Nourish your Creativity & Let your Freestyle Flow
By Dani Atkins

Do you find your students becoming stuck? Feeling unchallenged creatively? Do your students find
freestyling a challenge? It can be tough to keep things fresh for both instructors and students.
As an instructor you might find your cup of creativity feeling a little light due to constantly trying to keep things new in interesting for your students. Constantly creating lesson plans and full choreographies can be taxing especially if you are trying to keep up with the latest social media trends to flood your students’ minds.

As a student, one can start to find class becoming stale and start to lose interest but what students need to understand, repetition builds skill. The best way to master a move is thru repetition; practice makes progress and progress isn’t linear. When asking fellow dancers why they think free styling is important here’s what they had to say.

“The ultimate goal of a dancer is to take all of it and be able to speak through movement. Expressing
ourselves, feelings and thoughts through movement rather than words is kind of like fully body sign
language. Once you learn the language of movement you can speak if more fluently”

– Sandra @twist_of_fatefitness

“Free styling allows you to come up with something creative without the pressure of nailing a set combo or choreography”

– Ashley @polejciak

“If we aren’t willing to experiment with how our bodies like to move, we will never develop our own
aesthetic and flow. Free styling can be messy but empowering for finding your unique style. While keeping structure in mind, it is important to nourish the creative spark inside each dancer. Free styling can help a dancer tap into their sensual and uncontrolled side, just waiting to be unlocked. Unstructured movement can help a dancer learn to allow their bodies to follow their natural pathways. Free flow dancing can lead to discovering moves or sequences that you might not have discovered or thought of before when following a structured plan. The pressure of hitting a certain count or mark can be a lot and free styling removes those pressures which could be causing fear in the mind for your students. I don’t want to just dance like my coaches, I want to dance how my body feels best. Freestyle allows you to live in your own moment rather than be a copy of another.”

– Krissy @strykeabows

Free styling can be interactive with partners, an entire group or be a solo activity.

Here are Six methods to help stimulate freestyle movement within your classes

Magic Mirror

Partner Activity; This can be done free standing or using poles.
Partner up your students and select a song. Partners must maintain eye contact with each other as they dance. Partners will take turns leading while the other follows and the pathways will continue to form, alternating who leads and follows.

Build-a-combo

Group activity; This can be done as a floor class or as a pole class. The instructor will start the class off with a move or sequence. Then each member will contribute a select move one by one.
If need be the instructor will break down the suggested move but also provide a regression for those
students who might need one. Once a combo has been created have the class experiment with their tempo by speeding up their movement as well as slowing down and not rushing things by milk each movement.

Don’t Let Go

Prolonged Contact; Solo Activity.
Have your students focus on keeping a specific body part connected with the pole or floor at all times. For example, where will your movement take you if you must keep your leg connected the entire time or were unable to remove one hand the whole time you dance. Students will find themselves in new pathways, some may even find themself stuck and having that challenge of discovering how they might escape. Example; You must keep one foot connected to the floor at all times. Create new windows to thread your body thru and find new ways to transition from move to move.

Ice-olated Incident

Focused Movement; Solo Activity; Can be done free standing or using poles. Focusing on a
certain movement can help a student understand the mechanics that make a movement work.
It can help a dancer feel more connected with the moves. Instruct your students to focus their
movements on a specific body part. Let all action stem from that body part, let it led the way.
For example, the focused move is Rolls- body rolls, head rolls, shoulder rolls etc. Let the rolling action lead your body and follow it thru. How will your movement develop when you don’t cut your pathway short?

Blackout

Solo activity: Can be done as a floor or pole exercise. Everyone is blind folded taking away their
sense of sight while increasing their sense of touch. Students must literally FEEL their movements happening. This will take a little bit more trust on their part as they can’t see themselves in the mirror and must rely on instinct. Instead of seeing, what you should do, students are able to feel how their bodies are connecting. There  is no pressure you having anyone watching you or you watching others.

Emotional Rollercoaster

Solo or group, Floor or Pole; Instruct your students to portray an emotion or action thru their
dancing. Can you be fluid like the water flowing between the rocks? Embody the cold harsh winds of the mountains. Dance to the feeling of sadness or admiration. What happens when you dance the same movements but with two different emotions, how some movements will soften while others will become harsh. When you put emotion behind your movements you give life to your dancing. This allows your students to personalize their movements and truly make things their own.
You can aid your students by song choice, music can play an important part in free styling.

“I like the mind/body connection and the ability to express and interpret the music.”

– Elaine, @eli_try

During the final dance students should be adding their own spice or magic. You have given them the
movements, now it is the time to make them their own. Encourage your students to personalize their movements by add their unique style. I always tell my students as long as you are using proper grip, technique and or stance that everything else is subjective. Dance is ultimately about experimenting with different styles and finding how your body likes to naturally express flow.

Strippers are Workers (SAW) is a dancer-led organization that fights to raise Washington strip club industry standards and create a dancer focused community. WA dancers are facing a predatory business model that strips workers of rights and fair pay, and dancers deserve to work equitably, safely, and sustainably.

After successfully passing basic industry safety and security measures in a 2019 bill HB 1756, SAW is now introducing their Strippers’ Bill of Rights bill in the 2024 legislative session. Through building consensus with hundreds of dancers across the state, they developed a policy that will make massive changes to their industry and establish basic workers’ rights and protections. 

The 2024 bill includes minimum club security staffing, decriminalizing a dancers’ standard night of work, mandatory club employee training, anti-discrimination protections, and a cap on what fees clubs can charge dancers while also eliminating the practice of indebting dancers to clubs. The bill will also end the alcohol prohibition in WA strip clubs, which means that dancers won’t be clubs’ only source of profit, and the increased funds will go towards better protections for dancers. 

The strip club industry is already an industry that lacks workers’ rights, and WA is a notoriously difficult and slow place to dance. SAW’s bill will create a sustainable business model for clubs, generate a healthier customer base, and revolutionize dancer rights!

To support its organizing efforts, SAW throws Pole Showcase Fundraisers to raise community awareness, get dancers paid, and fund its organizational needs. With the support of X-Pole and their donation of a X-Stage Lite, these fundraisers were made possible- leading to raising thousands of dollars for the org., thousands more in tips for dancers, and the spread of community support for dancers’ rights.

SAW needs continued support to pass its Strippers’ Bill of Rights in January 2024. Click here to purchase tickets for the next Seattle fundraiser on November 29th. Visit strippersareworkers.org to learn more about their organizing and how to support WA dancers!

Pole dancing is not only a great way to tone your muscles, but it also has many other benefits that you might not have thought of. This article will explore the benefits of pole dancing and why you should consider purchasing a pole dance pole for your home.

Full-Body Workout

One of the most significant benefits of pole dancing is that it is a full-body workout. Pole dancing requires using almost all your muscles, including your arms, shoulders, back, core, and legs. It is a great way to tone your body and build lean muscle. Unlike traditional gym workouts that can get boring and repetitive after a while, pole dancing is a creative way to increase your heart rate and burn calories.

Improved Flexibility

Pole dancing also helps to improve your flexibility. Many pole dancing moves require stretching your body and holding positions that you might not typically do daily. Over time, this can help to increase your flexibility and range of motion. Improved flexibility can also help to reduce the risk of injury, especially if you participate in other physical activities.

Get fit while having fun

One of the most appealing aspects of pole dancing is that it doesn’t feel like exercise. Pole dancing is a dynamic and engaging, challenging and entertaining activity. Pole dancing requires strength, flexibility, and endurance, so you can get a full-body workout without realizing it. As you progress in your pole dancing journey, you will see improvements in your overall fitness and strength without feeling like you are forcing yourself to work out.

Boost your confidence

Another great benefit of pole dancing is that it can help boost your confidence and self-esteem. Pole dancing requires vulnerability and trust in yourself, which can be empowering and liberating. As you learn new moves and progress in your pole dancing abilities, you will feel a sense of accomplishment and pride that can translate into other areas of your life.

Stress relief

Exercise is a natural stress reliever, and pole dancing is no exception. It can help to reduce stress levels, boost your mood, and improve overall mental health. Pole dancing allows you to focus on the present moment, which can help to calm the mind and reduce anxiety.

Community

Pole dancing classes provide a supportive and encouraging community of like-minded individuals. You’ll find that the community is very welcoming and supportive, which can help to make your pole dancing experience even more enjoyable. It’s a great way to meet new people and make friends while achieving your fitness goals.

To sum it all up, pole dancing is an excellent way to stay fit, healthy, and empowered. It offers a full-body workout, improves flexibility, boosts confidence, promotes cardiovascular health, relieves stress, and provides a supportive community. Whether you’re looking for a new workout routine or want to try something new, pole dancing is a great activity to consider.

Pole dancing is a fantastic exercise and creative outlet, providing numerous physical and mental benefits. However, like any exercise or endeavor, it is possible to experience burnout if you don’t take care of your body and mind.

Here are five ways to avoid pole dance burnout and keep your practice fresh and enjoyable.

Take Rest Days

Rest is crucial for any type of physical activity, including pole dancing. Overworking your body can lead to fatigue, injuries, and burnout—schedule rest days into your pole dance practice to give your body and mind a chance to recover. You can use this time to focus on stretching, foam rolling, or any other form of self-care that helps you feel refreshed and rejuvenated.

Vary Your Routine

Repeating the same pole dance routine can quickly become monotonous and lead to burnout. To keep things interesting, try switching up your repertoire by adding new moves you’ve learned in class or choreographing to a different musical genre from your usual selection. You can also experiment with different styles of pole dance to keep your practice fresh and get new inspiration.

Set Realistic Goals

Setting goals is a great way to stay motivated and focused. Still, it’s essential to make sure they are realistic and achievable. Suppose you set goals that are too challenging or unrealistic. In that case, you may become discouraged and lose interest in pole dancing altogether. Start with small goals and work your way up as you improve.

Find a Supportive Community

Joining a pole dance community can be a great way to stay motivated and avoid burnout. You can find a community through social media groups, local pole dance studios, or online forums. Surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals who share your passion for pole dancing can help keep you inspired and motivated.

Take Time for Self-Care

Pole dancing can be a demanding and physically challenging activity, so taking time for self-care is essential. This can include anything from taking a relaxing bath to getting a massage. Whatever helps you feel refreshed and rejuvenated, prioritize self-care as part of your pole dance routine.

Pole dance burnout can be avoided by caring for your body and mind, varying your routine, setting realistic goals, finding a supportive community, and prioritizing self-care. These tips can keep your pole dance practice fresh and enjoyable for years.

The core goals of the Development Team are to:

• Nurture and stimulate the career development of new talent
• Track and highlight upcoming athletes for their skills, acumen and delivery
• Advise and mentor athletes to help them achieve career satisfaction
• Deliver the finest set of athletes that this world has seen

We have now launched our 4th generation XPERT poles with X-Lock technology.
What is the difference between the XPERT NX  and XPERT Pro PX poles?
Watch the video to understand the improvements and learn more.

We even had owner of Pole & Performing Art Myss Angie, the organization that creates variety shows, the Minnesota pole Competitions, the Land of Lakes Pole Dance Festival, and more events around the Twin Cities review our new XPERT Pro.

We have now launched our 4th generation XPERT poles with X-Lock technology.
What is the difference between the XPERT NX  and XPERT Pro PX poles?
Watch the video to understand the improvements and learn more.

We even had owner of Pole & Performing Art Myss Angie, the organization that creates variety shows, the Minnesota pole Competitions, the Land of Lakes Pole Dance Festival, and more events around the Twin Cities review our new XPERT Pro.

The Lake Pole Camp will be held in the magical setting of Lake Atitlan, Guatemala, one of the most beautiful lakes in the world which is surrounded by 3 enchanting extinct volcanoes.  We have 2 attendance options available for this year, from the 6th -13th of April, and from the 6th -13th of July.

There are a limited number of spots available for July and that April has fully sold out.   The Lake Pole Camp is proud to have some of the most respected names in Pole Dance in attendance as instructors for our camp, namely Marion Crampe, Natasha Wang, Gaby Borrayo, Natalia Tatarintseva and Phoenix Kazree. These 5 superstars of Pole Dance will give workshops catering for all levels.

For more information please visit: https://www.yourpolecamp.com

X-POLE USA will be showcasing some of the world’s top class athletes at this year’s Strongman Qualifiers for the 2019 event.  Including 6 x Arnold & 4 x Ms.Olympia winner Oksana Grishina accompanied by OG Pole Fitness & PCS winners.

ARNOLD STRONGMAN USA
The Arnold Pro Strongman USA will be held on Saturday, January 19 on the Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles, California.

The Arnold Pro Strongman USA is a qualifier for the Arnold Pro Strongman World Championship to be held March 2-3, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will host the event and a portion of the proceeds will benefit California Firefighters. Special Guests include 2018 Arnold Classic Strongman champion Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson and two-time Arnold Strongman Classic champ Brian Shaw.

BUY TICKETS NOW

STRONGMEN
The Arnold Pro Strongman USA will feature up to 10 of the world’s greatest Strongman competitors, including:

* Matjaz Belsak (Slovenia) – 2017 Arnold Pro Strongman Europe Champion
* Brian Clark (USA)
* Jean-Francois Caron (Canada) – 2018 Arnold Pro Strongman Africa Champion
* Rauno Heinla (Estonia) – 2018 Arnold Pro Strongman Australia Champion
* Jitse Kramer (Holland) – 2018 Arnold Pro Strongman Africa Runner-Up
* Martins Licics (USA) – 2018 Arnold Pro Strongman Europe Champion
* Jimmy Paquet (Canada) – 2016 Canada’s Strongest Man Runner-Up
* Jerry Pritchett (USA) – 2017 America’s Strongest Man
* Mateusz Kieliszkowski (Poland) – 2017 Arnold Pro Strongman Africa Champion
* Mateusz Ostaszewski (Poland) – 2017 Arnold Amateur World Champion

FEATS OF STRENGTH
The Arnold Pro Strongman USA will be contested over five events:

* Log Press For Reps (385 pounds)
* Last Man Standing Deadlift (Opening at 700 pounds)
* ROGUE Sandbag Carry (400 pounds)
* Atlas Stone To Shoulder For Reps (400 pounds)
* Antique Fire Truck Pull

The winner of Arnold Strongman USA will qualify for the Arnold Pro Strongman World Championship. In addition, the top two in Arnold Pro Strongman World Series Qualifying Points will also qualify to compete in Columbus.

Heading into Arnold Strongman USA, Mateusz Kieliszkowski, Jerry Pritchett and Matjaz Belsak are tied for first in points with 25.

Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson of Iceland is the defending Arnold Pro Strongman World Series Champion.

The Arnold Pro Strongman World Series features qualifying contests at Arnold Classic multi-sport festivals in Australia, South America, Africa and Europe. Additional qualifying events will be held at Festival Hommes Forts Warwick Warwick, Quebec, Canada with winners advancing to compete at the 2019 Arnold Pro Strongman World Championship at the 2019 Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, Ohio.