dancing queen
happy dancer
As a child the graceful performers on TV were fascinating to watch; iceskaters, gymnasts, ballroom dancers and athletes all floating their limbs in seeming impossible yet perfectly controlled movements. I always thought to myself “I would love to be able to do that.”
I took up pole dancing in 2007 to have access to this exciting world of performance, and nothing else has ever empowered me so much or made me so strong. I used to be the non-athletic girl who couldn’t run or hit a ball; now I have incredible muscle definition and can do gravity-defying things like hanging upside down on a pole.
I am an advanced student at Bobbi’s pole studio in Sydney. It took me about 3 years to get to advanced (I almost gave up after beginners because it was so hard!). In each term we learn some pole tricks and a new dance routine. We also work on muscle strength and flexibility, like doing the splits.
In week 8 we are given the option of performing our routine for family and friends. It sounds daunting but I love the idea of showcasing what I have been working on. This year I also competed in two amateur pole dancing competitions (one at the Pier Hotel in Botany and one at Mona Vale) and it gives me the challenge of choreographing my own routine to a song of my choice. In my first competition I chose Hot and Cold by Katy Perry.
My teachers are incredibly beautiful, smart, friendly and very funny. They always make me feel comfortable about learning new moves and support Bobbi’s vision of making the studio a “fun, supportive and unpretentious place to learn”.
Bobbi’s will be opening a new studio in Elizabeth St in August; I can’t wait to see what it looks like. There also studios in Perth and Miranda (NSW), and new studios have recently opened in Singapore and Malaysia.
Enjoy.