Twirly Girls at the Sarah & Vinnie Secret Show!

So on Valentine's Day, the Twirly Girls were part of the Sarah and Vinnie live Secret Show at the Supper Club in San Francisco (Alice @ 97.3 FM on the radio in San Francisco or www.radioalice.com).  What an EPIC day to add to the list for the Year of the Viking!

When I first saw Uzette talk about pole dancing on Facebook a couple of months ago, I had NO idea this was going to be the ultimate outcome.  Initially, she went to some classes at Poletential in Redwood City.  When she mentioned that she was going to do a performance for an event, I invited her to come to Twirly Girls for some one-on-one lessons to prepare her.  I still had NO idea how awesome the event was going to be.

Uzette only came to Twirly Girls twice for private lessons with Bel and me.  I know a lot of people think that pole dancing is easy but learning all the right moves in a safe way really can't happen in two classes.  Plus, she was nervous about performing and learning a routine.  We decided to go the silly route.  It gave her lots of room to just dance around, and then she only had to spend about a minute on the pole.  Bel entered the picture as Uze's pimp just to make sure there were no issues with crowd control.  Uzette has an amazing body and legs and she ROCKED her dance!!!!  I give her HUGE props for getting up at a public event in booty shorts and stilettos!  I thought she did a great job and the response to her performance seemed to be pretty positive.

Last week, they started talking about an additional performance:  Icky stripping.  Icky's performance was ...  almost indescribable.  I know he was super nervous but he looked SO handsome in his dress-up clothes, and has an amazing body, so he looked GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRREAT with his clothes off too!  Former intern, Bryn, was also off the hook...showing off his awesome body and some pretty advanced Chinese acrobatic moves.  

Shelly did her first performance next and, as always, she is so impressive to watch.  Diana is so freakin' adorable and I love that her performances are more dance-inspired (she had no reason to be nervous!!).  It reminds me that I need to get in and take a class with her soon.  Shelly finished up with a slow Metallica song...I love Metallica.

I really want to thank EVERYONE for yesterday's event.  The entire Sarah and Vinnie Morning Show and Alice Radio for including Twirly Girls and for all of the mentions on the air.  Uzette for coming all the way to Pleasanton so we could teach her (and to Johnny V for driving -- Bel does expect you to come back for a Twirly Tuff workout someday, JV!).  Icky for being so brave and HOT!  Bel for allowing me to pimp out her studio without even asking.  Shelly for busting her ass to bring that heavy stage pole and perform twice.  Diana for performing when I know she was SO nervous.  Grace for giving us a mini warm-up performance before the show started.  Andrew and Rita -- my TEAM HONEY BADGER.  All of the Twirly Girls and honorable TGs who were able to come to the city on a week day to support us.  And Supper Club SF for offering up a pretty cool venue. 

I know that my usual purpose in life is to promote the positive image behind pole dancing, although I recognize the stripper roots, which has a negative connotation for some.  I always go back and forth on the subject.  Sure, what I do is different from stripping.  I don't get naked and I don't get tips for what I do.  But is there anything wrong with the people who DO strip for a living?  I don't think so.  I hate bringing up Claire's quote so often, but it is my favorite:  "If for some reason, the idea of your dancing being connected to the strip club scene is upsetting to you, if you desperately need to distance what you do from what those 'other girls' do, if you truly believe that you are doing this because it’s just a really good workout, then I strongly suggest you spend some time thinking about why you chose pole dancing.  Because there are a million ways to get fit without putting on six inch stilettos, a bikini and swinging sensually around a pole."  Quote from The Pole Story.

Yes, I get that many are trying to insert a fitness-only aspect.  Circus and contortion.  Aerial acrobatics.  Chinese Pole.  All non-stripper aspects.  And that's okay too.  But the history is still there.   I accept the whole history.  Anyway, stepping off my soap box...  I had a great time.  I really love my pole sisters (and brothers) and I am looking forward to our next adventure. 

Oh yeah!  Andrew of Liquidpulp was with us to take photos and Rita ran our video cameras.  Rita's husband, Dave, even got in on the action when the owner of the club asked him to run the spotlight.  I ran around with the tools to change the pole from static to spinning and made sure the pole was wiped down between performances.  I was a sweaty mess (as usual) by the end, so I felt like I didn't even get to see the show as it happened.  I'm looking forward to the videos and photos. 

I will be linking podcasts, videos and photos below as they become available.  Were you at the show?  Tell me what you thought!

The podcast of the live Secret Show (from Tuesday, February 14): http://radioalice.radio.com/2012/02/15/podcast-valentines-day-live-secret-show/

The podcast of the aftermath (the "Lost 30" from Wednesday, February 15):  http://radioalice.radio.com/2012/02/15/podcast-aftermath-from-yesterdays-live-show-on-the-lost-30-2-15-12/

Video of Shelly (1):  COMING SOON!

Video of Shelly (2):  COMING SOON!

Diana: COMING SOON!

Link to Andrew's photos:  COMING SOON!

Poletry in Motion: Poletential!

Poletential is really becoming my home away from home.  Even though I am technically from another studio, they have all embraced me and I feel very welcome there.  Nothing can replace my Twirly Girls...I love Bel and every single person at the studio.  But it has certainly been fun meeting up with friends at Poletential on occasion!

Here are some of my past Poletential adventures:

http://lolorashel.blogspot.com/2011/10/studio-spotlight-poletential.html

http://lolorashel.blogspot.com/2011/10/zumba-fundraiser-for-tracey-horne.html

http://lolorashel.blogspot.com/2011/11/aerial-hammockyoga-at-poletential.html

http://lolorashel.blogspot.com/2011/12/poletentials-second-air-show.html

I can't believe its been a week since my last post on the Confessions blog.  I went to Los Angeles for BeSpun's Pole Show LA and was working like mad through the weekend (shout out to Christina from Poletential...she was there too!).  I went to Poletential for Jessica's Pole-In-Motion class on the Sunday before I left on the trip.  Each week the class learns a short routine based on different genres of dance.

That week was Showgirl Style.  I really loved it.  It was simple but really cute and for those of us (ahem, mostly just me) who couldn't do a trick or two, she had options.  I felt like she broke down the pieces into small enough bites so that dance-dummies, like me, could keep up.  I sweat.  Of course.  I had fun.  (TRACEY WAS THERE!)  I also met Samantha there (we met on Studio Veena and she recently moved to the area) and Uzette from Alice Radio (San Francisco radio station, KLLC 97.3 FM).  

I was really excited to meet up with Uzette because she is going to be doing a short pole routine in a couple of weeks at a Sarah and Vinnie Secret Show!  (More info on that later!)

Anyway, I had a great time taking class with Jessica at Poletential.  It has really inspired me to start learning how to DANCE more (not the silly body wiggle that I usually do).   So thank you to Jessica and all of the Poletential girls for being awesome as usual!  I am hoping to actually come out again this Sunday for another hammocks class...gotta check that schedule. 

Uzette and me

The Lovely Rita Fundraiser was a HUGE success!!

I am at a loss for words.  This never happens.  First off, I want to thank everyone who helped get the Lovely Rita fundraiser set-up.  Bel and Kristin especially really spent the final two days before the event tied to the studio.  Daisy saved the day by bringing flowers and food for poor Bel who was too busy to even feed herself!  I am amazed.  Touched.  Excited.  In awe.  And exhausted. 

We had a few minutes of panic last week when the volcano erupted in Iceland and the volcanic ash in the air affected flights all over Europe.  Rita was "stuck" in Ireland for an extra day.  Luckily, she got out only 24 hours late...five days later, some people are still waiting to fly to or from Europe.   And poor Rita was only home a little over 24 hours when she had to come play with us -- dealing with jet lag from a good 8 hour time difference. 

Rita set a goal to raise $750 for her walk.  I believe she already has about $200 on her kidney walk page.  The Lovely Rita Fundraiser at Twirly Girls brought in an additional $2,700!!  The generosity of everyone who was involved -- whether it was time or money...we appreciate it and we love you.  Thank you to Bel for your time and for volunteering your studio for this.  We had donations for silent auction and raffle gifts (please see my previous post for the companies that donated -- although we had donations coming in up until the time we started!).  We had donations to buy raffle tickets and to take classes.  I'm almost afraid to name people because I don't want to forget anyone.  But I do want to again thank Kristin for swooping in and saving the day when time was getting short and Bel needed help with the silent auction and raffle preparation.  Also, thank you to Andrea for her donation of such beautiful clothing from Susana of Paris.  Thank you to Marilyn for donating her time to prepare and perform two dances at the recital (and donating personal training sessions for the raffle!!).  To Hooman from Alice Radio for coming out to support us and for making the winning bid on the date with our Raiderette, Jovann (and, of course, thank you to Jovann for putting herself up on the auction block)! Ok.  Ok.  I could go on all day.  There are a lot of people to thank and we want each and every one of you to know that we appreciate the time and money you each donated to support a great cause.  So, THANK YOU TO EVERYONE!  :-D 

Our day began with two classes taught by Marilyn -- Corelicious and the Oooh La La burlesque dance class.  Bel then taught the Lovely Rita Pole routine.  Unfortunately, Kat's go go class had to be canceled.  She spent the weekend in the hospital with her mother.  Her mom, coincidentally, is battling kidney failure.  We wish the best for Kat's mom...and hope she has a speedy recovery.  The silent auction opened at 4 p.m. and we started the dance recital at 5.  It can be very scary to put yourself out there and dance for strangers.  I was really nervous to do my own dance and had to apologize to the crowd sitting in the corner for basically showing them all what I had for lunch that day.  HELLLOOOOOO BOOOOOYS!  IN YO FACE.  haha!  Thanks for being great sports!  Loved the Ooh La La girls -- Marilyn, Kristin and Sam!  Andrea even performed for us with her injured hip!  A huge thank you to Gina for braving a solo to what she must have thought was the longest song in the world!  Marilyn and Lisa did a great doubles performance.  Kristin, Maryam and I did the Lovely Rita routine.  And Rita, Maryam, Daisy and Mandy did a great free dance.  Hopefully I'm not forgetting anyone!  The grand finale was AWESOME!  Each of the Twirly Girls gave Rita a flower and did a little twirl in her honor.  I really hope someone got it on video.  I know that Maryam's husband had a good seat and did get photos.  I will share them when I get them. 

All of our Twirly Girls came through, though.  And thank you to all of the husbands and boyfriends who share their time with us (and allow their girls to share so much time with us)!

It's not too late to donate!  Rita's kidney walk is May 8th in San Francisco.  Please click HERE to donate directly to the National Kidney Foundation (through Rita's page).  If you want to come walk with us, you are welcome to join our group.  No need to sign up or get donations!  Also, if you donated an item for auction/raffle or bought something at the fundraiser and did not get your receipt, please let me know and we will get one to you. 

Next up...Booty Parlor fun with Mandy this Friday night and the Pleasanton Street Party, which begins on Cinco de Mayo!