Vote for ME for IPC Pole Idol 2012!!!!

If you’ve been following the world of competitive pole, you’ve noticed that more and more competitions are implementing a ‘vote-for-your-favorite-contestant’ strategy in which the public has the power to decide on (usually) one competitor slot. USPDF did it, so did Pole Dance Universe, California Pole Dance Championships and the Southern Regional competitions.

While in the end, it’s largely a popularity contest and a testament to how many hours a competitor may spend campaigning the internets and bribing their friends with cocktails at happy hour, it also serves to promote not just the competition and the competitors, but the sport as a whole.

I’ve personally been doing my part to earn a spot in the International Pole Championships this March 15 in Hong Kong by trying to win the coveted “IPC Pole Idol” spot. In doing so, I’ve reached out to former work colleagues from my old life as a publicist (and thus, lifting the veil to reveal the ‘new’ Natasha), contacted family in Taiwan that I haven’t spoken to in years, reached out to my network of pole friends on Facebook, and physically campaigned during every workshop, class and appearance I’ve made since voting opened on Dec. 1st.

It’s been exhausting, but ultimately, I’ve decided, a rewarding experience. Because even if I DON’T win IPC Pole Idol…heck, even if I don’t get into the competition at all…at least I’m spreading awareness of pole as a sport to people who may have never encountered this world at all.

And that, to quote Charlie Sheen, is WINNING.

If you think I deserve a shot at IPC, please consider voting for me to get to Hong Kong! Voting is open now and closes December 15th and you can vote for the same person from several email addresses (hint hint.)

http://polechampionvideo.com/competitors/natasha-wang

Scribbled on one side of The Studio’s mirrored wall were choreography notes for The Studio’s students who were competing in the New Zealand Pole Championships 2011, Andre Wotton and Mei.

But scribbled on the other side was a list of corporal punishments for pole ‘misdeeds’ — flexed feet gets you 5 push-ups or a 10-second plank, while the more severe ‘I quit’ gets you 10 push-ups and a 20-second plank. But the real punishment is incurred when a student makes an anti or negative body statement. This gets you 100 press ups or a 5 minute plank!

The Studio's list of corporal punishments for pole misdeeds

I’ve noticed a startling amount of self-criticism and body dysmorphia amongst polers, a result no doubt, of spending hours on end in front of a full-length mirror, half-naked. Despite our toned and muscled bodies, we still find flaws to pick at which we fault for their aesthetic qualities but also for their functional ones. I know I’ve complained on end about my scrawny legs, which I blame for not giving me power in my spins or security in my leg holds. But those scrawny legs also give me less weight to lift, which is probably why I go into dead lifts with relative ease.

And while we are athletes and thus, are always on a quest for physical self-improvement, this can’t come at the cost of equating our physical appearance with our own self-worth, or doubting or discounting our abilities because of what we “see” in the mirror.

Shirley Jones, the owner of The Studio, graciously shared with me her punishment manifesto. Feel free to adopt, or create your own version!

THE PUNISHMENT LIST

Toes not pointed (unless there’s a good reason, like the flexed foot is being used for safety etc)
5 press ups or a 10 second plank.

Jumping into a move (flying mounts have control, jumping doesn’t)
5 press ups or a 10 second plank.

Quitters (full on sulks, not doing that move etc.  Never confused with frustration at not quite being ready for the move or needing more explanation)
10 press ups or a 20 second plank.

“I can’t”  or words to that effect.  Acceptable phrase is “I’m having an issue with that right now.  Perhaps I’ll try again later”.
5 press ups or a 10 second plank.

Monkey Feet.  sheesh, ugly, ugly, ugly especially when climbing or spinning.  (unless there’s a good reason, like split leans foot on pole, cupid pose etc)
5 press ups or a 10 second plank.

Using the Bracket / open grip when not taught yet.  (not doing this until ready can result in carpal tunnel, shoulder injuries and the like.)
20 press ups or a 45 second plank

finally, the biggie:
an anti or negative body statement
100 press ups or a 5 minute plank. (double if aimed at someone else!)

Thank you to Shirley Jones of The Studio for graciously sharing your list with me!  http://poledanceaotearoalimited.dnserver.net.nz/

My and my Greek pole sisters.

Linguistic differences aside, the women and men polers I’ve met in my international travels aren’t so different than us Americans. We share an obsessive love for our apparatus, and we all know the elation of nailing our nemesis trick. The topics of conversation over a pint are easy — pole crushes (everyone has one regardless of sexual orientation!), preferred brands of pole shorts, the stress and excitement of training for a competition. We all belong to a global community of polers who probably get way more excited about the prospects of attaining 38 or 40mm hardware than the latest ‘it bag.’

It’s these things that have made traveling around the world teaching and performing so incredible. Yes, there’s the thrill of being in a foreign land, sometimes a new one every other day. But it’s meeting the studio owners, students and my own personal pole idols that has been the most rewarding experience for me.

My recent X-Pole tour started in London (aka, ‘home base’) and stomping grounds of my tour manager, Stacey Pope from X-Pole UK. In addition to being tour manager to the pole stars, Stacey handles sales at X-Pole UK, runs her own pole studio Stacey Pole, co-runs the competition UKAPP (UK Amateur Pole Performer), AND is a full-time mommy. Now THAT is what being a career woman is all about!

First stop, Sweden. Not just the home of IKEA, but Dinali Center.
Upon arriving to London, I had nary a day of rest before I’m shipped off to Gavle, Sweden, where the lovely Diana Garneij hosted me at her studio Dinali Center. A little history about Diana — she and I began our pole journeys at the same LA studio years ago. She returned to Sweden with a new love for pole, started a family, and bought a home — a turn of the century former school house in nearby Ljusne village (pop. 2155). The building itself bursts with ambiance and history, with lots of relics of its former life — coat hooks installed at the entrance at child’s height, original floors and wallpaper. Diana would eventually convert the former gymnasium into the first Dinali Center pole studio!

I had the awesome sauce opportunity to judge and perform at the Hertford Heat of the UKAPP (UK Amateur Pole Performer) competition last night and was blown away by the talent. A few observations from this American poler (and photos as well as a link to my live performance below the post):

1) The polers here love themes – whether based on a movie, storybook or genre of dance, the competitors gave us storylines and concepts through creative costumes, thematic music and stage props. The best performers were the ones who weren’t shy or hesitant to fully embrace the physicality of their characters — even if it meant combining a flesh-eating zombie with pole.

2) There was an impressive amount of male polers at the competition…even men who were competing in the doubles category with their girlfriends, which I thought touching (I can’t imagine my fiancé ever donning a pair of Union Jack briefs and joining me on stage!) and at times, sensual.

3) Doubles routines here RULE. I’ve never seen so many impressive partner balancing, acrobatics and straight-up death-defying stunts as I did last night. And I thought I was au courant on doubles moves because I can do the Cuban Handspring!

4) The UK has an inordinate amount of talent — as usual, Justine McLucas of London’s Ecole de Pole (fellow judge) blew me away with her grace, flexibility and poise on stage. I also met fellow judge Karen Chaundy from BodyBarre in Manchester, who I liken to be a kindred pole spirit. Her performance was filled with fire, ingenious acrobatics and modern movement. I’m excited to be teaching workshops at both their studios in the coming weeks. I also got to meet the legendary grande dames of pole, Sally-Ann Giles, who MC’ed, and Deb Riley.

As a poler who eats, lives and breathes pole, I love seeing the kind of dedication to the sport that I’ve witnessed in the UK and feel so honored that they’ve let me into their little circle.

From Welwyn Garden City, just outside London,

Natasha Wang

Photo credit: Simon Hutchinson: http://facebook.com/simon.hutchinson

You’ll just have to stay tuned to my blog to find out. In the meantime, pole safe, with passion and always point your toes!

XOXO, Natasha

Whoopie is the sh*t, ok. Here the ladies of The View discuss the controversy of pole dancing classes for kids, and regardless of your viewpoint on that topic, Whoopie’s insistence that a pole CAN simply be another apparatus is totally refreshing! Added bonus, they replayed footage from my appearance on the show in May. Watch the clip here:  The View / Pole Dancing for Kids

Incidentally, when I was in Mexico City, I was interviewed by 15 a 20 magazine, which is billed like the Teen magazine of Mexico. One of the questions I was asked was how their readers (15 to 20-year olds, natch) could get into the sport. I was a little surprised by the question…and perhaps a little thrown off and said something about researching legitimate pole dancing schools that teach proper technique, and if your parents allow it, asking them to put up a portable pole in your bedroom.

This is a topic I’m still grappling with, as I do see how it’s possible to desexualize the sport/art (as I have sometimes been criticized of doing with my own dance!) but inherently, I do think pole dancing has, and should, have elements of sex appeal and subversiveness. That’s what attracted me to the artform in the first place. But are children and teenagers, who already deal with enough bullying and self-esteem issues brought on by their peers, ready to admit to the world, their fellow students (and their parents), and teachers that they pole dance? What do you guys think?

We hit up Gravity Pole Fitness Studio (Satelite and Polanco) and Pole Dance School Mexico, spent a night on the town ‘Pole Hunting’ with the Gravity crew, where I developed an obsession for hotel luggage carts and lamp post iron x’s (see the night’s shenanigans HERE), did press interviews and photo shoots with 15a20.com.mx and Sports Life magazine, and performed at both TK Charlies (watch the live stream HERE) and at a super fun meet and greet at Pole Dance School Mexico.

I ate my face off and grew a Mexican travel baby to prove it, had my body worked on by an amazing sports masseuse, Alexandra, aka “Magic Fingers,” and BEST OF ALL – I met and got to teach the wonderfully warm and talented Mexican pole community, whose passion for pole fitness and dance and hunger to learn is so inspirational!

Thank you Jezabel, Jorge, Erandi and Lindsey for making my trip so memorable. I’ll see all of you when I return for GRAVITY FIRST, SECOND EDITION!!!

Photos below.

I’m preparing myself mentally and physically for spending much of August and September on the road, hoarding miniature cosmetic samples, echinacea & Emergen-C packets and figuring out how I’m going to pack a month’s worth of clothes in one Travel Pro carry-on. But a huge part of getting ready is memorizing exactly where I’ll be when. That’s no easy task!

To make things easier, I’m posting my travel schedule here, and eventually, on my online calendar (see the CALENDAR menu button above and at http://natashawang.com/?page_id=353). All of that needs to be manually entered, which is a pain in my arse and will take a while (free private to whomever finds a way to export my Google Calendar into the My Calendar WordPress plug-in.)

I present to you, my travel dates, thus far, for the rest of 2011:

July

July 22-23: Gravity Studio – Mexico City (performance + workshops – to register go HERE.)

July 24-27: Pole Dance School Mexico – Mexico City (performance + workshops – to register go HERE.)

July 30: PoleSinsations – San Diego, CA (workshops – to register go HERE.)

July 31: Inversion Studios – Irvine, CA (workshops – to register go HERE.)

August

August 7: Poleates – Westlake Village, CA (workshops – to register go HERE.)

August 9: Smoke & Mirrors – Santa Ana, CA (Girl Next Door Company Class – to register go HERE.)

August 12-13: Pole Pressure – Washington, DC (workshops – to register go HERE.)

August 14-15: Chic Physique – Bethesda, MD (workshops – to register go HERE.)

August 16-Sept. 8: X-POLE EUROPEAN TOUR

18 August – Teach @ Dinali Centre Galve – Stockholm
19 August – Teach @ The pole studio – Stockholm
20 August – UKAPP Hertford Judge and Perform
23 August – Athen Pole Studio
24 August- Athens Pole Studio
26 August – BodyBarre Manchester
27 August – UKAPP Dublin Judge and Perform
28 August – Pole Kixs – Dublin
01 September – Milan Pole Studio – TBC
02 september – Vertical Dolls Rome
04 September – Spin City Bristol
05 September – Ecole De Pole London

September

Sept. 10: Miss Pole Dance Canada – Vancouver, BC (judge + perform + workshops. For more info go HERE.)

Sept. 16: Miss Texas Pole Star – Dallas, TX (judge + perform + workshops. To register go HERE.)

Sept. 24: California Pole Dance Championships (perform. Details HERE.)

Sept. 25: Fun Pole Fitness, San Diego, CA (workshops – to register go HERE.)

October

Oct. 20-25: Gravity First, Mexico City (perform + workshops. For more info go HERE.)

November

Nov. 4: Miss Pole Dance Australia in Sydney (perform + workshops. For more info go HERE.)

Nov. 19: Romance & Dance in Carson, CA (workshops – to register go HERE.)

Check out her story here.

From left to right: Antigone Cois, Amy Guion, Yours Truly, Anjel Dust. Behind us, the beautiful Aegean Sea.

Performance night.