When
did you first start pole dancing and how did you get into it?
I started taking classes New York Pole
Dancing back in 2007 and applied for an instructor position a few months later.
How do you feel pole dancing has changed since you started?
How do you feel pole dancing has changed since you started?
When I co-founded USPDF with Wendy Traskos, most interaction in the pole
industry existed primarily on YouTube. To see all these pole dancers meet for
the very first time at the inaugural US Pole Dance Championship in 2009, I
recognized that change was happening.
Having watched hundreds of submission
videos, I’ve seen a lot of technical and artistic growth throughout the years.
New tricks, concepts and movement styles are being presented all the time and
will hopefully continue. All art forms experience growth; stages of molding and
shaping. Pole dancing is no exception.
My personal journey has focused on
artistry, which was greatly inspired by my involvement with Brook Notary’s
“Pulse Project” 2 years ago. It’s had a major influence on what pole dancing is
to me. My individual style and approach to pole started to shift. My movement
became more inspired by inner dialogue and telling a story versus just doing
pole tricks. My body naturally responded to this new approach to pole dancing.
And while this form of self-expression probably existed within me all along, it
emerged as an “AHA!” moment while working on Pulse Project. Brook has been an amazing
choreographer who has allowed me to organically grow into who I am as a dancer.
Who are other pole pioneers that you admire?
I don’t follow the industry as closely as I used to since leaving USPDF in 2011. But I greatly appreciate any pole dancer that
takes the time to discover who they are as dancers and performers. I know from
personal experience that the process can be both fun and frustrating. As
artists, we go through this process of imitating, faking, failing, and ultimately
daring to push ourselves out of our comfort zones until all that’s left is the
real us.
What moves me most is witnessing a
performer’s artistic drive and purpose: what is their intention or story? And
what compels each movement choice? Dance is captivating when performed from
that raw space; regardless of difficulty level.
Do you own a studio? If not, where do you currently dance?
I don’t own a studio but
I teach at New York Pole Dancing at a regular basis, and spend time doing my
own personal practice around the corner from my house at Sacred Studio in
Brooklyn, which is also the current home of the Pulse Project.
Tell
us one thing about you that people might be surprised to hear about you.
I just got certified in Applied Positive
Psychology (CAPP) at the New York Open Center this month.
What
does 2013 hold for you?
I’m performing in a year- long
underground series with the Pulse Project. Part 1, “Love & Guts” will be held at Sacred
Studio in Brooklyn, May 30th - June 1st. I’m beyond excited! Please, check it
out: http://thepulseproject.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/thePULSEproject
I’m teaching contemporary pole workshops
that are focusing on improvisation, transitions, movement quality and other fun
stuff.
I’m creating non-dance workshops that
teach people simple tools to create more flow and positive emotions in their
daily lives using CAPP.
I’m co-writing a textbook in positive
psychology.
_________________
Anna Grundstrom
Pole Instructor/Coach, Pulse Project
Dancer, CAPP practitioner
_________________
Check out my previous post about the beginning of the Pulse Project HERE.
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