Hi, everyone! If you’ve ever wondered how I’ve managed to stay motivated as a dancer for the past eight years, you’re in luck because I am going to share with you tips that can inspire your exotic dance journey.
As exotic dance is not an easy feat or skill to pick up, specifically pole dancing, it’s understandable if you decide to give up during the early stages. As for those who have been doing it a while, I’m sure there are days when you hit a plateau and feel demotivated.
In either case, it’s perfectly normal for you to feel this way so here are some recommended tips to help you stay on track.
Keep a folder of all the visuals that inspire you to perform a move. If it’s a video, break the movement down by watching it at a reduced speed in order to make detailed observations on arm and leg movements, spine position etc. ─ is it arched, is the tailbone tucked in, should the neck be arched or just neutral? This collection would also include a compilation of all the songs you would like to train or dance to. Personally, I look for inspiration by incorporating yoginis or ballerinas into my dancing.
Make it a point to come for training with two or three attempted moves. You may not be able to perform them successfully on the day itself, but every failed attempt reveals mistakes that you can avoid. Learning what is wrong is part of the process of getting it right.
Stay focused during your training (which is easier said than done!). I often get distracted by messages on my phone. Except for recording purposes or playing music, learn to leave your phone aside. All that you need is an hour of training per session so make it count. Attend your training fully prepared with notes on how to break down the moves.
Record your training sessions in order to dissect them later. I recommend watching your attempted moves and simultaneously comparing them to your instructor’s video as a point of reference. I replay mine repeatedly and obsess over minute details, such as feet or finger placement, the angle I used to grip the pole etc., in order to see how it could have been done better because minor iterations can make or break a move, or be the reason why it doesn’t mirror the one performed by your instructor.
Celebrate milestones at any level. I would recommend hiring a professional photographer to take pictures of every successful move you perform regardless of what stage you are at. When I started dancing again after my pregnancy, looking back at all the advanced moves I used to do helped me train harder because I knew what my body was capable of achieving.
Get proper rest. It is as crucial as training diligently. Always make it a point to take, at least, a day off, or train every other day to avoid burning yourself out or feeling demotivated from your inability to perform a move despite repeated attempts. Similarly, interchange your sessions on certain days with ‘off-the pole’ conditioning, such as planks, splits, backbends etc., which strengthen your body upon returning to pole training.
Know your limits and listen to your body. It’s okay if you’re unable to perform a move successfully today or even tomorrow ─ I like to put them in a ‘brown bag’ for future attempts ─ because it just means that your body has not reached the required level of flexibility, or you could be having a low-energy day. It happens to all instructors and professional dancers, so know when to call it a day, especially, to avoid injuries. Understand that some moves require weeks and months to execute, depending on how much conditioning ─ provided it’s the right conditioning ─ you are doing.
Dress in outfits that make you feel good and look good! Do your make up if that inspires you to dance or train! When I teach and train, I like to wear my prettiest shoes; I don’t just keep them for performances. When you feel good subconsciously, you’ll be able to tackle the pole with a lot more confidence! ─ The Vibes, 17 February, 2021
If you are interested to give pole dancing or other forms of exotic dance a go, check out my Instagram account: @stardust_poledancer, or email [email protected] and quote *StardustxVibes* for a trial class at a special rate
.jpg)
