*Thank you to one of my readers for coming up with this fabulous idea for a post!*

When most people learn to pole dance, they start out on a stationary pole.  Transitioning to a spinning pole can make you feel a like a newbie all over again but with a couple quick tips, you’ll get the hang of it in no time!

• You’ll need less momentum than on a static pole.

If you are used to dancing on a stationary pole, you’ll want to watch the amount of “push off” or swinging of the outside leg that moves you around the pole.  A spinning pole needs less and if you aren’t careful, you’ll end up looking like a cartoon character hanging onto the pole for dear life so that it doesn’t fling you across the room.

Also, be aware that different poles have different amount of tension in the spin.  Some spin more easily than others.  Once you get used yours, you’ll look back and wonder why it ever seemed so hard to get the right amount of spin in the first place.

• Know where your brakes are.

When you are on a spinning pole, your pieces and parts (meaning your arms, legs, and torso) are what control your speed once you have mounted the pole.  The closer you are tucked into the pole, the faster you will spin.  If you want to slow down, kick out your legs and lean away from the pole.  Play with doing a few times… it’s fun!

• Stop the dizzies.

OK… maybe you can’t stop them totally, but you CAN help them.  Some people say that if you look at the pole while you are spinning, it helps.  I never notice being dizzy until I come out of a spin.  I have a great trick for that one… you just do a sexy pose or a slow sensual move until the room stops spinning.  Seriously, it’s one of the best things anyone ever taught me and it looks good too!

Do you have tips or tricks to share?  I’d love to hear them!

]]> http://learnpoledancingtoday.com/04/30/how-to-dance-on-a-spinning-pole/feed/ 0 http://learnpoledancingtoday.com/03/12/buying-the-perfect-dance-pole-metals-and-finishes-part-5-of-8/ http://learnpoledancingtoday.com/03/12/buying-the-perfect-dance-pole-metals-and-finishes-part-5-of-8/#comments Fri, 11 Mar 2011 20:56:04 +0000 Kelly http://kellymariaclark.com/?p=384

I’ve been putting off writing about this subject because there is no a cut and dry answer.  (It is driving the perfectionist in me NUTZ!)   Although I am going to give you a general rule of thumb, your grip, your body chemistry, and the way you dance will all affect which finish you prefer on your dance pole. So be warned… what I say here is a combination of research I have done and personal experience. Your results may vary.

In a perfect world, you could just skip on down to the local pole store and the would have out samples of all the different poles with their respective finishes. Most of us aren’t lucky enough to be able to buy poles locally (yet), and if we can, they certainly don’t have samples up for you to take a spin on. Until I rule the world and can make new rules, you’ll just have to make your best guess on which kind of metal or finish will be best for you. Luckily, I have done a lot of research for you!

Here is how the finishes seem to rank in order from slipperiest to grippiest:

• Stainless Steel - This is the slipperiest type of metal and is often used on the less expensive, lesser quality poles.  There is a standing joke with dancers:  If you learn to dance on this, you can dance on anything!

• Chrome – This is what most X-Pole owners have.  It has less grip when it is cold and it gets grippier as it gets warmed up with your body heat.  This kind is especially good if you are dancing on static/stationary mode.

• Powder Coated – This one seems to have a nice medium amount of grip.  It’s not super tacky…  you can still do tricks on static mode yet you can stay on the pole long enough to dance on spinning mode.

• Titanium Gold – I haven’t personally tried this type yet.  It is supposed to be pretty grippy, but less so than brass.  If you primarily dance on spin mode or want to be able to stay up on the pole longer, this might be a good option for you.

• Brass – This one is the grippiest they come.  Static mode may hurt your hands on this one, so it is probably best used as a spinning pole.

Also, keep in mind that most pole manufacturers do not carry all the finishes.  It might be advisable to decide which pole manufacturer and dance pole best fit your needs first.  Then select from the pole finishes they have to offer.  Most companies offer two or more choices for the pole finishing, so you’ll still  have plenty of options!

What’s your opinion?  Any advice, words of wisdom, or questions you’d like to share on this slippery subject???  (Bad pun… I know!)

It’s been far too long since I have updated this site. Pole dancing is one of my passions and I don’t know how I let it get swept under the rug for so long. I feel like I owe you an apology for not writing as often as I intended. I feel like I owe an apology to myself for not making my dreams a priority.

Stop Pretending You're Not Human by Tayrawr Fortune

Sometimes my startitude is bigger than my finishsperation. (Yes, I made up those words just now.) What can I say… I am a work in progress!

I am amazed and encouraged that readers are still finding my blog. My articles about how to control bruising and how to choose a dance pole are still pretty popular. For those of you waiting on the next installments of the series on which dance pole to buy, I will be continuing that series shortly.

For now, I need to remember that no one is perfect and that I need to forgive myself. Thank you to those of you who have submitted questions, comments, or emails to me. It’s so nice to know that I’m not talking to dead air!

Got something to say???  I welcome your feedback and interaction!  Happy poling!

Do you ever feel like you are juggling your life?  Or attempting to anyway (with a few balls dropped here and there)???  Despite our best intentions, some things get put on the back burner from time to time.  Good habits we used to have fall away and something more urgent replaces them temporarily.  It happens to all of us.

Have you been juggling your life and let your pole practice (or blog posts) slide?    I know I have.  In fact, I am going through that right now… so perhaps this post is me writing to myself some ways. Still, I think it’s important enough to be said.

If you’ve put your pole practice on the back burner or haven’t been as disciplined as you would like, that’s ok.  Don’t beat yourself up about it… just make a new choice today.  Make a new commitment and jump right back on the horse with the same passion you had before you fell off.  Be careful not to let the downward spiral of feeling bad about yourself begin.  Instead, this is the time to rise up, persevere, and kick some butt!

If it has been a long time since you have jumped on your pole, be aware that you may have lost some strength and toning you had.  This can be very disheartening if you aren’t expecting it.  It’s easy to feel like you lost all the benefits of the hard work you had done in the past.  But keep your chin up. Your strength will bounce back quicker than you think and in no time you’ll be back to flying around the pole with grace and ease.

So sometimes life throws a few curve balls at you.  Catch them the best you can and keep juggling.  The important thing is that you keep trying even when you drop some balls.

How to you deal with the constant juggling of life?  Do you have any tips or tricks you use to keep you focused and motivated?  I’d enjoy hearing your experiences!

Another important topic that we need to discuss is the size of the pole.  Now I’m not talking about the height here (we’ll get to that when I cover specific brands)… I’m referring to how big your dance pole will be around.

The standard size for a pole is 50mm (2 inches) around.  Recently, some manufacturers have started offering a “petite” or “skinny” version of their poles which measure 45mm (approx 1.75 inches).  Although the smaller poles are recommended for those who are 5′4″ or shorter, the decision about which size to get is not as easy as it may seem.

Which size should I buy?

There are a few things to take into consideration here.  If you plan on participating in any pole dancing compotitions down the line, you’ll definitely want to go for the standard 50mm size.  The same is probably true if you are looking for a home pole to supplement studio classes you are taking.  (Check with your studio to make sure that they use the standard size.)  If you take classes on a 50mm pole and practice at home on a 45mm pole, the difference in sizes will impede your progress.

So let’s say you are under 5′4″ with small hands and you want a pole in your house just for fun… should you automatically lean toward the 45mm pole?  Not necessarily.  Remember that you will be holding the pole with other parts of your body than just your hands.  The other thing to consider is your thighs.  If you have a space between your thighs when you stand with your legs together, the 45mm skinny pole may not be for you since your thighs may not be able to grip it. 

As you can see, which size of dance pole to get is far from cut and dry.  It’s based so much on personal preference… I have heard of people who loved the petite poles, people who hated them, and those who thought they would love them but didn’t.  Personally, I haven’t had an opportunity to try a 45mm yet, although I am looking forward to it.  If you are having doubts, the safest bet is probably to go with the “tried and true” 50mm pole or see if a studio will let you try out one of theirs first.

If you already own a pole, what size is it?  Have you tried both sizes?  Input and opinions are always appreciated!

I found this video and thought I’d be silly not to share it.  I found it very entertaining.  It’s about taking naked art pictures in public, pole dancing on the subway, and travelling pole dance stages.  People do some interesting things!

Anybody up for pole dancing while being pulled by a bicycle??? 

Hey, speaking of videos… I highly recommend recording some of your pole dancing sessions.  It’s a great way to track your progress and see what you need to work on.  I have caught several things in my own dancing that needed to be corrected that I never would have known about had I not been video taping myself.  Also, we often tend to be too hard on ourselves and forget how much progress we have made.  It’s easy to focus on what you can’t do, but it’s a little harder to think back on how much you have improved.  The video proof can help you celebrate your successes in your dancing! 

Thoughts?  Comments?  Please share them!

Have you heard about the latest craze… pole dancing parties?  Heck, have you been to one???

Pole dancing parties are a unique way to celebrate any special occassion.  Although the format varies a little from place to place, here is a general run down of how things go:

You get a bunch of your open-minded, fun-lovin’ girlfriends together and a pole dance instructor teaches you some beginner moves.  The parties often last about 2 or 2.5 hours and the moves usually range from beginner spins to some sexy floor moves.  Once everyone has had a chance to play on the pole, each lady gets to strut her stuff and show off her new sexy moves in a grand finale dance. 

Pole parties are becoming a popular way to celebrate birthdays, bachelorette parties, “I’m over him” parties, and just for a general girls’ night out.  And I can see why.  They give you a good taste of pole dancing without all the seriousness.  I dare you to go to one with your girlfriends and not laugh so hard that your cheeks hurt!

Quickly, I want to clear up some common misperceptions… there is no stripping taking place and  there are no boys allowed at these parties.  When men are present, the focus shifts from the ladies having fun to entertaining the men.  A pole party is meant to be a place that is empowering for women… where they can have fun, let loose, and let it all hang out in a safe environment!

If this sounds like fun to you, call around to see who offers these in your area.  In many cases, you can have your party right at the studio.  If that still sounds intimidating or if you like a more intimate atmosphere, some people offer “in-home” pole dancing parties.  How cool would that be to have an instructor bring a dance pole, music, and club lights to your house so you could have the party right in the comfort of you own home?!?!

Have you been to one of these?  Does it sound like something you and your friends would do?  Let me know!

Now that you’ve figured out where you’d like to put your pole, there are some other things you’ll have to consider before you decide which dance pole is best for you.  In this part of the series, we’ll look at the difference between static and spinning poles.

Poles come in two versions – static (stationary) or spinning.  A static pole is similar to the pole on a street sign… it doesn’t move at all.  A spinning pole has ball bearings inside it that allow it to spin by using the momentum of your body.  Some static poles do not have a spinning option, but all spinning poles (that I know of, anyway) can be switched to the static option with a lockout mechanism.  So you can kind of think of a spinning pole as a “static/spinning combo” pole.

Why would you want one over the other???  Most people begin to learn on a static pole.  Personally, I learned on a spinning pole and still prefer it to the static option most of the time.  But there are differences to dancing on both.  You have to use your body weight differently and they build strength in different ways.  Static poles are slightly cheaper but leave less room for growth in your pole dancing.  I suggest that everyone get a spinning/static combo pole.  If you are serious about investing in a pole, it is worth the few extra dollars to have the option of spinning!

Coming up next… size DOES matter!

Do you have an opinion on this?  If so, please chime in below…

I have a challenge for you today.  During your next pole session, devote a whole song (or maybe several) to dancing with and around the pole.  Notice that I did not include dancing ON the pole!   The challenge here is dance without using spins, inverts, and all the fun tricks that you may be used to doing.

Sometimes we get so caught up in the tricks that we lose ourselves and forget to dance.  And if this sounds boring to you, that’s all the more reason you should do it!  The point here is to connect with yourself, your body, and the music.  During this exercise, you don’t have to worry about what crazy moves you can or can’t do, you don’t have to worry about strength or proper form… all you have to worry about is feeling the music and letting your body move to it.

Here are the rules for this challenge:

1.  At least some part of your body must be touching the floor at all times

2.  You can use the pole as a prop

3.  Floor work is acceptable and encouraged

4.  Enjoy yourself!

You can dance it however you want… sexy, sad, angry, joyously.  Of course, sexy is always my personal favorite because I don’t think women give themselves permission to feel this way often enough.  Even when we do, it is often to impress someone else instead of to feel our inherent sensuality for ourselves.

So you have your assignment, now get to it! 

What was this challenge like for you?  Do you dance like this regularly or was this way of doing it new for you?  I always appreciate comments and links to videos of you dancing!

Now that you have decided where you’d like to put your dance pole, we need to have a word about ceilings.  Most (but not all) poles attach to the ceiling at the top so your ceiling is going to largely determine what kind of pole you can or can’t get.

Poles must be placed under a ceiling joist to prevent damage to your ceiling.  For the most part, your ceiling will need to be flat and sturdy (see exceptions below).  If your ceiling is made of concrete, you can place the pole anywhere since there are no joists and it is stable enough to handle the pole.  If you have a dropped ceiling, you won’t be able to use a regular pole unless you can lift up the tiles to find a sturdy joist that is hidden.

Now here are a couple exceptions:

• Vaulted (or slanted) ceilings are not supported by all pole manufacturers.  For the manufacturers that do support them, you usually have to purchase an extra attachment.

• If your ceiling is unusable for some reason (too tall, not sturdy, etc.) OR if you don’t have a ceiling at all where you’d like to dance (are you an outside girl???), don’t lose hope.  Pole manufacturers have recently started making some really good free-standing poles that are supported by a small stage at the bottom.  Although they are a little more expensive, they are fabulous because the pole doesn’t have to be attached at the top.  Some of these are more permanent and others are completely portable.  We’ll go over these options when we look at each specific manufacturer.

So there’s no excuse!  Poles have come a long way in the last few years.  Your options are so diverse now that you can buy a great quality pole to use nearly anywhere!

Do you have a question about your ceiling and how it will work with a dance pole?  If so, let me know through a comment or shoot me an email…