My performance at Cowboy Wild's Pole-Tacular Birthday Extravaganza

This will be short and sweet.  Here's video of my performance at Robert's birthday (you can read more about the weekend HERE).  There is also the playlist of other performances.  Thank you to AJ for teaching us the choreography from the video!  And thank you so much to all of my back-up dancers!  Since I could barely remember the dance, I needed you!!! 

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Need another product to stick to the pole? Try Stunt Grip!

While at Pole Expo, I met up with Steve Gale, one of the creators of Stunt Grip (he and his partner, Victor Flores, are also known for bringing us Pole Sleeves).  As Steve has been in the business of stunts and Chinese pole for many years, I very much respect what he has to say and any products he endorses. 

Earlier this week, I wrote a review about Dry Body, a product to help you stop sweating.  Now I want to write about how to stick to the pole once you've stopped the sweating.

Stunt Grip comes in a little black bag.  You tap the bag onto your hands.  You can use it dry OR you can use a spray bottle of alcohol to set the product (which is why a little sweat doesn't hurt...and maybe if you are sweaty, you don't need the alcohol, as your sweat will be enough).  I find that the delivery system helps keep the clumps (which happens with chalky tacks) from falling into your hands and only allows a fine dust to cover you.  Over the last week, I've asked several people to try it and give me their feedback. 

For myself, I found it to work well.  It is a chalky powder but it didn't get everywhere.  Since you do use liquid to help set the product, sweaty hands isn't an automatic death warrant.  However, for my *super* sweaty-hand friends, they did sweat through it (remember, I sweat from my head, not my hands).  It might be a good product to layer over something like an anti-perspirant or Tite Grip (or Dry Hands, or whatever product you like to get your hands to stop sweating).  I feel like Ginger gave a great assessment.  It gave her more stick than Mighty Grip, and I would add, but less grip than iTac2.  It would be a great medium grip product to add to your arsenal (you know, trying to avoid that "cooter squeak" by not over-tacking yourself). 

So if you're still looking for that perfect product to stick you to the pole, give Stunt Grip a try.  You can check out their website HERE.  You can also find them on Facebook HERE.  They have a deal on the price if you purchase before November! 

Check out Steve in action below:



Have you ever tried Stunt Grip?  If not, pick some up and let me know your thoughts!

It was a Timber Brown weekend!

When Robert aka Cowboy Wild decided to make his birthday party a benefit for Timber Brown's organization, Timber's Kids, we thought it would fun to invite him but figured it was a shot in the dark on whether he would have time to come out for it (or even want to...hello, we are virtual strangers asking him to fly out and perform on a promise that we are supporting his cause).  It never hurts to ask and this one paid off big time.

Timber's Kids is a charity that supports children who may have had rough childhoods and allows him to bring circus opportunities to them.  If you would like to support the cause, please donate HERE.  If you work for a school or other organization that would like to have Timber come out, please contact him. 

I first saw Timber perform at California Pole Dance Championships in 2011.  I was mostly only familiar with what I consider "traditional" pole dancers at the time, which consisted of female dancers.  Think Natasha Wang, Phoenix Kazree.  Beautiful dancers and athletic - yes, but they still were not doing anything like Timber was doing at the time.  CPDC was on stage poles that year and Timber blew my mind and probably almost knocked over the poles.  I interviewed him in my blog the same year.  [You can read that post HERE.]  Timber and I spoke on the phone before I sent him my questions and the one thing I took away was how sweet he was. 

Fast forward to Pole Expo 2013.  Timber was in the middle of his America's Got Talent ride and I finally got to meet him in person.  Sometimes I don't like meeting famous people.  I don't like to ruin my vision of them.  But again, I was very taken with what a nice person he was.  So when Robert wanted Timber at his birthday this year, I felt like we had nothing to lose by asking.  Timber not only came through but far-exceeded our expectations. 

Timber flew out last Friday and we went on an adventure in San Francisco.  We rode BART and Muni.  Timber climbed things.  Tall things.  [There was only one rule: he couldn't get arrested...death was fine, but handcuffs were not...until Sunday, that is!]  There were handstands in the Marina overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge.  We had cupcakes to celebrate Robert's birthday.  It was really a beautiful day (minus our sunburns).  That evening, Timber taught a private class at Twirly Girls and, after dinner for Robert's birthday, we went back to the studio for more fun on the pole. 

Timber brought a really fun new aparatus with him.  He has fashioned a chair to a spinning pole and the things he can do on it are pretty amazing.  The working title of the chair is Timber Brown's Pole Chair.  There is a patent pending.  Check out some play time at Twirly Girls:



I think one of the things I admire most about Timber is the intensity and the honesty in his performances.  It doesn't matter who is in that chair.  The eye contact is there and that person feels like they are the only person in the room.  I'm not sure Timber meant for his chair to be a lap dance tool but it sure did work out for Robert and his birthday!

Our fun continued on Sunday, as we returned to San Francisco to watch Robert's husband as Holotta Tymes in Sunday's A Drag at the Starlight Room.  We ate a delicious brunch and enjoyed the show from the front row.  We then went back to Walnut Creek, where we held Robert's birthday show to benefit Timber's Kids at Club 1220:  Cowboy Wild's Pole-Tacular Birthday Extravaganza.  You can keep an eye out on my YouTube channel for video of the performances, but I just couldn't wait to get Daisy's lap dance up for everyone to enjoy.  She donated $110 in order to enjoy this special performance up close and personal! 



In the end, over $1,800 was donated to Timber's Kids.  We are so touched that Timber was able to join us for the weekend and I'm so proud of how Robert is flourishing, both as a person and a pole dancer.  Thank you to every single person who made this weekend so amazing.  I can't wait to do it again! 

Check out a few photos from our adventures below:

Kate providing a lovely base for Timber's handstand

I caught him fair and square!!



Timber in SF -- to which a lady screamed: BE CAREFUL!



Timber in front of the Sir Francis Drake Hotel before brunch on Sunday



Hey, you're wearing my shirt!

Getting all up in Cassandra Cass

 

Holotta Tymes, Timber and Donna Sashay at the Starlight Room

Daisy enjoying Timber's awesome pole chair

Cake by Jessica!

Timber doing his thing

Another poletastic weekend.  Thank you to Robert and Dale for including me in the birthday celebrations, thank you to Kate for joining us this weekend, to AJ, Seanmichael, and all of the Twirly Girls.  To 1220.  To everyone who attended the show.  To everyone who participated in the show.  ESPECIALLY TO MY BACK-UP DANCERS!  And to Timber.  What an amazing soul.  I look forward to doing this again!  Until next time...keep twirling!  (Or twisting...that's for you, Steve!)

February Blop Hop: The Pole Men in my Life

February's Blog Hop is about men and pole.  Who knew this topic would draw such controversy!?  I guess I should have seen it coming, and while I don't like to see hurt feelings, I do like spirited conversations on controversial topics.  I will probably do two posts this month.  My first post, however, will be on the pole men in my life.  Not just the pole stars, adored by the masses, but the lovely men in my day-to-day pole life.  

I touched on this subject for The Pole Dancing Shop before.  You can read that post HERE.   In two-plus years, I would say the sentiment appears to be about the same.  Some women are very uncomfortable with men in their classes.  But that doesn't mean there isn't room for men in the pole studio.

My first pole crush was Timber Brown.  I saw him judge the California Pole Dance Championships in 2011.  His performance was jaw-dropping....on freaking stage poles!!  Part of why he also stands out in my mind (and is the only non-Twirly Girl -- I mean Twirly Boy -- I'm highlighting today) is because we had a lovely telephone conversation prior to me posting his blog interview.  Most people, I just fire off an e-mail with some questions, they respond and we both go on our merry way.  Timber wanted to chat on the phone and his story was very moving.  So I will always remember that conversation.  I didn't get to meet him in person until Pole Expo 2013.  He was just as sweet in person as he was on the phone!  If you missed Timber on America's Got Talent last year, make sure you keep an eye on him.  He's going big places!

I believe the first man, other than Jimmy, to take classes at Twirly Girl may have been Maleko.  Maleko (not his real name as his day job has him doing some pretty interesting internet security stuff) is probably also the only straight guy there (well, Andrew is straight but he only took one class, so it doesn't count!).  I admit, at first I was wary.  Straight dudes in the studio, huh.  I bet he's there to pick up all the chicks!  But I met Maleko and he is so nice and, although he's happy to show off his nicely toned booty, he was instantly comfortable to be around.  I know he too has been battling some injuries but I hope to see him around the studio again soon.  

When Bel offered me the opportunity to teach my own class, one of my very first students was Robert.  We are two years into the Boys, Girls & Twirls adventure and he has stuck by my side.  Like a good pole mama, I have encouraged him to spread his wings and fly with more advanced instructors (which he has) but he continues to come to class on Mondays (even though his skill level has far-surpassed my own).  I really enjoy his love for pole and his passion for life so, even though I keep trying to make him leave, I really would miss him if he did.  Recently dubbed the Original Cowboy Wild by Josiah "Bad Azz" Grant, Robert is really embracing the pole world and it has been fun to watch him grow as a pole ambassador.  

Before I started working in San Francisco, I would take classes on Wednesday nights at Twirly Girls.  One day, this kid shows up.  He's mere days into poling and he's showing me advanced Chinese pole tricks on YouTube and telling me, I WANT TO LEARN THAT!  Sure, kid, keep dreaming.  Almost two years later, Patrick really is another of my favorite pole boys.  He has been kicking ass and competed at Pole Expo in 2013.  We were all really, really proud of him.  His routine was strong and I was so impressed with how far he's come in such a short amount of time.  

A couple of years ago, while at a Nadia Sharif workshop at Poletential, I see this guy doing ridiculous tricks with David C. Owen.  He has this tiny muscular body and a tattoo blacking out his entire shoulder.  Who is this man?!  He was wearing a sweatshirt from Brass Ovaries so I assumed he was from Texas.  He came to the bar night with the rest of the crowd and he was in a bunch of my photos.  But I still was an asshole and never officially introduced myself.  Fast forward to November of 2012.  Nadia was back in town and I was helping to set up her schedule.  Someone contacted me to set up a private lesson.  It was Sean Michael -- the mystery man from the Poletential workshop!  After his lesson, he hung out at Twirly Girls and has been with us ever since.  Also one of my favorite people in the world, Sean Michael was my instructor for a short time (until my foot injury and his work obligations pulled us apart).  He is one of the sweetest people I have ever met and I appreciate that he puts up with my "vegetarian before noon" jokes.

I have been with Twirly Girls for over four years.  I help run the blog for the studio and feel like I generally have a finger on the pulse of what goes on in the studio.  Working in San Francisco for a year kind of took that away from me.  I was physically far from the studio and also mentally not connected as working in a job I disliked so much didn't leave much "extra" when I got home.  One day I started seeing things on Facebook about this AJ guy.  Who is AJ?!  I checked my friends list.  I know EVERYONE in the pole industry!  How do I not know this AJ from Polecats in Manila?!  Then I met him.  He is someone you instantly adore.  I now take his Dance Lab class on Saturdays at Twirly Girls.  It is less about pole and more about learning contemporary dance.  I have been watching my videos.  I know I have so far to go but I do appreciate AJ's patience with me and how encouraging he is when my body doesn't get the moves.  I also appreciate that he's always asking things like, how is your inverting coming along?  Uh, I don't know because I haven't tried.  I need that push to remind myself that at least half of what is holding me back is my own brain.  I am so happy AJ is part of the Twirly Girls family.

I feel very lucky to have so many amazing men in my life.  I could write another post about the famous pole men that I have met and also adore.  But I thought that the men of Twirly Girls should (mostly) be the highlight of this post.  They are part of my daily life and I wouldn't have it any other way. 

Sean Michael and AJ

Sean Michael, Timber and Robert

Sean Michael's winning performance at Kinetic Arts

Sean Michael's amazingly supportive parents -- I love them!

Fonji is the new Spatchcock

Today I wrote about California Pole Dance Championship's fifth annual competition, which was held a little over a week ago.  I realized as I was watching that I was witnessing the bar being raised to a ridiculous level in competitive pole dancing. 

I attended CPDC in 2011.  It was the first major live pole performance I had ever attended.  I was still fairly new to pole dance and was star-struck at every turn.  I had seen routines on YouTube and had pretty much pegged the Spatchcock as THE finishing move.  If you had the flexibility, the Spatchcock would show up at some point in your routine, generally at the end.  I feel like there are few graceful ways to get out of that move anyway so "the end" works.  Another "must-have" was the Jade Split.  I believe named for Jamilla Deville, this is the beautiful split while you're upside down on the pole, which shows you have no nerve endings left in your hip and tons of flexibility.   

This is about as advanced as I get

Enter the Fonji.  I first saw Natasha Wang do the Fonji through a Facebook video about two years ago (although a YouTube video shows her learning it from Timber and Steve about a year prior to that).  If you don't know what the Fonji is, HERE is a video of Natasha doing the Fonji to reverse Fonji combo.  Primarily a circus or Chinese pole move, advanced moves like the Fonji are quickly spreading into competitive pole routines.  You can see Skittles' tutorial on the Fonji HERE.  Although she believes the move is not as difficult or dangerous as it looks, I still consider it an advanced move. 

So imagine my surprise at the competition last week to find FOUR of the eleven competitors in CPDC's Neo category attempted the Fonji!  These are the amateur competitors!  Sure, they have to dance very well to get to this level of competition, but they are still not at Pro level.  And many did not finish the move cleanly, which means they are in danger of injuring themselves.  What is going on here?  

Where is competitive pole going?  So many competitors aren't just pole dancing.  They are taking contortion and acrobatic classes.  They are adding in Chinese pole and circus tricks.  Why bother with a simple (but beautiful) Allegra when you can do a drop from 20 feet up? 

Although I was impressed with the athleticism of all of the competitors, I was extremely happy that the winning routines were well-rounded with tricks AND spins.  And also happy that many had an interesting story to tell, rather than "just" being a dance.  I know I'm not one to judge since I can't do ANY of those high-level moves.  I just hope that competitors are not risking their safety and the integrity of their routines for the cheap thrill of a trick that has not yet been perfected.  

I am curious to hear what everyone else thinks about this subject.  Where do you think competitive pole dancing is headed?  Are there tricks that used to be common place that you aren't seeing anymore?  Which tricks do you think need to go and which do you wish would come back? 

Pole Expo 2013

There were so many great things about Pole Expo, I almost couldn't contain them in one blog.

Being able to see the Yosemite fire from the plane (sad but still very interesting).  

Having almost my entire Boys, Girls and Twirls class in Vegas with me.

Patrick and Sean Michael competing in the Pole Classic.

Meeting Timber Brown.

Fun workshops even though my foot was still injured.

Twirly Girls winning the Bring the Pole Gang contest.

Vegas in general.  Duh.

Really, I couldn't even list every cool thing that happened on this trip.

So I thought it would make a photo journal of some of my fun stuff instead!

I literally took a thousand photos so it was hard to just choose a few but I don't want to bore you with an hour long slide show.  So, in no particular order (mostly because I'm lazy and that would require organizing them on my computer), here are some of the highlights of my trip to Vegas for Pole Expo!

Meeting fellow blogger, Nina

Amy's new shoes

Robert, Missy and Amy at the pool

Look, I can do Timber Brown's stand on the pole trick!

Robert and me on the plane home...after many delays

TIMBER BROWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Karen, Kate and Rita in Bel's ridiculously awesome tub

Me, Robert and Yolanda at the Pole Classic

Minion Todd...the minions might require their own blog post

Roz the Diva showing us how it is done!!

Zoraya admiring Robert's pole kiss (obtained in her workshop)

Me sporting my sexy boot

Patrick, Missy and me

Platinum Stages' after-party

Yolanda on the plane home

Accro and Timber having a hot boy pole-off

The Twirly Girl gang

Sean Michael in all his amazingness

My favorite photo from the trip...Missy in the background, Sean Michael, Kate and me on the bed

Amy, Robert, Miss, me, Karen and Yolanda out in Vegas

Karen, me and Missy at the Pole Classic

The view from the plane...the water is so clear, the boats look like they're floating on air

Timber Brown doing Iron X on me with my anchor Sean Michael helping

Robert and Sean Michael

Playing around with Pole Sleeves

Sean Michael, Timber Brown and Robert -- the men of pole!

clouds under the plane

x-pole and silks...yay!

Timber and Robert

Missy and Nadia Sharif

Josh, Patrick and Nena

The view from Bel's room

Accro and Robert

Bad Azz

Jack from Bad Kitty and Robert

The view from our room

Missy and Flying Laura

Me fighting the monsoon

Sean Michael and Samantha Star

our room

Robert and Pole Sleeves

I can't wait for next year...I'm already planning!!!