I am a big advocate for pole dancing being actual…ya know…dancing.
On the floor. Without leaving the floor. Without all the gymnastic tricks.
Yes, I have a pole dance Champion title (All Wales 2011). Yes I was an Elite level competitor (at Pole Theatre 2014) and Pro level in many others, plus National Judge for several large comps.
So, it’s not as if I’ve not been there, bought the trickster tee shirt and worn it out.
But I prefer to dance and flow. I always have.
I get asked a lot about how to move the way I do, so I made a list that I hope will help all pole dancers, whether you started just this week, or have been Poling for decades:
1- Pivot. If there is a foot on the floor, pivot on that platform base in the direction you wish to travel. This mean you may not have to step anywhere, after all. A smooth pivot can get you there.
2- Pivot more. Have you just stepped down onto the floor, pivot that shoe. Glide the rest of you around on that pivot.
3- Know what you’re going to do next before you have finished what you’re doing now. Blend what you’re going to do next into the end of what you’re doing now.
4- When standing up and travelling, don’t lead with the feet and knees like you would when you normally walk. Lead with the outside shoulder, or your side ribs, then follow up with the hips and booty.
5- Extend and engage. You should be feeling every part of you working and involved. Expand and contract. Go to the end range of your small movements. This feels GOOD!
6- Even when you’re still on ground, use that Pole to take some of your weight. Pull the pole into the ground when you lift your chest up for the start of a bodywave, for example.
7- Feel everything. This is the uncomfortable bit, for some. Same reason Yoga can be intolerable for some people. You have to be ok with not being numb, or divorced from your body. You’re going to have to meet many sensations when you slow things down and learn to use smaller parts of the body for subtle movements. It’s a type of stillness, just like meditation.
8- What are you trying to say, when you move? If each movement was a word in a sentence, what would you be saying?
9 – Posture and silhouettes are important. Work with a mirror to find you own unique angles, and how to move in and out of them.
10 – If you have hair that likes to move, learn about it’s timing and then use it like an extra limb. For example, my hair falls heavy and quickly when its curled up. Its super slow and floaty when Ive straightened it. I move accordingly.
Bonus: Do you flow like smoke, water, air, fire? Something else?
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