Some Videos of Tricks I've Been Working On

I recommend pausing the video after each one is done because they will start to play the next one on my YouTube channel automatically.


Allegra on spin pole: 

Post by Lindsay Millspaugh.

Here is a link to the Iguana Pole Walk Jenyne Butterfly is unbelievable at:


https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152441991537119&l=8304207280824670924



 A definite new fav, Spin pole Genie to Remi drop:




 I love this one, but needs to be cleaned up,
Butterfly to Tulip splits:



Another one to smooth out, Cross ankle release to brass monkey to Janiero on spin pole:



Definitely the hardest and needs the most practice,
 Flare/Fan Legs to figurehead, to shoulder mount on spin pole:


 V-Spin to Jasmine to Holly Drop (I need a taller ceiling ;) ):

The Critique Sandwich

Pole is a hard thing to teach.
Yes it's fun as hell, and watching your students face when they know they just nailed a move for the first time is probably one of the best feelings, but the mental and emotional intricacies are heavy.
I haven't been teaching for very long as of now, but I have already picked up on some key things.
The critique sandwich is my biggest one.
This is essentially:
1) What you did well
2) What wasn't good/What can be improved
3) Another thing you did well

People are sensitive, especially young women new to pole, and adding in other factors like other students getting a move while they aren't, and feeling self conscious, frustrated, etc, all come into play.
Sometimes it doesn't always seem time efficient or truly humanly possible to always make this critique sandwich happen, but if I give any criticism or feedback, it's 30% what can be changed to improve, 70% "you rock" comments.
If a student doesn't feel good about themselves, they won't feel good about their future or if they will get the next move. They may not even come back to pole if they had a bad class.
Positivity as a teacher is exhausting and difficult to always make sure you are expressing that it is genuine, but it's the most necessary part of it.
Even if I have a student that literally can't do a single thing I teach them, I encourage them for trying over and over and explain how they will be stronger and more knowledgeable the next time.
I have gotten to a point where I don't need to hear this extreme positivity, because I have the confidence in myself from my past that I can and will continue to excel, but sometimes when I am being taught by someone who doesn't recognize my hard work or only has things I can fix to say, I take them gratefully to improve, but I almost feel still some disheartened feelings by a lack of encouragement.
My favorite teachers are those who scream and shout when I finally get a move or congratulate me the next time they see me right away on a move a just posted online I finally achieved.
You can be an amazing teacher and still be uplifting and sweet. In fact, the ones that are the best teachers should be because then students will want to go to them and continue to learn.
It's remarkable what the phrase "that looked great" can mean to a student who is trying.
I'm working hard to not forget that.

Liquid Motion Workshops (by Jeni Janover)

This week our studio (Boulder Spirals) had the privilege of learning fluidity and transitions in floor work by the amazing Jeni Janover. The description of the workshops by the makers is below:

"Liquid Motion® is a traveling workshop series comprised of two- three 90 min workshops. Our goal is to open your creative mind and guide you into a world of endless possibilities. It teaches you, and your students, the fundamentals of movement through basic dance theory and inner confidence, using our most natural instincts, sensual and sensuous dance. We use these two approaches because they are imbedded in us from conception; subsequently, it is the quickest way to the end result of fluidity, passion and beautiful movement. Liquid Motion® will teach you to move in ways you never thought you could. We simply teach you where movement comes from, and give you a window into where you can take it."

I signed up for all three but unfortunately due to the beyond horrible drivers in the world I was late to the class as well as the appointment I had set before the class.

However, for the two classes I did take I already feel completely changed and feel I have learned basic steps to progress my transitions and floor work for future choreography.

I would love to show and explain every part of the workshops but I truly could not convey or teach it properly enough to where you would get the truly altering benefits I got from taking the workshops. I also respect the makers and their hard work and would not want to give away for free what they have worked so hard to develop.
If you ever get the chance to take them - DO IT. Or request for them to post videos or come to your studio to share their secrets ;)

FaceBook for Liquid Motion:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Liquid-Motion/147589188675606?id=147589188675606&sk=info

First Pole Performance

This blog contains the photos and videos from the first pole performance I have ever done.

I practiced for months for this routine down to the very ways in which I would turn my head and angle my body. There are of course places I could have improved upon and things I wish I would have done looking back, but I am super happy to say I am proud of the result :) Also these photos are just amazing.
I am also EXTREMELY grateful for all of the love and support I have received before, during, and after this performance.
My lovely friend Linda Crane, who also happens to be one of my favorite polers of all time, helped me create this routine and pushes me constantly to the places she and I both know I can go.

Here is the link to the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXtIyzp4iBw

And here are the photos:

The first 5 are from Nina Reed Photography (NinaReed.com)
And the rest are thanks to Eleanor Williamson Photography

Let's Talk Pole Grip Aids

When I first started pole I never wanted to use grip aids. I believed that I would gain the strength to not need them and I wanted to never have to depend on them.
That was hocus pocus.
The first grip aid I tried was Mighty Grip. I got it for free and I was willing to test it out. I loved it - for about a few minutes.

The powder was helpful with the slipping for about the first grab, and until I used too much and my hands kept getting sweaty. After you apply it, it turns into this almost slick slikiness on your hands that I think is supposed to make a slight tackiness. It didn't seem to help much and I pretty much gave up on it.

Next I tried Dry Hands.

Dry Hands is one of my favorite because it works quickly on sweaty hands/sweaty grip, it's not too strong, and it's not too weak, and it's easy to buy/find in studios.
However, I came to realize Dry Hands wasn't my thing either. Or it least wasn't all I needed. I had to constantly reapply, and I even tried using it with Mighty Grip and it didn't do much.

I later got iTac2 for free.

 

I had high hopes for this. I heard it can make you climb up walls. I put some on my hands at first, and I slipped straight down the pole. My friend told me to put it on the pole. It helped, but it wasn't great, and it could still be super slick. I know I can't put grip aids on poles in competitions so I stopped using it. Someday maybe I will love it, we'll see.

While on FaceBook I saw a discount for Poletice, the powder. It was offered at a discounted price so I decided to try it. This was better than Mighty Grip to me because it didn't leave you with that tackiness after it comes in contact with your hands. It's essentially just a simple powder. I might start using this for class when my hands are sweaty and I don't want to use something stronger.

I have a showcase coming up, and with all of this I was frustrated and afraid of my sweaty grip. I was sure I would slip off the X-poles at my performer showcase for my studio. I was thinking, "There has GOT to be something that I can use since so many performers can make it through whole performances and no way all of them are using the same thing." I looked up more grip aids and remembered hearing about Tite Grip.

I was THRILLED as hell when I first used it. I didn't slip once, I felt strong and secure and was no longer afraid of sliding down the pole (well, maybe only like 5% compared to the 80% I felt before). Tite grip is an antiperspirant lotion that you rub over your hands. You are supposed to put it on 30-60 minutes before your performance. It draws out the moisture and keeps it out. I won't use this for class, unless I'm getting no grip with Dry Hands in Spin Pole class, but for performance - I am SO excited about this product. They have a new formula that supposedly makes your hands not as "white" with residue (which is minimal and not very noticeable) called Tite Grip II, and it supposedly smells more like lavender. I decided to stick with the classic version. Needless to say, I'm super happy I discovered this in the nick of time.

Finally the one I want to talk about is Dew Point.

I have been practicing my choreography on X-Stage chrome poles and one of the two poles in particular - I slide down it like I'm fighting a waterfall. I fought it over and over but after getting through an initial spin pass I am just too exhausted to give that extra energy just to climb up the pole. I put on some of the extra strength (red) dew point on my inner thighs, inner knees, and the tops of my feet. My problem was solved. I didn't feel any stickiness or see any coating on my legs, but when did a superman on a stainless steel mounted pole, I was so stuck. That stuff is intense! I will only use the red for a chrome X pole, but it worked awesome.

The general idea that I have learned is:
Try many grip aids. What works for your teacher or your friend may not be good enough for you. Everyone's body acts and behaves different. No matter how much do you do to avoid sweaty palms - not use lotion, wash your hands after you lotion your face, cut out caffeine, drink a lot of water, etc - sometimes you need to have a little extra. Some people are in love with iTac and Mighty Grip, and some people only need a drop of Dry Hands. I urge you to try all of them when you have the chance - it will save you a lot of fear around performance time. I have apparently sweaty hands regardless of my efforts and Dry Hands wasn't enough. I now use Tite Grip and put it on 30 minutes before I do my performance, and I put dry hands on right before for that extra help. For the ridiculously slippery legs I use Dew Point. I feel more confident now and am not as afraid to try intense moves halfway through a performance when I know I'm sweaty. Tell me your experiences!!

<3 Lindsay Lithe