piece it wouldn't be so bad. I just dont like how tight it is with straps and how little support there is.
Has anyone tried the princess pole fit top? I love the front, not sure about the back… might be ok if all in black.
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I bought the spider and bondage tops a while ago. I like the bondage top better by a long shot. Spider back runs really small. The style of the back, while visually pretty, just pulls the entire bra up and provides no real support bc there is no band to anchor the bra. I kind of wish I hadn’t spent the money on it because I never wear it. I think I’ve worn it once.
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Its really true. Being high off the ground has a certain amount of scare factor whether upside down or right side up. Talking someone out of that calmly and clearly is the only way, yet a lot of people are not calm or focused enough to be able to listen. This is pretty much the best indicator there is that you are not ready for something.
I know that when I teach, everything is initially learned close to the ground. AND everything is taught forwards and backwards. No student that I have taught is allowed to go for a drop until they have mastered the setup and reversing the set up to get back out safely. I find that this helps people a lot with mechanics. Because anyone can do something if they are told what to do, but actually learning why/how drops and moves work is more difficult. Also helps people with remembering their moves.
Bottom line for me, grip strength evens the playing field when people start silks. Even when they have prior pole experience. Remember learning pole and the baby steps involved with learning to invert correctly? It's the same thing. You have to train grip strength. Its not fun and it takes a while. But it's necessary in order to be safe. Gotta crawl before you walk.
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Starting any aerial definitely changes the hands. Grip requires a lot of those little interstitial muscles of the hand to work in ways that we never ask them to otherwise. Do you use rosin? That might help. I have a hard time with grip on silks. I actually like corde lisse and trapeze a lot better because I can grip better on those apparatus. I think it's going to be different for everyone. I do know that sweaty handed people tend to have an easier time gripping the silk, because the sweat makes the fabric sticky. I have dry hands. What I do is put corn huskers lotion on when I am warming up, and 20 min later or so, I add rosin before actually getting on the apparatus. It really helps for me.
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I know when I teach intro/basic silks we don't teach wrist locks/hitches. Any repetitive inversions are done from the ground, in the conditioning section of class. Often in the intro classes, all straddle ups conditioning is usually done in a knot, until a student has proved they can move on. Double wrist wraps are totally fine to me because the hands must remain active and grip cannot be forgotten. But a wrist hitch sometimes lets people do get ahead of themselves, so we tend to save those for more upper levels. If your grip strength isn't good enough, then there are a lot of things a person shouldnt be doing up in the air even if their body is capable of it. There's nothing that makes a person freak out more than getting up the silk and realizing their grip isn't good enough. When a person freaks out up in the air, they stop listening, their energy efficiency is totally shot, their brain shuts off, they can hyperventilate, and accidents happen. I have watched students do this, and while I remain calm on the outside for them, the inside is a-jumpin'. Falling from 6 feet inverted, even on to a mat could sustain injury. Silks is a difficult apparatus. Many places will not even teach it as a first apparatus, requiring people to work on trapeze, etc to build up hand strength and grip.
Also, Rebekah Leach is awesome. Learning from books? Not awesome. I linked a video where she herself tells you why. This blew my mind. It's so dangerous. I cannot say enough times… circus aerial is not therapeutic, it provides fitness but its so much more than that. It is dangerous and can require things of the body that are not healthy or good for a person. Do not teach yourself until you have enough experience to do so. With silks it can take people years to acquire that proficiency. Aerial manuals should be used for reference. Not learning.
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Sparrow, I thought the exact same thing! hahaha
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I love hearing these perspectives… seeing as how I spend a lot of time drowning in my own. I had an artistic outlet through teaching. training, and performing while I was still living in Hawaii full-time. But since I haven't been there, I have been really not liking my job as much without that creative element in my life though I had also been having issues prior to the move. I do environmental consulting work through telecommuting so everyday I sit at a desk, knowing I am messimg my body up by just sitting and not doing anything. I would love to have a more physical fitness-y job and still be able to dance/perform/teach on the side. I know that whole creative pursuit will never pay my bills, but I do really think that if I could make physical therapy school a reality, I would be in 7th heaven. The function of the human body fascinates me, and even more so, returning functionality to an injured body. For a multitude of reasons, pursuing this right now feels like trying to swi up a waterfall, but my sanity will thank me for just trying to stay positive, I guess.
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I feel like I could have written this post (with the exception of the undeserving, lying employers, my current employers are great. I just dislike my work). Definitely following because I, too, would love to hear other people's advice!
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There are many many threads on this. Check through the forums to see what advice people have been giving on Platinum Stages poles (PS), X-poles (sport and Xpert models), and Lil Mynx (LM). For all of these brands there are opinions as to metal type, finish, diameter, spin/static, etc. If a permanently mounted pole is an option, Pole Danzer is also a good choice. There are also some really nice options for poles out of Australia, however, if you don't live there, shipping can be cost-prohibitive. Hope this helps.
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I think that PS has the best spin function of those three. By far, in fact. And I am picky about my spin, because its pretty much the only way I use my poles.
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I have a one piece PS. There is a little allowance with that pole because of the inner bolt adjustment mechanism. However, it will always say to measure exactly because you will want to maximize the length of pole. The pole can be a bit shorter than your ceiling height and slightly adjusted with the pressure mounting system (carpet can settle over time so the adjustment is key). But if you over shoot, and the pole itself is too tall, then you will need to get it cut. I am sure that if you went through the ordering process, they would want to have the height between ceiling and floor, and then they would make recommendations on the length which would include the foot and ceiling plates, and adjustor rod (all of which together account for maybe 6-8in? I haven't had mine up for awhile so I don't remember exactly).
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heheh this is so fun.
NAME: … sticking with Corby. Maybe one day it will be a legal change. 🙂
AGE: Almost the big 3 0.
LOCATION: constantly changing.
STAGE NAME: well, I guess that would be CorbyOConnor, but I also perform as Alice B. Heartless
LESSONS/SELF TAUGHT: Started with lessons, but haven't been in a class for a few years now.
SPIN/STATIC: I love me some spin. It has always been my favorite, since I started poling.
SHOES/NO SHOES: No shoe. I love to dance barefoot and really use my feet. In shoes I am always worried about falling.
FAVORITE POLE MOVE: Kneehold-cupid-birdsnest combo. Its always in my choreo. 🙂
DAY JOB: Consulting Environmental Scientist by day, Trapeze/Silk instructor by night, though I am phasing out of the second one because I moved. 🙁
HOW DID I FIND OUT ABOUT VEENA: from youtube! I used to be on PJs, and started youtubing so much more and I ran across Veena, back when she was sinbabylk. Those thigh high boots and the britney song totally reeled me in! 😀
IF I WEAR A PAIR OF UNDERWEAR: I would be wideband brazilian hipsters. My favorite bikini bottom! 🙂 some how reliable and intensely cheeky at the same time.
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@gail, I am not sure. I am the least familiar with LM as I have never owned one, just used them at a studio and a friend’s house. I have had one come down during a performance (no biggie, I landed on my feet from a spin) and it was put up incorrectly, one hundred percent. Not stable and not tight enough. Xpole has also come down on me but again, not properly checked, etc. of my personal poles, none have ever come down. I think no matter the pole a majority of the time, coming down is a user error. Not always. But a lot of the time.
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Oops sorry to add more, but I put some misinformation in one of my posts… LM poles are stainless steel. I think I was thinking too hard about the powder-coated option. My bad!
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Well technically, I live in Silverdale. But I am almost never there. Hoping that changes in the near future. 🙂
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O yeah, forgot to mention, I own a PS one piece pole and used to own two different PS multi-piece models, and 2 multi-piece Xperts. In my opinion, if a one-piece pole will fit into your life (you are more or less permanently settled and will not be taking it anywhere ie friend's house) it's the best way to go. I have never used the Xpole sport pole however.
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I've thrown spins and inverts pretty hard on lil mynx plenty of times. Even choreographed and rehearsed a doubles routine on one. If using on carpet, you definitely don't need that pad. I felt very stable in that situation. I don't prefer lil minx, but that's because of how the top mounts, and that it isn't stainless steel, which is my metal of choice for pole. Bottom line, I don't think they are joke poles. But it's also not my first choice.
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PrincessPeach, what apps do you use? I like using my iPhone for video because of its convenience, but don't have any apps and was wondering what would be good ones to try out.
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And the breathing is important, too. Yoga helps with the concept of mindful breathing through exertion. Similar to Pilates, Gyrotonic/kinesis, and probably a lot of other things too. For instance, often when we start with strength moves and holds, we can only perform them for as long as we can hold our breath. IE, how many people can hold a free handstand while breathing? Its pretty hard. Yoga requires a person to cultivate a focus and an awareness about their body. And that is translatable to almost anything else physical that a person does.
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Just remember that if you end up with a true vintage pattern, it might not be made for today's fabrics. I remember having to alter a cute little 60s pattern swimsuit for double stretch lycra. Probably definitely going to be easier to find a modern pattern for a vintage look.
