Dance Diary Part 16 - Pole-Dancing

Yup you didn't read my title wrong.

Funny how people used to say: When God closes a door, He opens a window? Yeah, God is good. In the midst of my despair, about half a year after I left the only little studio here where I had my latin/ballroom/new vogue social classes (that alone is a long story); He opened a window for me --- pole-dancing.

I know you might laugh. I remember how back in Malaysia, everyone has this impression that pole-dance = stripper = hooker. I had always begged to differ, though I never really had the courage to take it up back in those days. But back then I had my Latin, and it was always enough for me. But no, unlike most of my studio-mates I was never that skeptical about pole dancing, I've always seen it as an art, just like any other dance. And it was my first pole lesson that I came to realize that it is that, and more.

I remember when I was 17, I went for my first Latin dance class. It was Cha Cha. And I fell in love with it right from the first chasse.

I was brought back to that memory when my pole instructor, Jamie taught us the first spin, The Fireman. I was glad, so pleasantly surprised that I found myself in love with this new dance, just the way I did 6 years and a lifetime ago. I thought I might find it with Salsa, Burlesque and everything I had tried since then, but it was Pole that got to me.

And now it is week 5 since that first faithful lesson. And I just have to say, I love it even more. How on earth could I have not discovered this dance right from the first day I am here in Tassie? Why oh why did I wait almost 2 years before I started? Two long agonizing years. =(

I should've trained harder too in the past years. Now I have pathetic upper body strength, and since it is a pre-requisite for pole dancing, I am pretty much struggling whenever it comes to holding body weight up on the pole (eg: the V grip, The Pencil, Pixie Up etc). Gotta train hard starting from now! At least get strong enough to do men push-ups (okay don't laugh but I can never do men push-ups, only the girly ones)...

*********
So new checklist:

• 20 push-ups per day (increase by 5 every day & hopefully convert to men's push up in time)
• 3 minute planking (increase by 15 secs per day)
• Weights (start with 5kgs, at least 10 reps for each muscle group)
• Work on my handstand
• Practice the V grip and master it for all my spins

The V Grip for The Fireman

• Work on my Butterfly Spin and some other variations (I forgot their names)

• Work on The Pencil and Pencil Spin

• Perfect my Seat, Crucifix and Extended Seat variations

The Seat

Extended Seat - variations

• Learn the Wrist Seat!!! 

One day that'll be me!

That should be enough for now. Till the next lesson where I'll have to add The Cradle to my list...

Gotta work those barely-existing muscles!!! *feeling motivated*


Spinning off,
Christine

Dance Diary Part 15 - Of A Little New Life

Oh how long had it been? Since my last dance diary in Aug 2011. It's really about time. It makes me sad to think that my dance journey has actually been on hiatus for two whole years! Surely there are the little bits and pieces; like a couple of salsa classes and social dances and picking up New Vogue... but there wasn't much Latin at all. I was devastated... I still am. There is always a part of me that feels like I've failed myself and my teachers.

Where was that promise of continuing to dance wherever I am, whatever I do? (I do still dance, but it's not Latin, and it'll never be the same)  
Where were those dreams and passion and determination?
What about never ever letting that part of me go? 

Without dance, I am just another cold, pompous little soul in a white coat, stuck in a dead-end job, going about the same routine for the rest of my life. What about variations, what about versatility?


It had been half a year since I last did any Latin, even socially.
It really kills me, leaving my single greatest dream.


But then suddenly out of the crypts of my despair, out of the carcass of my fallen dreams, there is something new. It is only tiny, but great. Never as great as its predecessor, but it might... might just be enough for me. And that is all I am seeking for at the moment. A little piece of myself I can still grasp in my hands. A little something that makes me still feel REAL despite everything. And I desperately needed that.


Till the one day I can live my dreams again. No I've never forgotten, Yulia, blackpool and all of it  =)


Signing off,
Christine