Shame on you (a short blog)

Whilst browsing the Internet for the latest info on the Life Centre I stumbled across a website called Shame on you, it seems I am not the only one who is not a big fan of the proposed Life Centre! The shame on you site must be fairly new as there are only a few articles posted but they make a very interesting read especially the 'Shame on the Netherlands' post!

Unfortunately the site seems aimed at Plymouth citizens only but I see no reason why those of you who are not Plymothian can't use the site and get some issues of your chest?

Onto news from my husbands gym: Saints Gym, Taurus Kickboxing and Saints Thaiboxing (Plymouth University Club) fighters and students have raised £500 for local charity Ellie's Haven. The money was raised via 12 hour sparathon at Mutley based Saints, well done to all of those who took part and all of those who sponsored the event. Ellie's haven aim to build a non medical holiday haven for parents and children with various disabilities. Well done to all those who took part.
After much searching and 2 businesses going bankrupt I have finally found a venue for the 5th Birthday bash, I will have everything confirmed next Friday 27th March and will be able to reveal the amazing new venue and ticket details. The event will be a black tie event for 150 people and will be in the heart of Plymouth. The venue can accommodate two x-poles and the ceiling height is 3metres 80cm which makes for some great student and instructor showcases. More news to follow when I have some more time!

Stay healthy,

Sam x

The debate continues...a very long blog!

After reading some comments on the body and pole forum as well as comments on this blog I feel compelled to explain a few personal thoughts on the glamour vs fitness debate. Someone commented on the ad campaign featured in the BBC documentary as they had noticed that on the billboard poster I was wearing thigh high heeled boots (see picture above)which may seem to counter my argument for fitness pole dancing, the poster was made about 3 years ago at a time where we still danced in heels and actually encouraged the use of thigh high boots as it made climbing the pole much easier and prevented some bruising and skin abrasion. As well as the posters I still have flyers and many pictures on my website / blog of myself and other instructors wearing heels.

As the business has evolved we have opted for bare foot practice for several reasons, firstly, when perfecting spins on a static pole you need to work though the balls of the feet, if you are wearing heels you automatically push your body weight through the balls of the feet but if you are in bare feet you have to use the calf muscles in a much more dynamic way to achieve the same pivoting effect therefore dancing in bare feet gives the legs a better workout. Secondly as we have had expanded as a company we have worked with more people and the practicality of having 12 pairs of heels flying around he studio had become a mild health and safety issue.

I do remember some years ago two incidents involving heels that may want to be a word of warning to lap dancing clubs - the first incident involved one of my exhibition dancers performing in kitten heels, as she flew into a spin one of her shoes flew of her leg and directly into the face of a member of the audience, the next incident involved me dancing in a club, it was in the early days of the art of dance when we used to take our students to lap dancing clubs so they could see for themselves what went on and they could also see some great dancers at work. I was invited onto stage to perform mainly for my students, I was wearing a pair of black thigh high boots (the same ones shown on the advan), As I spun around the pole I was unaware of exactly how close one very drunk gentleman had got to the pole, my heel caught firmly into his eyelid flesh and stretched the piece of skin far beyond what it was meant to stretch, luckily there was no major harm done.

So, as previously stated we now run our classes in bare feet but that does not mean I am completely anti heels, I think that each pole dancer has the right to choose what is appropriate for them, consenting adults should have this choice. However I would argue that if teaching children then heels are highly inappropriate and also if we are teaching children we should focus on the gymnastics side of pole dancing and not the sexy side.

I think I would be naive to argue that pole dancing does not have a sexy side and one of the things I find with my students is that many of them start with the belief that they do not want to be sexy or wear heels but as there confidence grows many of my students actually want to be a bit more sexy. Is there anything wrong with that? Being sexy is different to being sleazy, Being sexy does not mean you are about to jump into bed with every man or woman you see. Being sexy comes from having body and mind confidence and having such confidence gives you the right to choose what you think is right for you.I will leave that debate for the moment and await your comments.....

Other news from the world of pole dancing include outrage from some residents of Kings Cross and Camden as they make a petition to have Miss Pole Dance Uk and the London Burlesque Festival banned from Scala night club, click here to read the story as featured in the Camden Gazette. This the official response from Miss Pole Dance to the story:

"Since 2005, the Miss Pole Dance Organisation have been providing opportunity for pole dance to be seen as a modern, liberating form of sport and fitness by creating national and international competitions. These competitions have become recognised worldwide and are a respected entity within the sporting fraternity. In 2008 we had 2 Olympic Athletes on the judging panel with top international dancers. Eurosport is covering our World Pole Dance Championships this year in Jamaica.

Many women now practice pole dance as a form of fitness, empowerment and fun, this is no longer a voyeuristic pastime for gentlemen's clubs but something that is practised by women from all walks of life......"

Another story in the press this week is that of an australian lap dancer who fell during a performance at Australia's Sexpo exhibition, she is now trying to sue the organisers for faulty equipment after she fell of the pole and broke her nose! Click here for the full story. Whilst this story seems like a bit of fun it does highlight the importance of using a proper pole when pole dancing, the pole has to be able to cope with not only your own bodyweight but also the excess forces that are imposed upon it as one swings ones body upside down, be warned that certain products on the market such as the gimmicky peek-a-boo pole and the Carmen Electra pole are not suitable for real pole dancing, these products are dangerous and I am amazed that there haven't been any really nasty accidents as a result of such products.

If you are after a decent pole my vote goes with x-pole although there are other products on the market that are also safe to use. On the subject of x-pole you may want to check out one of new useful links, Stacey from x-pole has launched her own x-pole blog as well as a new website for her pole dancing school. Stacey has also teamed up with Kat from Pole Love to recognise the UK's first amateur only pole dancing competition.

Another new resource for pole dancing schools is the fab new international pole schools world map, thanks to Claire from Pole Progression for producing the map, click here to view it.

Lastly before I completely dissolve your brain in pole news I wanted to draw your attention the new Equity pole dancing workers group, it has been a long time coming but at last we are moving towards nationally recognised standards for pole dancing and the Equity group formed by Genevieve Moody from the Flying studio and Dana Mayer from Rock n Roll pole have been working hard to push things forward. The next meeting will be held on Friday 27th March at 1pm at the Equity Head office in London, if you can't attend and are interested in finding out more then why not join the facebook group or contact Genevieve or Dana via their websites to be included in the mailing list.

Don't forget to pencil the 1st May into your diary too as it is UK pole dance day, full details to follow......

Well I think even I am completely poled out so am off to sit in my courtyard and treat my birds to a special spring bath and shower!

Stay Healthy,

Sam x

The Aftermath

Well it is the morning after the BBC documentary and I am struggling with mixed emotions. Overall I was pleased with the programme, especially the bit where they said I was 27! I think the programme got some of my points across but I did have a few real concerns about the final edit. Firstly I feel that the coverage of Miss Pole Dance 2008 did come across as a bit sleazy when in fact the 2008 comp was the least sleazy out of the 3 years in which I have been entering. The documentary focused on 'all the blokes' in the audience when the audience was predominantly female and was one of the best crowds I have ever danced for. One fact the Beeb definitely got right was the fact that the MC was a complete ****** and he did nothing to positively promote pole dancing or himself.

I think I came across as quite anti glamour girls when of course this is not the case, I just feel that there should be a separate fitness section and looking at how MPD is developing towards the Australian showgirl style competition I have decided not to enter again this year. I really hope the glamour girls don't take offence from the documentary.

Another area of disappointment was the lack of footage of my day to day struggle to run a business whilst dealing with extreme prejudice against my chosen art form, I really don't think that the programme will change anyone's perception of what I do but the programme hasn't done any harm either. I would love to have seen a bit more dancing and less crutch and bottom shots but then I thought that the editors might go for that angle!

My biggest criticism is that the documentary was taken over at the last minute by Natalie Cassidy who despite being a very nice person off camera did not come across well as presenter and failed to grasp the concept of programme, her arguments seemed vague and I still get the impression that she doesn't respect us pole dancers.

I am unsure whether my Mum and Dad are relieved or disappointed that their interviews were not included but I know that both of them were and continue to be extremely supportive about my dancing and my business which was a stark contrast from Hannah the boxer who was featured in the first part of the documentary, her parents thought what she was doing was wrong and that must makes things quite as difficult for her..

Anyway the programme has now been aired and will slowly fade from peoples memories until the next saga at the art of dance! Today I have the pleasure of shooting a short video with my fellow instructors which I hope to upload to youtube later today. More art of dance news to follow very soon. if you did miss the programme it will be on BBC i-player for the next 6 days, click here to view.

To finish I want to say keep fighting to the lovely Kim who continues to get stronger by the day despite the excruciating pain she has had to endure. I also want to send big hugs to my Mum and her friend Jean who was admitted to Hospital on Wednesday and has been put straight onto chemotherapy, it must be a very difficult time for her and her family.

I do want to say how much I appreciate all the positive messages I have received via e-mail, facebook etc regarding the documentary and my ongoing battle to get pole dancing recognised as a fun way to keep fit. No doubt the saga will not end here........

Stay Healthy,

Sam x

p.s. here is a vid of a few of the art of dance instructors messing around in the studio this afternoon, they are Jo Turpin, Rosanna Durban, Hayley Silk, Tamar Preston and ME!

P.S.

I know that I said I wouldn't blog til after the documentary (see yesterday's blog) but someone posted this on body and pole and I just had to hare it with you, it is a beautiful controlled pole performance to a great piece of music:
Stay Healthy

Sam x

The day of reckoning looms

As many of you will know I will be appearing on TV on Thursday, the programme will be aired at 8pm on BBC3 as part of the Real Britain series ( I think my bit may be on at 8.30pm but am not too sure). I have been reassured by various people at the BBC that the documentary will portray pole dancing in a positive light but I also know that the series editors have to make 'good TV' so I will reserve my judgement on the programme until after it has been aired. You can watch the programme on the BBC i-player.

I will blog again after the event and will look forward to your feedback. All I can guarantee you is that my fall off the pole at Miss Pole Dance UK 2008 is bound to be included so you can have great fun at my expense as I plummet towards the ground at speed, not a death drop I had planned!

I will also blog at a later date about a new pole dancing competition for 2009 which may not be the fitness competition that it claims to be!

I do hope you enjoy the documentary.......

Stay Healthy,

Sam x

Life in General

This week has been full of up's and downs and I have had some fantastic news accompanied by some truly awful news. I will start with some good news: The Lovely AmyTree has moved into her new home, My friend Kirsty has had a beautiful baby boy called Connor, I have managed to catch up with some old friends who I had briefly lost contact with, I had coffee with my friend Elaine whose baby is due next week. My grandad is doing well in his new home and my wonderful husband has been helping me with some graphic design (we have made some fab new flyers!) and we have set up a joint business, more news on that to follow very very soon!

Thanks to Chris from Global Eye photography for the picture above left of me performing a shoulder mount jack knife which is one of the moves from our new art of dance instructional DVD that is due for release very soon.

Get well soon to Tamar who had been rather under the weather lately and a huge hug to Kim Quaintance who has just had her essential new portacath fitted but is now in agony and desperate to be able to return home. FAO Kim: We are all thinking about you and hope that you can go home as soon as possible x x

It is very rare for my to buy new clothes or make-up but I had to face up to the reality that my favourite pink Loreal lipstick had really run out and no matter how much I picked at the case there was simply nothing left so off I went to Boots to pick out another one. To my horror they had discontinued my favourite shade and despite a desperate search of the store there was no shade that came even close. I am not the most patient shopper and I am sure that I had picked up every lipstick in the store, I had proof of this from the numerous tester shades plastered across my hand. I finally settled for a Rimmel option, Sugar Plum 086. This new lipstick happens to smell of sweets, which is fine if you are sweet toothed, I actually find the smell a little nauseating but for those of you who like sweet things and are trying to cut down on your calories this lipstick might just make you spend the whole day rushing out and buying cakes and chocolates!

The down side to the week: My mum's best friend has been diagnosed with lung cancer and the exact prognosis is looking pretty dire, it is scary to think that someone can appear fine and healthy and then within a few weeks become almost bed ridden. Jean is a wonderful lady who I spent much time with in my younger years. I can't imagine how she, her husband or daughter must be feeling but my thoughts are with them. I also want my Mum to know how much I am thinking about her, she has lost 2 of her really close friends in the last few years and the thought of losing Jean too is deeply upsetting for her. My Mum is such a wonderful person that she really does not deserve any more unhappiness, I just wish there was more that I could do to help.

You may remember me blogging last year about my Mum's friend Sue who had passed away after suffering a massive heart attack, as a result of her death her son Robert is running the London Marathon this year to raise money for the British heart Foundation, he hopes to reach his target of £2,500 and is currently up to £710. If you are interested in sponsoring him just click here for his just giving page. FAO Rob: Good Luck with your marathon attempt!

Now for my next subject, hopefully the landlord of my business premises will not be reading this as I have just spent his rent! People are always going on about speculating to accumulate so I have spent the rent on stock and now have less than 3 weeks to turn the stock back into cash! It may be a bit of a gamble but I have some fab new stock arriving this week including some funky new velour shorts, Nomis gloves, Dry Hands and much more!

Anyway, enough ranting for today as I am off for a luxurious bath followed by a quick visit to see my grandad and then pop to the farm shop before returning for a relaxing evening in front of the computer and TV.

Stay Healthy,

Sam x

Sticking to the pole

Holding one's body on a slippy metal pole has always been an interesting battle. Apart from gravity not helping in one's ability to stay on a pole there are several other factors that come into play: It seems that if the pole is too cold then it is not grippy and if the pole is too hot it encourages you to sweat so you also lack grip. If the air is cold then it is difficult to warm your muscles so they become weaker and do not perform to their best.

Obviously you can't wear clothes to keep you warm as they do not stick to the pole either. Oh and then there is the small matter of nerves: Whether you are nervous of performing or whether you are nervous because you are just trying a new move that is challenging your fear factor the result is usually that the body starts to sweat and this may result in no adhesion to the pole and a swift unplanned descent to the floor!

If you didn't see Horizon last night then you would have missed the fantastic debate on why we have a problem with nudity, why we are hairless in the first place and how we went from being hairy to hairless and then to wearing clothes. You can click here to watch the programme on BBC i-player. The programme features some interesting info on why we sweat and how essential sweating is to us as humans.

However important sweat is to human beings it is not good for pole dancing and therefore I have become increasingly reliant on my gloves for performances and exhibitions. My favourite gloves are the Nomis junior sports mitt (half finger) which Nomis have stopped making however I have sourced some old stock so will have some new gloves in by the end of next week, check out the website for full details. I also have a new contact from Nomis who may be able to get me some more stocks of my favourite gloves. You can see the gloves in action in the photo of me above performing a twisted grip handspring, picture courtesy of Chris Trent from Global Eye Photography.

Another solution for sweaty palms are products such as mighty grip which I have used for over a year but I find it is not strong enough to deal with competition sweat - trust me in the fact that comeptitions do very funny things to your palms and you can seat from your palms even if you are cold! I have just secured a deal to stock a new product called Dry Hands which may work for those who do not get on with mighty grip, I will keep you posted and will add it to the website as soon as my first delivery arrives.

Other art of dance news: The Advanced instructional pole dancing DVD Volume 1 has seen a delay in its launch due to me having to re-record some of the voice-overs but it should be ready for release in the next few weeks. The BBC documentary is scheduled for next Thursday 12th March on BBC3 at 8pm and is part of the Real Britain series, the series actually starts tomorrow so I will be watching the first 2 parts to see what sort of style the programme takes. Lastly I should have some exciting news for you regarding the forthcoming national UK site - the Pole Dance Community and another new national site that I am sworn to secrecy on!! More news very soon.....

Stay Healthy,

Sam x