Divine Ladies! We are excited to introduce our Student of the Month blog.
Miss June 2010: Nikki B.
Occupation? Fashion Designer
How long have you been pole dancing at Divine? Since January 2010, so like 5 months (wow, seems so much longer then that!)
Did you have any previous dance or fitness training before starting pole? No formal dance experience. I have always been involved in sports, worked out at the gym and I meet with a fitness trainer twice a week. But I have friends that have no athletic training and they love pole as much as I do!
What made you decide to take classes? Honestly I was watching The Girls Next Door and the twins were asked to audition for a pole-dancing role in a Sophia Coppola movie. The whole episode was them practicing and it looked like so much fun! They had never done it before and they don’t seem at all athletic so I knew I could do it. Plus I was looking for new FUN ways to exercise so I signed up the next day!
Favorite class (spins/transitions, inversions, boudoir), and why? Well, Boudoir is great for practicing, but I have to say Spins and Transitions is my favorite right now. It is always fun to learn new spins and practice them over and over again until you can do it without even thinking! AND this class is a great workout, especially when it is a climbing week!
What is it that you LOVE about pole dancing at Divine? Wow, there are so many things that I LOVE about pole dancing here. It is a secure place where you can just let go and have fun while getting a great workout. It’s like being a kid again when we are learning all the new moves. I also love that when I go there and we begin the workout all the stress of the day just sort of disappears when we begin the warm up.
Favorite move? Probably the Angel, it is so flowy and pretty and you have a free hand to mess up your hair with!
Pants or shorts? Shorts for sure!! I swear I just keep buying them shorter and shorter! I could never climb the pole well until I switched to really short shorts. I am not the skinniest person so I never wore shorts before pole fitness, but now I own like 12 pairs. And there are the cute running skirts with the short under which are perfect for pole because you get to show your feminine side (also great for boudoir class when we dress up in fun outfits!).
What move is challenging you right now? The straight leg dismount from a climb and sit where you swing your leg around and down, then spin down the pole. I barely get around the pole once and it is yet to be graceful!
Favorite song to dance to? Hearing Damage (Thom Yorke) hands down.
Edward or Jacob? Edward of course!! But MY Edward from the book. Not the movie. (although he is growing on me)
Any inspirational advice you would like to share with newcomers? Stick to the routine and really have fun with it. I think I was on the routine for almost 4 months before I really started free styling. Of course now and then I would change up the moves within the routine, but that’s how I am able to freestyle now. I still go back to the routine whenever I am having an off day. Also, just really let go! This is a safe environment for all ladies of any size, shape and form so there is nothing to get nervous or embarrassed about. No one is judging so give in to the music and express yourself through the dance!!