We had a pool day… well I did… those crazy girls took a shuttle from the airport, which they eventually abandoned for a taxi when they realized it might take them ALL DAY to reach our hotel! ha ha.  That’s okay… they are all a wee bit pale, so they were mostly into being slathered in 50 spf while sitting in the shade anyway! We all agreed it was so nice to be somewhere warm and sunny, sipping cocktails by the pool before our big night out.

We had dinner then went to check out Felix Cane in Zumanity… which was a total bummer… cause she wasn’t in it!   Sad we were.  The show was okay.  I think we gave it a 5 on a scale of 1-10.  Mostly because we really wanted to see a Cirque show, which it is… and isn’t.  It’s kind of  Cirque combined with Cabaret. There was a lot of audience participation (none of us… Thank God!) and most of the show seemed to be about making people feel uncomfortable or embarrassed through sexual content.  We just really wanted to see amazing dancing, acrobatics, and costumes. So, I’d say we were glad we went, we all had fun, but I don’t think any of us would see it again.  There were a couple of really great dancers, but because it was supposed to be all sensual and stuff they didn’t have much on in the way of costumes! ha ha.

We  rode the New York New York roller coaster before the show, which was a BLAST!  Kyla was  a bit nervous, so I think I had the most fun, because I got to sit by her.  I was laughing uncontrollably like a lunatic.  Roller Coasters are so much fun!

Then we were back in the room, for an early night so we would be fresh for our Pole Fitness Workshops the next day. It was a little hard to fall asleep with the wedding party reception going on outside our room, but it is VEGAS, Baby.  You can’t really complain when people are partying at 11pm.

The next day we had our classes with Jamilla De Ville at Fawnia’s new Pole Fitness Studio.  Jamilla is such a sweetheart, it’s always fun for me to see her and learn from her.  I really love her! We were pretty lazy… well, I guess I should speak for myself.  It was 80 degrees and I REALLY wanted to be sitting by the pool like I did the day before!  ( I am SO OVER THE SNOW in Tahoe!)   I did learn some great tips for teaching my classes.  In my opinion, Jamilla is the best instructor at really breaking down a move so you can understand it.  And that is really helpful to me as an instructor.  Because sometimes, when the moves come pretty easy for you it’s not as easy to understand why someone else can’t do them.  I had lots of questions for Jamilla, and she gave me all the answers I needed so I was happy.  I didn’t come away with a brand new trick I didn’t already know, but I did come away with some valuable information.  And I wasn’t sore at all the next day!  That’s a first!

Kyla had the camera we used, and she just moved, so once she’s settled and sends me the photos I will post them!

XOXO,

Cindy

This video got the music removed on YouTube so I’m posting it here with the music, since the routine was made to accompany the song. I get the copyright thing, don’t get me wrong, I am married to a musician after all. But, I must say I think in these cases the record company’s are doing themselves a disservice.  I can’t tell you how much music I’ve purchased BECAUSE I saw someone do a cool routine to it and thought it would be a great song to add to my pole dancing music list.  But whatever… there’s my rant.

Hi Everyone!

Here’s another clip from Vertical Pole Challenge.  I was honored to be invited back to judge two more episodes of the show taped in February.  They also showed us one of the completed shows and I have to say they’ve done a fabulous job!!  It is a very positive representation of Pole Fitness. I’m thrilled to get to be a part of it.

In the video I’m waving like a wild thing as I exit the limo… I couldn’t stop laughing at the (ahem) subtleness of the BLINDING LIME GREEN-NESS of it.  Notice Robert Gossett got the more refined black limo!

The whole experience was just a ton of fun!  There were some amazing performers.  It’s so exciting and inspiring for me to see what other studios and dancers are doing on the pole.   I came back and told my advanced class, “Okay, Ladies, it’s time to up our game!  Handsprings and Superman Drops are the order of the day!”  So we’ve started training and my class is doing AWESOME!

Thanks Vertical Pole Challenge!

If you’d like to attend a live taping of the show you can do so next month on April 24th. Go to Vertical Pole Challenge and get your tickets now!

XOXO,

Cindy

Greetings!

Okay, I kept this quiet because I was pretty nervous about it, but on December 5th I got to be one of three judges for the Vertical Pole Challenge reality tv show held in Las Vegas.  Two episodes were taped that day.  This clip is from the second one and I have to say the Pole Dancers were UNBELIEVABLE!!  SOOO talented.  Really amazing!  You have to tune into the show when it airs and check it out. They really inspired me to “up my game” on the pole. I really want Zoraya’s abs.  Holy Cow!

Hi Everybody!

Wow…  I really am terrible about posting regularly.  I do apologize!

LAST month… Kyla, one of my students, and I went to Las Vegas so she could compete in the new reality Pole Dancing tv show Verical Pole Challenge!  She did GREAT! (She’s in the sparkly red outfit!) I was so proud of her. Come on!  You knew it was only a matter of time before there would be a reality show based on Pole Dancing!  They really seem to be committed to doing a great show.  Keeping it non-sleazy and positive. I must say I was a wee bit skeptical before going to Vegas.  As a Pole Dance Instructor, I must say  it is very exciting to see something coming together to help promote Pole Fitness!!

We took some friends for moral support and made a weekend out of it.  After the competition, we went to the Britney Spears concert.  That was a trip for me, I must say.  It was really odd to be at a show that was all about the show–not the songs.  Being married to a musician that actually sings live has made me think everyone else does that too.  So it was a bit weird to see Britney not singing. Although, I must say there was plenty to watch and the audience didn’t seem to mind one bit! I think they played 3 songs without her even on stage… just showing videos on amazing projection screens. Unbelievable.  If David did that he wouldn’t ever need a day off when he’s on tour!

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Sarah Cretul

Hello!  I forgot to post this… Guess things got busy with David going on tour!  Anyway, I was lucky enough to take a workshop with Sarah Cretul in the Bay Area on May 10th.  Sarah was in the US Pole Competition and won the Miss Trixter award.  She’s really amazing.  She does crazy tricks and REALLY fast spins!  She’s also like Jenyne in the way she makes things look effortless.  She looks like she’s lighter than air when she’s up on the pole.

I learned some new moves, got to see my good friend Michula (Antix Fitness), and got to play on 20 foot high poles at Polentential–Very nice!

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Sarah has the pink and white tie die top on in the video… and dark hair.

Unfortunately, I didn’t get many photos…  And once again, I look like a total AMAZON next to these tiny little dancers! Eeek!

Wow!  Back from Las Vegas where I once again got to take some classes from the amazing Jamilla Deville of Australia! She spent a week teaching classes hosted by Fawnia at her Pole Fitness Studio.  It was so much fun!  The classes I took were pretty much filled with other Pole Dancing Instructors so I got to meet instructors from Mexico City, San Diego, LA, Iowa and Dallas. It’s so nice to be able to spend a few days with other women who have the same passion for Pole Dancing as I do!  Last year I met Trina, the owner of Heart and Pole in LA and she was there this year as well, so it was great to see her again.

We worked hard, laughed a lot and got to know each other a little bit when we all went to lunch after the final class — The Advanced Intensive Workshop.  Woooo Hoooo!  I can’t wait till next year!

Most exciting… I learned a new move!  Shoulder mount into Pencil.  Yeah, Baby! Thanks, Jamilla! Oh wait I learned TWO new moves… The other was Splits on the Pole. I also got some great ideas of new combinations of moves I hadn’t thought of…  Extended Butterfly into Pyramid… LOVE IT!  Thanks again, Jamilla.  Aaaaand Trina, a true choreographer at heart, showed me some variations of tricks to do from Jasmine.  Awesome!  Thanks, Trina!  I can’t wait to meet up with you in LA. I love learning from my peers!

Jezabel (Mexico City) and I had a fun laughing at how much taller we are than everyone else.  We kind of ran out of pole when we were doing the splits on the pole. It looked more like we were standing on the floor. Ha Ha.  Not quite the same effect as when the smaller ones do it.  It was so nice to have someone else that isn’t teeny tiny to hang out with! I swear most of the great Pole Dancers are about 5 feet tall.  They have those perfect little muscular gymnast bodies.  Being 5′8″ I feel HUGE next to them!

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Greetings, I just returned from Las Vegas where I completed my Level 5 Instructor Certification with Fawnia Deitrich.   It’s always great to see Fawnia and learn from her. Luckily for me the certification was pretty much stress free.  I already knew most of the moves, which was nice, but I did pick up a few new moves (the Pyramid and Shoot the V) along with some great Pole Warm Up moves.  I get so inspired learning, and sharing, with other instructors.  I’m really looking forward to returning for Jamilla’s workshops next month!

I also got to spend a lot of time with my friend Val. We talked, had dinner, talked some more, went to breakfast and talked, hiked at Red Rock Canyon, talked some more. The “real” hikers thought we looked pretty funny hiking in our dresses and sandals but what can I say.  It was a spontaneous decision.  We weren’t necessarly prepared, but we had fun.  We were so busy chatting we never even thought about it until people started making comments to us. I wish I had a photo of us!  I think we both are close to having lost our voices! It was a great trip.  Viva Las Vegas!

Alethea, Sarah & Jenyne Congratulations!!

Hi Everybody!  I just got back from New York where I attended the US Pole Dancing Championship. It was amazing! The dancers were incredible!  Photos were not allowed, during the event so I don’t have any great ones to share, but you can check out uspoledance.com  as they have them posted on their site.

I had two friends dancing in the show.  Jenyne and Michula. Jenyne took first place!  YAE!  She will go to Australia in September to compete in the World Pole Dancing Championship.

Unfortunately, Michula got injured (ouch) the night before the competition and was unable to compete.  It was so sad to see her watching the show with her arm in a cast. What a disappointment.

The organizers of the event, Wendy and Anna from New York Pole Dancing, did a fabulous job.  It was held in the Bleeker Street Theatre in Soho. I look forward to the next one!

Waiting for the doors to open.

The line outside.

US Pole Dance Championship 2009

Miss USPDF 2009:Jenyne Butterfly

Miss Trixter: Sarah Cretul

Inside the theatre

Miss Sexy: Alethea Austin

Here are some links to articles written about the event:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/extramustard/03/16/pole-dance-championship/index.html

http://gothamist.com/2009/03/16/vegas_woman_wins_miss_us_pole_dance.php

http://www3.timeoutny.com/newyork/tonyblog/2009/03/hot-recap-us-pole-dance-championship-’09/#more-14326