As a kid growing up in the small town of Rockland, Maine, Mrs. Drinkwater was my very first dance teacher. She taught us how to move our bodies to “Beat It” by Michael Jackson, the 5 basic ballet positions, and how to kick ball change in our shrinking tap shoes.
Each dance season ended with a recital, usually at a local opera house. This is when parents “oohed” and “aahed” over their cute little children dressed in fancy costumes, hair styled just so and blush on our little cheeks.
I wasn’t particularly good at ballet, tap or jazz and I think my mom realized I needed a bit more practice. She nagged me to practice the routines at home. Yet, her nagging didn’t influence me at all. However, she did find a bribe that seemed to work.
The deal was I had to practice at least 10 minutes at home and I had to smile during each of my performances in the recital. In return, I would get a whole pack (5 rectangular pieces) of pink, Bubblicious chewing gum (probably a better performance too, but the gum was the driving force for me)!
While I do recall earning the gum, it wouldn’t be long before my family moved away and the dance lessons of my youth faded into the past. However, they were not gone forever.
Fast forward to adulthood where recitals, now branded as “showcases” have emerged. As of today, I have performed in 3 pole dance showcases. The moves are more challenging and the costumes require a bit less material than the recitals of my youth.
And while many people, unfortunately, still like to associate pole dancing with stripping, in my world, that is far from the case. The moves may be sexy, but they are challenging to pull off and sequencing them together to attain a flow around the pole is a skill that takes a lot of time and practice to be comfortable.
Writing this post made me think about how unless you are a professional performer, few opportunities exist for adults to showcase their talents (I’m talking about live performances, not online videos).
What kind of confidence does it take for me to think I can perform at this stage in life? Let alone, who really cares to watch?
While I could probably write a dissertation on this topic (I won’t), I find it encouraging that these opportunities exist. The more pole studios I’ve visited, and the more studios I follow on social media, opportunities to perform are present.
I’m truly thankful for this opportunity because it gives me a challenge to work toward and I know my pole family will be cheering me on.
Stay tuned for more blog posts about my preparations for October’s “Lights, Camera, Action” showcase. And if you happen to be in the audience and catch me smiling, be sure to bring me a pack of pink bubble gum.
Poles & Places 