Dangerous Curves V

I would like to congratulate Tausha Ostrander for taking the Dangerous Curves reins from Roz THE DIVA Mays, and putting on a successful event earlier this month in Denver.  I had the pleasure of attending the event and was impressed with Tausha's hard work.  The competitors did an amazing job as well!  I know how difficult it is to plan an event of this magnitude, and I cannot imaging doing it alone.

I really appreciate the safe space that Roz and Tausha have created, which allows plus sized pole dancers to compete.  Although I have often heard that plus sized dancers should just compete at the level in which they feel they are able, I do recognize that our bodies are not usually built the same as our "straight sized" counterparts.  We often have to move boobs out of the way, or we have more thigh skin that shifts when we try to attach ourselves safely to the pole.  Competing against other dancers that face the same challenges evens the playing field.

I have often blamed my size for my inability to invert or climb well.  Mama Bel has recently stopped accepting my whining and excuses and has been forcing me to do the work -- basically, each week I am climbing and inverting in class.  Watching these ladies do so many of the moves that I keep telling myself I'm too big to do makes me realize I really am just making excuses.

Congratulations again to Tausha for putting on a great event and to all of the competitors for sharing their souls with us!  I look forward to next year!

5th Annual Pole Expo

Timber Brown

Just a few days ago, I returned from my epic adventures at the 5th Annual Pole Expo.  I have attended four out of five years.  2013 was pretty epic as I was in my walking boot post foot surgery.  And 2014 ended up being epic thanks to me flipping out of the fly gym, smashing my face on the ground and injuring my foot and spine.

In 2016, I successfully attended Expo without injury.  I did not arrive with any injuries and I did not leave with any.  I am not counting the fact that I hurt my back dragging my 50 pound suitcase around BART on my way home -- I made it out of Vegas injury free!!

This trip was a whirlwind.  I flew in last Thursday and essentially went straight to my room to get ready for the Pole Classic competition and showcase.  The Mighty Grip team kindly invited Robert, Janette and me up to their VIP suite.  I have to say this was one of their best shows. 

Underwater with Brett Stanley

Friday began with a floor workshop with Rafaela Montanaro.  I am not super flexible and the room was packed way too tightly, so I feel like I didn't get to perform well.  I also feel like it is difficult to learn a routine in an hour.  I did, however, video it and want to work on it further at the studio.  I then had an underwater photoshoot with Brett Stanley.  It was an interesting experience.  I bought the nose plugs (literally could not have done the shoot without them).  However, in my first pass underwater, I took some water in and came up coughing.  So, I got nervous that it was a sign of things to come and had to calm myself down.  Brett was great, though!  He is very calming and he would give me advice on posing each time I went under.  I certainly didn't do any epic pole moves (which I was hoping for since I was weightless in the water), but I am happy with many of the shots and am excited to see the official proofs.  (The one I attached here is just an unedited phone shot of his iPad.) 

Pepper - Yesod, Bret, Kaleo

Friday evening was pretty awesome.  After I booked Pole Expo, I found out that my favorite band in the wholewideworld, Pepper, would not only be in Vegas on the one night I didn't have plans -- but would be performing in my hotel.  That was a no brainer.  I picked up tickets immediately.  They did a meet and greet at the tattoo shop beforehand, so I got to meet them again.  My yoga instructor, Theresa, trained with the lead guitar player's wife, so we also talked about yoga for a bit.  The concert was at the stage by the pool.  It was hot so my night ended with me in my bra and underwear in the pool.  I guess next time, I'll just plan accordingly and just bring a bathing suit.  You're welcome to the guy who kept losing his shit and thinking I was giving him his own personal strip show.  The show was off the hook and I had a great time!  Thank you to Angela and Justin for coming to the show with me!

Saturday started out a little more quiet.  I sat by the pool.  I had a flexibility workshop with David C. Owen in the afternoon (yeah, I suck at it).  Then, while most Pole Expo'ers went to Pole Show LA Vegas, Robert, Janette and I went for my very first strip club experience.  We had received a tip that locals liked the Palomino.  It was about a 15 minute Uber ride away, but it was worth it.  I think I expected to go in there and see abused women who were being forced into slavery, but I really didn't get that vibe.  I met a couple of really cool girls.  We sat along the stage and threw extra dollars for the girls who could actually do pole tricks.  I loved it!

Sunday I woke up early to have my make-up done so I could do a photoshoot with Somer.  I think most people showed up wearing pole outfits and I busted out my pirate skirt and corset.  The shoot went really quickly and her direction was easy to follow.  I am also excited to see these proofs.  Sunday's workshop was Stripcraft with Lux ATL.  I love Lux's passion as she talks about accepting yourself.  I'm not even into chicks but her eye fucking alone during a lap dance is pretty fucking hot.  I also got to meet Eda from Eda Marbury's Climb To The Top.  We are besties now as we lapped dance each other in class.  Sunday night, Robert, Janette and I essentially ended our trip the best way we could -- front row for Thunder From Down Under.  It was a super fun show, but it was almost more entertaining to watch these ladies lose their shit for a little man meat.  I think I liked it because they didn't get down to banana hammocks during every performance.  I like to leave a little to the imagination. 

I flew home Monday to the post-Expo blues.  I'm still recovering from that.  There are so many people I didn't get to see (what, Nadia, how did that happen?!).  But I am looking forward to next year already!  Thank you to everyone I did see -- you helped contribute to a really fun trip!

Having make-up done for the underwater shoot

My Artista Activewear outfit for the underwater shoot

 

Dinner with my partners in crime and my polly pocket!

Steve Gale at the Pole Classic

My pirate outfit for the photoshoot with Somer

NCPP 2016 Wrap-Up

The third annual Northern California Pole Presentational is in the books.  We did it!

In year one, we worried.  We planned but we worried.  Would everyone want to participate in another pole event?  Turns out, we had nothing to worry about. 

In year two, we knew we were fine.  This wasn't our first rodeo.  We knew what to expect, and we had another amazing year.  I even got to watch a good portion of the show!

Year three finally provided us with a challenge.  It wasn't anything we couldn't handle.  Shirts bearing our awesome brand new logo came in two days before show time with damage.  Damn.  No problem -- discounted shirts for everyone!  New staff at the venue (who did a great job but sometimes when I'm stressed out, I forget people can't read my mind).  A checkerboard floor at the venue only the day before the show -- very cool if you planned your outfit around it, but not if you were wearing black and white yourself.  Parking issues.  Injuries.  But we did it.  A fantastic year and another group of awesome pole dancers successfully crossing our stage!

Ellen and I were discussing how we both really have no idea what the other person does.  We literally could not run this show without the other person.  We have a very easy working relationship.  We rarely disagree and it makes me extremely happy to have someone I can depend on working on this show with me. 

I don't have much to say other than thank you.  Thank you to the dancers, who make this event possible.  There would be no reason to do this if you were not hungry for an event such as ours.  THANK YOU to Chobi!  Seriously!  He travels from Los Angeles and rigs our poles to keep our dancers safe.  He keeps an eye on everyone during the event.  He has a sharp eye, will not hesitate to act as security when necessary, and offers hugs when he knows they are needed.  We could not do this without Chobi.  Thank you to our vendors who come out to support us and haul their wares to sell.  Thank you to our sponsors for supporting us and keeping this show affordable for their students.  Thank you to our volunteers for helping us out all day.  Thank you to Robert for always letting us borrow his stage poles for the warm-up area -- and for basically being our assistant all day last Saturday.  Thank you to Janet and Ginger for keeping the backstage in order and our dancers in line.  Thank you to Kai, Miles and Tiffers for standing in the back of the theater for the entire day taking photos and video.  Thank you to our lovely judges, who travel and give up their day to give feedback to our performers.  Thank you to Amy Bond for trusting me with her idea and letting me run with it.  Thank you to Rita for always helping with our interwebs questions.  Thank you to our audience for supporting local arts.  Thank you to Jonathan, our stage and sound person from the venue, who did that event on two hours of sleep.  Also, thank you to everyone who came out and celebrated my birthday after the event.  As I suspected might happen, after waking up at 4:30 AM and being on my feet all day, the party didn't get all that wild.  We ate dinner at a jazz bar, which had children present, so no lap dances were in the cards that evening.  I was also ready for bed at 8:30 PM.  Sometimes, it is the thought that counts, and I do hope downtown San Jose enjoyed the ass signing that I received in the middle of the sidewalk.  Finally, thank you to my pole mama, Bel, for introducing me to this beautiful world.  Unfortunately, I am sure I have forgotten someone (which is generally why I hate mass thank-you's, but please know that I appreciate everyone who touched this show). 

I am looking forward to year four, and I hope you are too!  (P.S.  If you missed out on one of the new shirts and you would like one, please send me a message.  We can ship!)

The Third Annual Northern California Pole Presentational

We are four days away from the THIRD annual Northern California Pole Presentational.  The third!  If you had asked me four years ago, after Amy brought this idea to me, whether we would still be doing this today, I don't know what I would have said.  (I feel like my wrap-up from 2014 actually still embodies how I feel about the whole experience.  You can read that HERE.) 

I don't need to sell NCPP to you.  If you are reading this, you probably already know what it is and you are either dancing, volunteering or planning to attend.  For that, I thank you.  This show has completely taken on a life of its own.   Every year, we grow -- all thanks to the Northern California dancers who come out to support local dance (and shout out this year to those coming from Florida, Los Angeles and Las Vegas -- we love you too!).  We do very little marketing or promotion because we have a full theater every year. 

When I started this blog, I called myself the self-proclaimed Northern California pole dance ambassador.  I get that businesses are supposed to compete with each other, but I wanted the pole industry to be different.  Pole studios are not cheap or easy to run, so there is no danger of one popping up on every corner.  Therefore, studios in the Bay Area are free to band together and support each other (I am extremely happy that there is now a monthly instructor jam hosted by different studios).  I appreciate that most studio owners are supportive of this business model. 

I have been pole dancing for almost seven years.  I did take a fairly long break last year after getting my new job, but I am ecstatic to be back.  I don't consider myself a super "artsy" type but I love using dance to let out my emotions.  I am so insanely proud of this show and all of the dancers who are performing.  It takes a lot of guts to get up on stage and bare your soul to the world. 

I am also eternally grateful for Ellen.  This show wouldn't have happened without her.  It is rare to find someone you can work this closely with and still like as a friend at the end of the day.  I feel like we have a pretty amazing partnership. 

Sorry for getting all sappy on everyone, but planning for this show begins a year in advance and we spend the months leading up to the show giving up evenings and weekends to make sure everything is planned perfectly.  I am looking forward to Saturday and cannot wait to see what you dancers are bringing this year!

Don't have your tickets yet?  Don't pay more at the door!  Tickets on show day -- if we haven't sold out -- will be $40 CASH ONLY.  So, do yourself a favor and pick up your tickets beforehand:  http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2567041

Also -- FINALLY -- this year we will have shirts.  And if you are a Pat the Bear hater, we have a new design thanks to Seanmichael.  Bring your dolla dolla bills y'all.  There will be plenty of great shopping in the lobby and courtyard! 

See you on Saturday! 

The 7th Annual Lovely Rita Fundraiser

Well, we did it again.  Twirly Girls Pole Fitness hosted the 7th Annual Lovely Rita Fundraiser to benefit the National Kidney Foundation.  Our very own Rita has had three kidney transplants and Bel has hosted this event every year to help support Rita and to fund research to help people have healthy kidneys.

I performed a routine choreographed by Pole Dance Reunion with Jade, Alana and Katie.  These ladies are another reminder of the importance of sisterhood.  We had a great time getting together to practice and actually have our next two routines sketched out.

Each year, we have an issue in the studio at this event.  The toilet has flooded.  The AC has gone out.  The stereo has broken.  This year, it was the lights.  They kept going into strobe mode.  After two false starts, we finally got the green light, no pun intended.  Although it certainly wasn't my strongest performance of this routine, I am still mostly happy with how it turned out.

If you would like to donate, please visit this link: http://donate.kidney.org/site/TR/Walk/NKFServingtheWest?px=1559560&pg=personal&fr_id=8163

And to watch our video, please do so below:



Be happy you can pee!  If you've had any kidney experiences you'd like to share, please do so below!

Poletry in Motion: Phoenix Aerial Art & Pole

 Recently, I attended a showcase at Phoenix Aerial Art & Pole in Berkeley.  Phoenix recently changed ownership, and I was eager to come out support Kirstin in her new endeavor.  I can't believe this was my first visit!  

The studio is beautiful, but what I loved most about the showcase is that this is a family, just like Twirly Girls!  A studio recently opened down the street from my office (Hello Spin Sity!!).  My co-worker asked why I wouldn't be attending regular classes.  He asked if it was about competition.  I said, no, not really.  The studios in the Bay Area are pretty good about supporting each other, are far enough apart to not really have to compete, and I adore the ladies at Spin Sity, however, Twirly Girls is my family.  While I certainly hope to attend some open pole or occasional classes at Spin, I certainly look forward to going home to Twirly Girls for my regular classes each week.  That isn't because the ladies (and potential gents) at Spin Sity aren't awesome -- it just means I love my family.  Phoenix is my extended family and I was extremely happy to support their show and see that they are just like us -- they love and support each other and provide a safe place for these dancers to express themselves and feel beautiful.

I uploaded a bunch of videos to my personal Facebook page but wanted to share these three with you.  The sex appeal is through the roof.  It makes me want to work harder to feel comfortable in my own skin so that I can move with the fluidity that can only come with confidence like this.  These ladies are sexy AF.  Sexy has never been my thing.  I feel silly and I usually laugh, make jokes and ruin the moment.  I bow down and hope to learn something from each of them.  Please enjoy and if you have any messages of support for Kirstin and Phoenix, share them below!

Sexy mamas at Phoenix Aerial Art and Pole
Posted by Confessions of a Twirly Girl on Monday, February 8, 2016

More sexy from Phoenix
Posted by Confessions of a Twirly Girl on Monday, February 8, 2016

So much sexy
Posted by Confessions of a Twirly Girl on Monday, February 8, 2016