[anngiern]

i love heels! i do dance barefoot sometimes but i mostly wear heels. i am short (only 5’1) so i love being 5’6!!! and i like the way my body looks in heels. puts a different look on my body. and i love that shoes show individual style.

but when you are learning new tricks…as everyone said definitely learn without so you can focus on what your body is supposed to be doing. you dont want to come down wrong and hurt your back or jab yourself on your lower legs b/c of foot placement.

my only suggestion is that you dont have to start with 8" heels!! i really try to encourage students if they are not used to walking in heels start with 4" and work your way up. also getting a more square heel and working your way up to a more narrow heel is a good progression. it took me over a year before i could wear 6" heels.
also if you really like the 6" and 7" inch shoes..do a floorwork routine with them to get your heel "fix". shoes look great with floorwork and is a great way to wear hot shoes but you dont have to get up and walk. plus if the shoe has a platform it pretty much like doing ab work with weighted ankles.

and some ankle strengthening exercises(done barefoot):
**write the alphabet with each foot!
**alternate tip toe walking and heel walking
**balancing on one foot(ex..keep your right leg straight and then bend the left leg and use wall to help balance..eventually try to challenge yourself to be able to balance with the assistance of the wall**

hope that helps https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

[anngiern]

congrats! i know you will enjoy your journey as a teacher. it is wonderful https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_flower.gif

[anngiern]

Just sent u a message

[anngiern]

I got to try a ps for the first time last weekend and I totally loved it. It was sticky sticky sticky and my chrome is slick slick slick! Actually big enough of andifference to make me want to ditch my xpole for stainless.

chrome sucks big time! i love brass and i think stainless steel is fine too. but brass is my friend https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif i like to stick…but xpole is supposed to be releasing a brass pole soon. but right now i stick with platinum stages.

just remember if you are ordering poles for a studio do tell them that and ask for a discount. every little bit helps. they want your business and your repeat business.

i know some people dont like platinum stages but i have personally always had a good experience with them.

[anngiern]

i have not used their stainless steel…but once you call them just ask what kind of finish it is..i think stainless steel is pretty standard with a polished finish…but always ask.

i would see if you could get a handyman/carpenter/contractors to help you brainstorm. they are good at figuring out ways to get your poles installed creatively but safely.

what kind of dance studio is it? does she only have one room or multiple rooms?

[anngiern]

Amcut: markstaar sadly only goes to 8ft.

And by $500 I meant in outright pole cost. I’m rather handyman-savvy so any installation work needed, I can handle. Power tools don’t scare me haha.

hmmmm…i have permanent brass markstaar poles in one of my studios and our ceilings are 11 feet. i went to the website real quick and you have to call to order poles taller than 8 feet. (they used to have it as an option on their website but i guess they took it down) but they were very reasonable and just ask for a discount if you are ordering more than one. and they have the covers that go over them so you cant see the base and that is included. kirk is the one that helped me.

what kind of floor are you drilling into? if it is cement that is a whole different kind of drilling and anchors. (you said you were handy so please dont take offense…as i am not handy…LOL…just making sure you are aware of all possible costs so your not taken by surprise https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_thumleft.gif )

[anngiern]

What is pole drama? I didn’t understand it ..
pole drama is a little more theatrical and relies more on choreography. your dance usually tells a story. also you should be able to express the music through your body movements (as opposed to music just being in the "background") so to speak. pole drama also has more of an entertainment value to it vs. just doing lots of hard moves linked together.
look up some of the miss pole dance australia videos….their style of pole is very theatrical…there was even one girl who did a mission impossible theme. it was cool https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_thumright.gif even though i am a total heels girl she worked those jazz type shoes!!!! but it fit with her theme.

hope that helps!

[anngiern]

i meant to post this a while back and then just remembered as my bill was due today…LOL
http://www.dancestudioinsurance.com speak to caitlyn. they even have a category on the application for "pole dancing". hope that helps https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

[anngiern]

so you can put permanent poles in? and when you are saying 500.00 per pole do you mean that is what pole installer (handyman, carpenter) is charging or are you talking specifically pole costs?

[anngiern]

Congrats Anngrien!!! That totally exciting! I also agree maybe next year doing a pro/ametur levels.

Thanks Lulu!!! and thanks for the compliment you had wrote in one of your blog posts about Atlanta Girls!!! We hope to represent!!!

Vertical Joe is competing in the doubles category in l.a….so I know she will bring it with some dirty south flavor!

I hope some Miami girls start competing soon as well b/c they are bad ass!

Definitely come see us in Atlanta or Houston if you are ever in the area!!!

[anngiern]

i dont know who made trixpert…i guess they will be posting that soon.

raquellestar…you did the right thing…honor your body and when your ready then get back on the pole.
i have a lot of difficult moves i need to get but if if they are not solid by the competition i am just going to do the moves that i feel 100% confident in excecuting..

does anyone know who made trixpert?

[anngiern]

Hey Ladies,

I did make it into Pole Drama!!!!! I AM BEYOND EXCITED (& NERVOUS)!!! I feel so honored to share the stage with so many awesome pole dancers. I do wish there was a beg/intermediate division and then advanced…I will probably make that suggestion to them for future competitions..but for right now it is what it is. I am just happy that I made it this far https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif
So I am going to do my best but I am going against some really tough people to beat….but I know I didnt make it based upon my difficulty..I got in on my theme/musicality b/c that is my stronger area (got kudos from them on that so I am glad they were able to look past me not having a ton of hard moves!) But I have a private lesson with Fleur in a few weeks so hopefully she will be able to help me perfect my difficult moves in time for the competition.

I just cant wait to tell my students…they have been getting on me about not competing…so they are going to be thrilled

Yes ladies…please keep submitting your videos… I did not think I would make it either but pole drama is my thing and what I teach to my students so this competition was more my flavor as opposed to other ones that dont suit my style of pole.
There is also another competition (american pole fitness association)…audition pieces are due today though and the footage has to be within the past 6 months.
USPDF…uggh…I am still torn on that one…my level of difficulty is still not where it needs to be….but I think I am going to go through with it and a few of my instructors are as well…we really want to bring more of the dance side into competitions so we are hoping that will stand out from everyone else… so we will see https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

Good luck to all of you on your future competition entries!

Now I have to go brew up my theme…… https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_twisted.gif

[anngiern]

i submitted for pole drama…i love theatrical pole dancing. honestly it was a great experience preparing my audition piece and choreographing something. it also gave me a chance to incorporate some traditional dance.
My song and audition piece is entitled "Moments In Love". My dance will express all the different emotions that we can feel when we are in love: excitement, passion, hurt, anger and contentment.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXJ6bD3uwtU

I really liked this young lady below a lot:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0S8FBooagI

I love the wink in the beginning…totally drama and she put together a great audition piece..loved the outfit, musicality, attitude but most importantly she brought the personality and matched it to her song.

Good luck to all of you that entered!

[anngiern]

is their a list of the finalists for this competition?

[anngiern]

the pole fitness association has a link for all the schools in the u.s. (underneath "resources") and a link for many competitions (underneath "news and events")

hope that helps!