Signing on for a recital was one of the “Bucket list” item for this year. This recital for a pole number is from the Slap Dance Studio. I originally wanted to do the Pole Heels, as I have bought a new pair of heels but never really used it. But the timing for the course is not very conducive.
I end up doing the usual, Lyrical Pole, our song was Frost Punk, City must survive. The first class was the strangest one because all of us got to see each other the first time. Should around the end of June when the first class started. The recital package is $800 plus, we get 6 unsupervised 1 hr Pole pract, 4 supervised 1hr pole pract. Weekly instruction was every Tuesday evening for 2 hours. The hours are a bit long but it was the only time where the group of 14 of us could get together to practice and form up together. Doing a group number is really quite different from doing solo. The group requires a lot of precision and coordination. Further more, all of us have differing background in pole, physical shape and abilities.
Ten Weeks of Training
Bunch of us at the dressing room backstage
The ten weeks not just included the tuesday night 2 hours, weekends were also used to fine up the piece. However, there were times members could not turn up. I was not there on the first vetting as I went for the Melaka Triathlon. The first 2 weeks we were taught all the combos inside the whole dance. After which, one by one the formations were in. We were then assigned the combos to do. To speak the truth, I was hoping to be given something more challenging but my combo was not that difficult. However, most of the tricks are executed on the other side, which makes it very challenging as I am so used to one side. At some point, I was feeling and also having some injury on the left arm. It was really quite painful, it was my first time visiting the physiotherapist. I got a few tips on how to improve the situation which it did over a very long period.
Not very flattering pic of me on the pole
I got to have a partner work with Jeannie, who is a very old bird in the scene and she is really good at the trade. I was lucky to learn from her and she is also very patient. The bunch was generically very nice and fun. A lot are also very young , like Benjamin and his Girlfriend, their friend Aileen. They are actually able to be my children. Of course a few older folks, like Connie and me.
The instructors were Rebecca( mainly for the combos), Marika for the formations and Gemma who help us to grill the dancing.
1st Rehearsal
Cutting the story short, I zoomed to this part which is just one day before the real performance. It was the first time we got to see the Drama Centre at the National Library in Bugis and experience the space. It was also the first time for me as I missed the vetting to see other pieces. We were all dressed up with the make up and stuff. Felt a bit surreal but its stage performance so the make up is more dramatic. We had lashes, black lip stick and a lot of shimmy. Our hair was tie up into a bun and there were head pieces too. As we were chess pieces, the colour was just black and white, but we also bling up our half shoulder top.
First rehearsal and we got wild about the alley outside
There were a few hiccups in the first rehearsal and time was really tight especially we had camera setting to take the stage video which will not be possible on the actual day as it will block the spectators. The aerial pieces were faced with more challenges as the height of the apparatus can pose a problem. The lighting and sound was another. We ended pretty late that day and all were worried whether things will go haywire the second day which was D day.
Performance Day
The black chess pieces
Still feeling the tiredness from the day before, I actually came in pretty late as the show only starts 3pm, thinking that we wont have chance to do a run again. I came in around 11am. Most of the girls were already starting with the make up and stuff. At about 1, we were told that we can do one run. Elated , all of us got ready. My good friend, Esta, took my place on the Pole Heels and did the Twins. Theirs was the last piece so it was very challenging when all the items got pushed, they hardly have any chance for the rehearsal. So we got our share for the last run. It all went well and ready to go. Time seemed to pass very fast, before we knew it , it was time for us to go! In the end we did two times because the first round, pole was static. But I must say both rounds we did pretty well. So glad that all the formations were in sync and on time.
Going shopping with tons of make up!
The show ended with the star guest performer, Haruna, doing her piece and the teachers performance too. Guess it was after all pretty worthwhile!