First, let me start by saying to my students; freestyle is
not an exact science. In fact it is the exact opposite. Let me share with you
what was going on inside my mind as I was getting prepared to dance this
freestyle... Watch the video.
First I was thinking... okay... breathe, stay in control,
keep your movements deliberate and slow. Don't rush! Then I heard the music and
I thought - good choice!
TIP#1: Choose the right music for you! Make sure
it resonates in your soul to make sure that it flows through you as you dance.
As I was walking, I was getting into character - what am I
going to do with this song? So I bent down, pulled the pin out of one of the
poles. I didn't know what I was planning on doing with the spin, but I thought
spin climb might be nice :) but not yet...
TIP#2: Take your time
and try to relax. No one is rushing you. Work the room a little bit. Moving
from one pole to another helps to clear the mind as well as give you a new
perspective. I like to walk around and think at the same time as I am building
the anticipation.
So I kept it moving, added in my sexy hip says and flow... listened
to the music, flirted with my clothing and sailed through it, on to the next
pole.
TIP#3: No need to
execute spins and inverts immediately out the gate. It is okay to gradually
flow into it. No one is board by you taking your time and feeling the music.
When I get there I was thinking, “now is a good time for a
spin. It needs to be strong and within your comfort zone” so I decide I am
going to do a Tanjureen Split, because it is a move I love and it looks hot. So
as I am in the middle of my Tanjureen aka Peter Pan, I decide to Pike and Body
Spiral instead. So I do…
TIP# 4: Commit to
your first thought of movement and resist the urge to change your mind at the
last second. Because this can leave lots of room for mistakes and regrets
later. Stay focused and follow through to maintain a clean and well executed
move.
Fortunately, my body spiral turned out decent, I still had
enough pole real estate to pull it off. But it could have been a lot stronger
had I had committed to the Body Spiral from the beginning.
So from here, I’m like… ok, just do a little floor work, you
love the shoulder roll so just go for that! So I do and when I come out of it
I’m like, jackpot! The pole is right within reach, I can easily slide myself up
into forearm stand, which is a move I have perfected so it should be a breeze…
OOPS!! Have I temporarily forgotten how to forearm stand?
WTF… FAIL… LMAO! I tried to recover. In
my mind I’m like oh shit, try it again! Ahhhhhhh!!! What is happening right
now… okay, just come down and keep the flow going. *add in funk face here… ;-\
TIP#5: When you are
in flow, things happen, unforeseen things. Some amazing, others not so much. In
any case, your face has to tell the audience, you meant to do it! Don’t give it
away that you think you screwed up
always stay in character. Because 9 times out of 10 your audience won’t know or
care! It is a blip in the moment of time. I find mine mostly happen in the
beginning just until I shake the jitters off and really get into the flow.
So I am still a little shook by the simple flub, I want to
redeem myself… I’m like just climb up… I have no idea what I plan to do up
there so I pole sit and consider my options. I debated on doing a full layback,
but I said, naw… I do that often, do the Atta boy super slow and controlled,
because the last time I did it in freestyle I wasn’t pleased with it. So I go
for it... NAILED IT!! No spin, no uneven legs, strong. BOOM! Moving it along.
TIP#6: It is okay to
repeat moves and to stay in your comfort zone during a freestyle. You should
always have 2-5 solid go-to moves to ease you through a performance. The
creative part will come as you feel the music. Do not try moves you have just
started to learn during a freestyle, you do not want to appear awkward and
uncoordinated.
So from the Atta boy, I’m like let me try the Artemis to
Aerial Invert.
If you know me, then you know I do not perform (perform
being key) aerial moves. I know many moves, I just do not perform them but I am
working on changing that this year.
Needless to say I go for it, not too bad… I would have like
to have seen more straddle and less basic invert. But again, I didn’t commit to
straddle so I got a half n half. So from here, I get stuck in my Cat Pounce and
I can’t slide down easily, my boots are sticking. I hadn’t tried to pole dance
in them before…
TIP#7: Know your costume! Will your boobs fall
out, will you have butt cleavage, and will you be able to move freely? Can you breathe
in the outfit? Are your shoes secure? Will your boots stick (LOL) Are you
feeling sexy, confident and comfortable? Because if not, you need to reconsider
your outfit. You already have a lot on your mind in a performance. The last
thing you want to worry about are your clothes.
So I skirt down the pole making several jerk pole squeaks
all the way down… LOL! But oh well… I kind of figured it might happen. So I
straddle out for emphasis because squeak or not, these boots a freaking HOT!
Then there was the little floor work and to my surprise, I
was able to do a little knee slide to the pole which I wouldn’t have worked
without the boots or kneepads so… thank you boots!
Aaaaaand! Here is some booty cleavage for you that we
discussed. LOL! But I knew I would have it and for this performance I didn’t
mind it because it played into my music and character so I used it to my
advantage! Know yourself!
So I sashay over to the spin pole, I am still not sure what
I plan to do, and I take a few walks around to think it through. I was like, I
could spin climb, but that would be no surprise there. I said “You should
really try your straddle to archer that you have been working on” and I argue
in my head, “but it always seems to go too fast and you have to bail out of it…”
Just try it Selenia! So I do…
Control it, slight push, not too much… WHOA! Close to
straddle, not quite… Just basic invert, BASIC INVERT DAMIT! You got this!
My legs connected, I’m safe, and I feel secure… I missed my
Archer opportunity… no time to think it over, just release to Bat! I have never
Bat on spin pole but it felt great! I am
in good spin rotation so I have some fun with my arms allowing them to dance a
bit.
Meanwhile, I am not sure what to do next so I decide I would
double elbow grab and spin super fast for drama!! YES!! I’m hoping it looks as
good as it feels! Eh... I think it looked alright but not necessarily amazing… but
the spin is no doubt, crazy fast!!!
OMG, WTF, how do I stop this crazy thing! I can’t just
scream out in front of my students and start panicking. LOL. So I stay calm and
instantly decide, I can shoulder dismount… I’m going to Shoulder dismount, I
can do this… no time to mull it over, I just begin to slide into place.
Now mind you I am no aerial expert – this is not a go to
move of mine, and certainly not on spin pole. In fact I have only tried it on
static pole and never very successfully. So this is crazy for me.
TIP#8: Pole dancing
can be extremely dangerous if you do not respect the pole and know what you are
doing. Never try moves you have never done before at home, or at the studio
without support, guidance and spotting. And certainly do not take unnecessary
risks during a performance for the sake of entertainment. Always put your
health and safety first!
Meanwhile, against MY OWN better judgment I fold right into
the shoulder mount; I am in excellent positioning it feels good so I test the
waters by extending one leg. That was a good call! I immediately began to slow down;
I could safely extend the other leg and BAM! I’m 100% in it.
HOLY SHIT!!! I am shoulder mounted!! And Straddle to
dismount… Hold it, hold, hold… you are good! You are almost to the floor! And
Whew butt touches down! You nailed it! Now, Keep your cool and act like you do
this all day everyday!
Had I not been in performance mode I would have been running
around the room screaming, laughing and high fiving anyone that would high five
me back. Cause that is how AMAZEBALLS that was for me!
That could have been an epic FAIL! But it wasn’t!! I was so
freaking hyped I didn’t even recall what floor work I did to get to the next
pole. LOL!
But now I am feeling invincible! I can do anything!! So I’m
like what next?
I have been working on my Butterfly, so I think it is time
to take a chance… see what happens. I hype myself up, heck, you just Shoulder
dismounted! Do the damn Butterfly!
So I take a chance and go for it... It was okay… I would have
liked to see more confidence in my legs, I wasn’t certain and my arch could
have been better, but the dismount was way hot! I think I see a straddle
pattern forming for me… could be my signature thing. LOL! But the bottom line is I took a chance and tried
it!
Tip#9: It is good to
try moves that you have been practicing. They will only improve as you continue
to grow stronger. Video yourself when you get the chance so that you can look
back and see your improvement.
Tip #10: HAVE FUN!
Give yourself lots of wiggle room to make mistakes and do not be overly
critical of yourself. Freestyle is free! It has no rules; this isn’t a
choreographed piece you have been perfecting for months. This is an in the
moment movement that reserves the right to be imperfect. Sometimes your strongest
moves will fail, and moves you weren’t so secure in will surprise you. You
never know… Just ENJOY!!
XOXOXO
Love Miss Selenia
Aka Tanjureen Peach
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