The thought of writing something about this came up since I took up Pole X last year. There are many different genres in pole dance, lyrical, ballet contemporary, heavy tricks based and heels dancing. In recent years, I realise more and more are interested in the dancing portion not much for the tricks and going up the pole.
Since the start of pole dancing, I have always been very trick based, I participate in many other types of sports which are cardio based and does not have much with strength training. Therefore I feel I should do more to build up the strength and took up pole dancing sports.
Pole X class with Birds of paradise pose
PD arabesque
PD firefly
Not Just Sexy
A lot of people will connect pole dancing with strip tease and all those erotic stuff. Really cannot blame them because pole dance began more of a sleazy note than a sports. To speak the truth, it looks easy but actually it is a lot of body control and core training. I was able to engage muscles which I never used before from pole dancing, it is also a good way to train the brain while remembering the choreography on the dance and how to get into the trick. It is not like other tri sports like running, cycling or swimming where you keep track of timing and just make sure you clock the time that you want or build the endurance for the distance.
I find a lot of satisfaction trying to get into a trick and when you achieve that, it is really exhilarating. So I have been frequenting Breathe Dance Co and Slap dance studio. Also did one recital for Slap in 2023.
Breathe Dance Co.
For breathe, the teachers have been around for the longest time, Ms Vivienne Tan was the main choreographer for the lyrical portion. She was later joined by Huishi, who is a junkie for tricks and she’s good at them also. Breathe has a more lyrical genre than the exotic styles. They also only specialise in Pole dance rather than other apparatus, thus they have many varieties of courses in pole dance. For the lyrical genre, they have level from 1 up to a level called Pole X. X is more for advanced learners it not only focus on strength but also a lot on flexibility and endurance as the choreography are very taxing and cardio.
My first pole X was a short course with a guest teacher called JKM. He is really very flexible and strong. Although he is rather petite, his lines and dance moves are very fluid and jazzy. The four weeks course was a shocker for me as I realise I could not do many things, even the dance itself required a lot of flexibility. I ended up not being able to do half the choreography.
Subsequently, I took up pole X full 8 weeks class in 2024 with Huishi, this time I managed the dance but tricks wise still had a few not able to clinch, especially those which required a lot of flexibility. I merely did the variations, this is where it got me into thinking that Pole X also required a lot of flexibility and that I need to work on it too.
However, that one lesson gave me confidence to do more Pole X classes, I continued to take a few more terms of Pole X. Although I sustain some really bad soreness on the limbs but I realise that I got stronger and was able to hold some poses for longer.
Continuing
Me and Lijing xiao mei
Coming to 2025 now , the first term of Pole X is coming for me and I realise I still cannot do the Janeiro. It has always been my nemesis. This time the Janeiro came up again for the last combo so I had to go with variations. Thinking that I should take a break from the arm taxing Pole X. I guess the next term I will take up a less tricks but not necessarily easy Pole 3. Was quite happy to be able to do this term Pole X with Lijing, one of my pole angels. It was our first X together !