I am coming out of blogging hibernation. I feel the need to start writing again and I guess here is as good a place as any. I actually have a couple of posts I started writing WAY back. Here is one that I'm finally getting up.
It is from the first week of December during which I won a local pole competition in the intermediate division. Hope you enjoy:
Growing up, I was always competitive. However, shyness, a general dislike for confrontation, and lack of physical strength and coordination tampered my desire to compete in sports. I found other ways to assert my dominance; mostly by attempting to control my younger siblings, getting good grades, and winning many of the monthly art contests my 5th grade teacher held. In any case, all of this is generally irrelevant except to tell you that I have never won an athletic type of competition (unless you count wrestling with your siblings -- which doesn't really count because it's not official). That is, until Friday, December 3rd, 2010.
As you may or may not know, I have been taking pole fitness classes at Adult Dance and Fitness since July. I've competed twice and performed before an audience a total of three times. My first competition was less than glamourous and I don't even have a good picture from it. My second performance was with my twin sister. It was a Halloween recital and we dressed as luchadores and had a 'battle' on the pole. Unfortunately, I don't have a good picture of that, either, although it was met with much praise and we won a whopping $25 for being the 'most creative.' It was all worth it, even though our prize probably only covered the gas from driving around that day getting costume pieces and all trying to practice at random establishments we thought might have poles open to the public.
As evidenced by the luchador performance (albeit it was Halloween), I like to theme my routines. I get a kick out of putting together a costume, matchy music and all that jazz. This last competition was no different. When I first learned to invert on the pole, I immediately thought of Spider-Man when he hangs upside down on his spidey thread. This was my inspiration.
After a couple hours of searching grooveshark and iTunes, I had found a perfect cover of the Spider-Man Theme by Richard Cheese and ideas were spilling out of my head.
Unfortunately, there is always a slight disconnect between what I imagine I can do and what I can do in reality. After spending a couple nights at the studio, I was able to convert my imagined routine into the slightly-less-cool reality. This came with some physical pain. I should have taken pictures of my bruises and pole burn so that you could commiserate.
And then it was time. I had purchased the final touches to my costume: jumbo fishnet thigh highs (channeling Spidey's webbed costume) and fake lashes to make my eyes pop. The competition, which was divided into three categories: beginner, intermediate, and advanced (of which, I was competing in intermediate), started just after 8 PM. I was scheduled to perform at the end of the intermediate group. I was too nervous to watch the other intermediate contestants and busied myself in the dressing room with wardrobe and make up adjustments, stretching, jumping around, and last-minute practicing of moves.
I descended the elevator (which we use to make a dramatic entrance) in a classic Spidey pose -- crouched near the ground, balancing on my fingers and toes, walked to the stage, and climbed the pole to start in the Scorpio pose.
And then, I will let you watch what happened next:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ynrqm70ViQw
I slipped when trying to get into my monkey split. You can tell where that is in the movie. But I was pleased with my performance overall. And apparently, the judges were as well. It was stiff competition, though! I only won by a few points.
It felt good to win. I have to admit that I almost liked the tiara more than the cash prize. Almost. Something about a glittery crown makes you feel so special -- like a princess! But what I liked even more was the comraderie and support from all the girls who were competing. I know that sounds counter-intuitive, and there is a weird element to being friends with those you compete against, but it's true. Everyone at the studio is invested in each other. We cheer when we finally get a trick in class, and we know what each other is working on and we watch and help each other become better and better pole athletes.
You can see all of the other intermediate and advanced performances at my studiomates' blog here: http://addictedtopoledancing.blogspot.com/2010/12/videos.html
While you are there, check out their other posts as well. Watching their progress online and in the studio has been so fun. I read their blog and watched their videos as they mastered inverts and supermans and now we are in the same classes; working on advanced moves and pushing ourselves to compete and perform. It is a marvelous feeling.
And this post of course would not be complete if I didn't tell you the studio's website where I take lessons: http://www.danceogden.com/. I love Studio Blue so much.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Miss Blue December
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