Miss February 2012:  Beth

Occupation:  Sales Executive

Your motto: Yes, you can!

How long have you been pole dancing at Divine? March 2011.  It all started with the 1-Day Pole Workshop and the rest has been Divine (so to speak).

Did you have any previous dance or fitness training before starting pole?  Dance?–Not!  I have always been athletic and did various sports as a kid (gymnastics, swimming, softball, snow and water skiing).  As an adult I dabbled here and there with the occasional gym membership, snowboarding, and wake-boarding,  Then came two kids, though I was probably in the best “gym” shape of my life for the births of both my boys, but that was 7 and 9 years ago.   This past year has been a revival of getting moving again with pole, stair-climbs and fun runs.

What made you decide to take pole dancing classes?  I needed something to shake up the day-to-day routine, and what better than doing something considered a little racy. A girlfriend and I decided it would be fun to try it together.  We knew that if we flopped, at least we would have something to laugh about for years to come.  What was so surprising is that you really can’t flop; the teachers are incredibly supportive and continue to remind us that we all have our own unique way of moving.

Favorite class? (spins, inversions, or boudoir), and why? 
That’s like asking me if I prefer vodka or wine…LOL.  Pole for me is strength and physical power, garnished with sensuality.  Boudoir is pure richness with varying bursts of flavor.  I currently feel more comfortable in spins because I can be consistently strong, and therefore experience fairly consistent successes.  Since I am so much in my head, Boudoir is a real challenge.  I really like how it pushes me as a person.  The rewards are fewer, but when they come they are indescribable.

I used to ride horses, and was really into dressage, which focuses focuses on precision and ease of movement.  I would get so into my head trying to figure it all out that we would become a mess.  To give us a break I would take some jumping lessons.  I discovered that what I learned in Dressage made me a solid jumper which build my confidence.   When I went back to Dressage, I was relaxed and ready to go again.

I see similarities with my dance at Divine — Boudoir helps me relax for pole, and pole to gives me confidence for Boudoir.

What is it that you LOVE about pole dancing at Divine? 
The gym is just boring.  With a stair-climb  or a fun-runs there is an end goal.  With pole once I accomplish one goal, the next challenge is right there waiting for me.  I love that.  It keeps me coming back.  I also love how that sexy confidence leaves the studio with me, and pops-up throughout the week.     

Platforms or legwarmers?  Legwarmers are a comfy sofa, platforms are that occasional fun night out.  When I do wear my platforms they can can do one of two things, make me fierce or make me frightened.  I find they both help me with my dance.  I am sure you get the fierce part, but frightened of falling makes me slow down and forces me to be dainty in my landings.

What are you currently working on technically?
Making my basic spins strong and pretty.  Proud to say that this month I will also be working on advanced spins & inversions.  I just got cleared for my next challenges!!!

What are you working on artistically?  Moving, I am neither graceful nor flexible.

Do you have a favorite song to pole dance to? 
I have not found my favorite song, but just danced to Michael Jackson’s Dirty Diana, and loved it.  I good change from the ”prettier” songs that I normally get into.

We LOVE music at Divine. What 3 songs would be featured on the soundtrack to YOUR life?  
1. I Will Die For You –Prince (or is it the Artist formerly known as Prince…wish he whould make up his mind)

2. Radio Free Europe–REM

3. Historia de Taxi–Ricardo Arjona

Guilty pleasure: 
Me time.  (Those of you with kids know what I am talking about)

This can come in many forms:

• Divine–Its my little escape from the rest of the world, and I get to feel sexy even though I don’t normally see myself that way.  And not many people know that I am doing it, so its still my dirty little secret.
• TV–Big Bang Theory, Gray’s Anatomy, Desperate Housewives, Parenthood, So You Think You can Dance, and dare I say it….yes, Glee.
• A late night out with friends, on a weeknight.

Valentines Day – Are you a lover, or a hater?  Lover.  I don’t have the time, nor the energy, to be a hater.

Final Question: 
Any inspirational advice you would like to share with new polers? 
It is the same advice that I have to give myself every time I walk into the studio…Just let go, and don’t worry about what it looks like to others.

I am not a dancer, and dancing does not come natural to me.  So for me some days have to be ”technical” days, and I think about every movement, which helps me commit them to memory.   But the real fun comes when I just let go and those moves that were once so contrived just flow without thinking about them.

Miss January 2012:  Kira

Occupation: Author, artist, dog trainer.

Your motto:“Champagne and truffles for everyone!”  and “The greatest oak was once just a little nut who held it’s ground.” – Author Unknown.

How long have you been pole dancing at Divine?  I have been a Divine poler bear for a magical year and a half.

Did you have any previous dance or fitness training before starting pole?  Absolutely none unless busting loose to ‘Lil Wayne while doing housework counts.  I’m a domestic gangsta.

4.  Marilyn Manson – Last Day On Earth (I cheated and put 4.  This was hard!)

Guilty pleasure(s):Champagne.  And truffles. Oh dear…there seems to be a theme here.  Also, I TiVo anything with a dog in it.  It’s kind of weird.

New Years resolution(s):  More poling!  More champagne! More truffles!

Final Question: Any inspirational advice you would like to share with new polers?
Hang in there! (tee hee!)  Leave your reservations at the door (with your muddy shoes) and dive in…heart first!  We are all here to support each other with our pole journeys.  Have fun, be free and dance with reckless abandon! (unless you are wearing stilettos).

Miss December 2011:  Kären

Occupation: Project Manager

Your motto: “Move on”, beautifully articulated in the Stephen Sondheim song of the same name:

“I chose, and my world was shaken – so what?

The choice may have been mistaken, the choosing was not.

You have to move on.”

How long have you been pole dancing at Divine?  15 months

Did you have any previous dance or fitness training before starting pole?  The only formal dance training I have is a year’s worth of ballet when I was four…it was not a good fit. I am told I threw a tantrum on the day of our end of year recital.  After that, just your typical school sports – swimming, netball, soccer – and for the past seven years I’ve been pretty serious about Pilates mat, reformer, and apparatus.

What made you decide to take pole dancing classes?  I’ve always been fascinated by the grace, strength and freedom of aerial arts. When I was a kid I could spend hours spinning around monkey bars or the bike racks outside supermarkets (It was the Eighties. You could leave your kid outside a supermarket back then.) and pole seemed like a grown-up activity that would provide the same exhilaration.

Favorite class? (spins, inversions, or boudoir), and why?  I really can’t choose!  I love the technical aspects of Spins, the physicality of Inversions, and the expressiveness of Boudoir.  I find the classes to be very complementary and that anything I learn in one helps me in the others.

What is it that you LOVE about pole dancing at Divine?  There’s plenty I love about pole dancing – the physical challenge, the sense of achievement, the simple joy of moving and appreciating what my body’s capable of – but what I love about dancing *at Divine* is the community of students and teachers.  Having the opportunity to share in each other’s evolution is humbling and inspiring.

Platforms or legwarmers?  I go back and forth…mostly because I keep breaking the straps on my shoes.  Did I mention grace?

What are you currently working on technically?  The spinning Scorpio dismount.  Right now there’s a whole lot of dismount, not a lot of spin.

What are you working on artistically?  “Public solitude”, which for me means letting myself finish each movement without worrying what anyone might think of my execution.

Do you have a favorite song to pole dance to?  “Sail” by AWOLNATION.

We LOVE music at Divine. What 3 songs would be featured on the soundtrack to YOUR life?  So I guess I get a freebie as I already mentioned “Move On”.

1. “Halycon and On and On” by Orbital

2. “I Am The Highway” by Audioslave

3. “It Was A Very Good Year” by Lizzy Parks

Guilty pleasure:  I’ll say “Grease 2” but I really don’t feel guilty about that at all.  Best. Movie Musical. Ever.

We hear you are from Australia! Out of all the other places in the world, why did you choose Seattle to live?  Ah, l’amour – but I stayed for the weather

Final Question: 

Any inspirational advice you would like to share with new polers?  Give yourself permission to play. Opportunities to let go and just enjoy being ourselves are so rare we should grab them whenever we can.

Miss November 2011: Dawn

Occupation: Certified Sign Language Interpreter/ Behavior Tech/ Bouncer

Your motto: ACCEPT SURRENDER BREATH and BALANCE.

How long have you been pole dancing at Divine? I started May of 2010

Did you have any previous dance or fitness training before starting pole? I have always taken classes and moved somehow - I have kick boxed, belly danced, yoga, been involved in meditation and drumming groups. Pole has been something that I have made the longest committment to, and that each week I look forward to going. If I miss a class it seems to effect my body and mind till the next class.

What made you decide to take pole dancing classes? A dear friend asked if I wanted to go – Pole sounded fun and challenging. I was at a crossroad in my life , I needed to do something for myself- this seemed out of the box for me.

Favorite class? (Spins, Inversions, or Boudoir), and why? I love Boudoir then Spins. If I take the Boudoir class first I get a chance to get out of my head and let my body warn up. I like Spins because I get my exercise and strength. I have not been able to take an Inversions class due to my schedule. I hope I can incorporate it somehow soon.

What is it that you LOVE about pole dancing at Divine? There are so many things. I found a different way to accept myself. After each class I feel calm, energized, sexy, womanly, strong, & confident in myself and my body. The atmosphere is always warm, inviting, and supportive. All the Divine instructors and students are encouraging and fun.

Platforms or legwarmers? Both – I always wear my leg warmers, and love to slide around on the floor, get messy and be comfortable. I’m a high heal challenged kinda girl . The platforms make my legs look fantastic and sexy and help me to climb. So I switch it up according to my mood.

What are you currently working on technically? Trusting myself and building strength. Each class these are skills I really focus on. Being graceful, making climbs and what few spin I have mastered fluid.

What are you working on artistically? Slowing down my body and my mind. Throwing in a bit of fire into my dance and Getting out of my head. Letting go enough to be confident in how my body wants to move. Not thinking about the stresses of the day.

Do you have a favorite song to pole dance to? There are so many, and I feel a connection to so many different types of songs. I’m currently stuck on the following….Hearts a Mess – Gotye, Hometown Glory – Loreleis, Skin – Rihanna, Sail – Awolnation, and always Bloodstream – Stateless.

We LOVE music at Divine. What 3 songs would be featured on the soundtrack to YOUR life?
1. Brick House – Commadores
2. I’m Gonna Be – The Proclaimers
3. She Talks To Angles – Black Crows

Guilty pleasure(s): Any thing with fat & sugar! A hot cup a tea or a class of milk to go with it. Preferably at night when everyone is sleeping, then I don’t have to share.

Any inspirational advice you would like to share with newcomers? DONT GIVE UP! I really is a journey – find your dance, let go of your inhabitions, find the liberation in the movement, connect with the music and your body. Feel the encouragement from the Divine women in the class.

How long have you been pole dancing at Divine?  Since April 2009.

Did you have any previous dance or fitness training before starting pole?  I was a singer in musical theater so I had to take classes in ballet, jazz, and hip hop.

Why did you first decide to start taking pole dancing classes?  I really wanted to find a form of exercise that distracted my brain from thinking that it was “exercise”. I wanted to do something physical that engaged both my brain and body in a fun and challenging way. And because Divine combines both pole dancing and pole as a sport it really appealed to me. I wanted to do something that was totally unrelated to work, but still stay active and have a lot of fun doing it.

What kept you coming back for more?  I loved that there were no mirrors in the studio. There was just the low lighting and soft candle light. I didn’t have to look at a mirror and judge my body as it moved. It was as if I was finally given permission to just “be”. There was no one judging me on how I danced. If anything, I remember we were told not to perform. Instead we were taught to let our bodies listen to the music…find the wave…and then move if our bodies felt like it. Everything in my life (especially when I used to perform on stage) has always been so “choreographed.” I’m a total list-maker and planner! So for the first time I didn’t know or plan what my next move was going to be. And it was the most liberating feeling. It’s something that still surprises me to this day!

Favorite class? (spins, inversions, or boudoir), and why?  Inversions! I love all the classes, but there’s something so exciting and challenging about discovering new ways to hang upside down on a pole that you never thought possible and somehow making it look pretty!

What is it that you LOVE about pole dancing at Divine?  One of the first things that attracted me to Divine was their website. I loved the site’s feminine and playful look and feel. It motivated me to learn more about their philosophy and what they had to offer. Everything that attracted me to their site was exactly what I experienced when I started their classes. The community of teachers and students is not only supportive and fun, but it’s also inspiring! How can you go wrong in a room filled with other women who are cheering you on! I learned how to celebrate being a woman (and enjoy whatever shape I was feeling that day!). I discovered my own femininity and was encouraged to give myself the permission to be playful…sensual…and even sassy… when I danced. No matter what level I was at in class, I never felt out of place. And I have to say I love the way I feel after a class. I feel invigorated and energized, as if my soul has been pampered with a little TLC. When life is tipping just a little too heavily to one side, Divine is my sanctuary…my therapy session. I always feel grounded after I’ve put myself through an inversions class and danced my little heart out. 

Platforms or legwarmers?  I love platforms and how they make your legs look long, but I just love being in legwarmers. There’s something so cozy about them. And they also help me dance messy!

What are you currently working on technically?  I’m trying to relax into the reverse shoulder mount. I’m still really tense and trying to avoid the pain! I’m also working on any of the handstands…for some reason they really freak me out and I feel like I’m going to fall over the wrong way!

What are you working on artistically?  I’m working on how to stay in the wave while making the transition from the floor to an inversion. I need to practice slowing them down and not rushing through each position. My head likes to get in the way and takeover when I’m inverting.

Do you have a favorite song to pole dance to? If so, what is it, and why?  Skin by Rihanna. There’s something very moody about the music and since it’s about intense physical yearning it helps me stay connected to my body, so I don’t let my head get in the way of the dance. But Bloodstream by Stateless is always a favorite! Maybe it’s because it’s one of the first songs I really danced to and got lost in.

We LOVE all music at Divine. What 3 songs would be featured on the soundtrack to YOUR life?
Haha! In this phase right now it would have to be…

1. Adele – Make You Feel My Love
2. Lil Wayne – How to Love
3. Mandy Moore – Gardenia

Double-tall, whole milk, caramel macchiato…wish I could have one every day!

What is your favorite thing about fall in Seattle?  When the leaves change color and the streets are lined with the brilliant red colored trees. Since I’m a romantic, it would also be walking in the rain under an umbrella on a dark Seattle street with the one that makes my heart flutter. Oh and of course…it’s the arrival of Boot season!

<sup>Miss September 2011: Lindsy
　
Occupation: Medical Lab Scientist (“Med Tech”)
　
Your motto: Chocolate makes everything better
　
How long have you been pole dancing at Divine?　About 10 months!
 
Did you have any previous dance or fitness training before starting pole? I’ve been into running since jr high, and I did gymnastics for a couple years growing up. I’ve done a little weight lifting in the last few years, but no real dance experience.
　
What made you decide to take pole dancing classes?　I have no idea, the thought just occurred to me one day to try it. I had actually already bought my own pole when I started at Divine… didn’t take me long to figure out that I was going to need some actual instruction, the youtube videos weren’t cutting it for me!
 
Favorite class? (spins, inversions, or boudoir), and why?  Inversions! I love the challenge of learning each new move or combo, the total body workout I get from it, and how completely exhausted I am at the end.
　
What is it that you LOVE about pole dancing at Divine? The freedom to play and not think, it’s a place where mistakes are ok to make and learn from. As a “lab rat”, I spend a lot of time in a world of procedures, rules, and critical thinking, and there is even a semi-facetious sign in the lab that says: “Don’t make any mistakes!”… but at Divine I can shut that out. It feels good to let my body surprise my brain, speak for itself and remind me that the left-brain is not in charge of everything.
　
Platforms or legwarmers?  I like them both! Or sometimes neither. I do seem to be exceptionally high-heel challenged, so it’s a little harder for me to get out of my head in platforms when I’m worrying about falling, but I love how they look!! Legwarmers are great when I want to spend a lot of time on the floor, I love how they let me slide around.
　
What are you currently working on technically? Transitioning from one inversion to another more fluidly, and building the strength to do some of the more difficult moves. And Twisted Ballerina… I’ve got a long way to go on that one, but the day is coming…
　
What are you working on artistically? Just getting out of my head more completely, and not getting knocked out of my wave so easily.
　
Do you have a favorite song to pole dance to?  Right now I’m loving “Set Fire to the Rain” – Adele, and “Oasis” – Tarja.
　
We LOVE all music at Divine.  What 3 songs would be featured on the soundtrack to YOUR life?　Haha I think this changes constantly, but for right now…
1. “I Will Be Here” – Steven Curtis Chapman
2. “Stay Strong” – Newsboys
3. Something by Nickelback
　
Guilty pleasure(s):</sup>

^{-”Homemade Reeses” (put a big glob of peanut butter on a plate and dip chocolate chips in it – yummy!)}

^{- Eating so much of the raw cookie dough that I don’t have enough left to make the cookies,
-Ice cream for breakfast
-Kenny G}

^{Tell us about what you like to call…”The Furries”…: My babies! They’re furry. Between Sharkie, Sugar, Luke, Leia and Peach, I live in a house full of fur! If it weren’t for my husband, I’d be a crazy cat lady and have turned my house into a cat shelter. One of these wonderful furries has been in my lap the entire time I’ve been answering these questions. I wake up in the morning to find at least 2 or 3 furries on the bed with me, usually my 16-pound Sharkie cat is close enough for me to reach out and snuggle.  They wait up for me when I get home from work at night, and provide a convenient, snuggly alternative to doing housework…
　
Any inspirational advice you would like to share with newcomers? Repetition, repetition. You *can* do those moves that are eluding you, it just takes doing it over and over to convince your body.  Don’t worry about what anyone else is doing, let your own body take its time and find its own way in each new song. And lastly, don’t fight the addiction. Pole is a great addiction!}

Miss August 2011: Ale

 Occupation:  Project manager, and being a brand-new mommy! 

Your motto:  The truth will set you free

How long have you been pole dancing at Divine?   Since October of 2009 (almost two years now, wow!)

Did you have any previous dance or fitness training before starting pole?  I’ve always liked being an active person, but I’m not very consistent. I took dance lessons when I was a little girl, but that’s pretty much my entire dancing history. I also played tennis and volleyball throughout high school and college.

What made you decide to take pole dancing classes?  Trying something new! And it was also out of curiosity… When I heard about pole dancing I suddenly really wanted to try it. I NEVER imagined how much I was going to love it! It is way different of what I expected, and it’s literally the only type of workout I’ve been able to consistently stick to for the past couple of years.

Favorite class? (spins, inversions, or boudoir), and why?  Inversions, because I like the challenge of it! I also love the warm-up of the basic spins class. 

What is it that you LOVE about pole dancing at Divine?  I love the philosophy of Divine Movement, which is transmitted by the instructors (Thanks Angie, Jamie and Trisha! I really think you guys don’t even realize how much good you’ve done to me and to so many others). Divine has taught me to love myself for who I am, and to not be afraid of being sexy and feminine. Divine also helps us women realize how unique we all are, regardless of shape or size. Being a woman is such a beautiful gift, and at Divine we learn to embrace this precious gift by being ourselves, and feeling DIVINE without worrying about what others may think. 

Platforms or legwarmers?  Both! It really depends on the mood, but I love how my legs look with both platforms AND legwarmers.

What are you currently working on technically?  Strengthening my body to the way it was before having a baby!

What are you working on artistically?  I’m working on not thinking too much about where I am technically, and just feeling the music and enjoying myself.

Do you have a favorite song to pole dance to?  This is an old one, but I just love dancing to “Falling in Love At a Coffee Shop” by Landon Pigg, because it reminds me of my first pole dance lessons at Divine. 

We LOVE music at Divine. What 3 songs would be featured on the soundtrack to YOUR life? 

1. “Amazed” by Lonestar

2. “I’m a Believer” by Smash Mouth

3. “She’s in Love with the Boy” by Trisha Yearwood

4. “Nada en comun” by Coda

 Guilty pleasure(s):

1. Waking up reeeally late! 

2. I don’t spend a lot of money buying “things”, but I don’t mind splurging on “experiences” such as traveling, spa services, and restaurants!

We hear you recently welcomed a handsome baby boy to this world ~ congratulations! What was it like poling while pregnant?  Yes! Baby Rod arrived into my world just two months ago, and I just love being a mommy! It was a lot of fun to pole dance while pregnant, and I found that it helped me have a much healthier pregnancy. I was able to do most of the warm-up exercises, which really strengthened my pelvic muscles; this was especially helpful during the birthing process. Also, pole dancing helped me fall in love with my pregnant body, with my brand-new shape and curves! I felt sexy and beautiful, and I can also attribute this to all the great support and compliments I received from students and teachers at Divine – so THANK YOU ALL for your support and friendship! 

Any inspirational/informational advice you would like to share with other new mommies considering taking pole classes?  Go for it! If I could do it, you can too! I continued going to class until I was past 7 months pregnant (only spins; I had to give up inversions at 4 months!), and went back after 6 weeks of giving birth. Talk to your doctor about it, and make sure you skip any exercises that don’t feel right. Other than that, dance away! Pole dancing can be a GREAT workout during pregnancy. It is also a special time for yourself when you can relax, feel beautiful, and enjoy great music and company – at Divine you will find a group of women who will support you and cheer for you, no matter what stage of life you’re at.

Miss July 2011: Lina

Occupation:  Formerly, I worked in international HIV/AIDS programs in Seattle and two southern African countries. I am now enrolling in a PhD program to do research on learning needs of children in the developing world.

Your motto: 

“You’ve got to be willing to get rid of the life you’ve planned in order to have the life that is waiting for you.” – Joseph Campbell

“Don’t ask what the world needs; ask what makes you come alive. Because what the world needs are people who have come alive.” – Howard Thurman 

“For me there is only the traveling on paths that have heart - on any path that may have heart. There I travel and the only worthwhile challenge is to traverse its full length. And there I travel looking, looking – breathlessly.” – Don Juan Matus

 How long have you been pole dancing at Divine? Since July 2010

Did you have any previous dance or fitness training before starting pole?  I had no dance training and was mortified of public dancing. Even my mom would make fun of me at weddings when I tried to dance (“You look like a nail filer.”)  I was and continue to be a very active person and love to move around as much as possible – walking, jogging, yoga, biking.

What made you decide to take pole dancing classes?  Way back in April 2010 I had a total physical breakdown from work exhaustion while I was doing a project in Africa. After being discharged from the hospital and sent back to my hotel, I decided that when I returned to Seattle, I would do something that was the polar opposite to my lifestyle and way of thinking. I desperately needed an antidote to help balance things out in my life; I felt like I was over-scheduled, over-routinized, over-analytical, and completely out of touch with my instincts.  Pole dancing emphasized different ways of moving and knowing – intuition, instinct, mystery, and deep deep trust in the body. Basically all the cool stuff in life. I loved pole-dancing so much that I tried other dance classes – ballet, hip-hop, modern. But those classes emphasized somebody or something else’s ideas. Pole-dancing at Divine curated movements from WOMEN’s own bodies and feelings. Dancing at Divine has been a gateway to so much learning and personal growth because of this.

Favorite class? (spins, inversions, or boudoir), and why?  I just took Angi’s Boudoir Series class and it BLEW MY WORLD APART – in a good way. It challenged me at my core. It acquainted me to the insane multi-dimensionality of being a woman. This included the archetypes mother, child, lover, sister, artist, creator, best friend, warrior, protector, rebel, hell-raiser, defender, and heroine. I came into contact with the  untamed and undomesticated nature of women’s instincts – its kryptonite and we’ve all got it! It’s our nature. We all have these archetypes at varying stages of dormancy  within us and it was liberating to have a class that encouraged us to activate and express them through our bodies. Oh, and the girls in that class totally inspired me with their daring and with their courage to move in ways that did not feel comfortable or even known. It was an amazing class.

What is it that you LOVE about pole dancing at Divine?  I came to pole-dancing class as a 1- or 2-dimensional woman -  trying to fit into too-small ideas about being a girl and about life in general. And now, because of this community, the instructors, this art, and the values of the studio – I feel like an 11,000-dimensional woman. I have grown on all levels and in every direction and feel insanely PROUD to be a woman. It is not only beautiful - it is eerily powerful, mysterious, and when I’m REALLY listening to my body, it feels otherworldly. It’s a privilege! If we don’t know this feeling yet in our minds, it’s okay because our bodies have always known it and never will forget. Our bodies are always waiting for the chance to show us. If we trust our bodies to be our first-responders and lead us into our movement, we will be shown to the center of EVERYTHING. We just have to really let our bodies school us. It requires a political overthrow or regime change against the mind. De-throne the left (analytical) brain! 

Platforms or legwarmers?  Both. And also barefoot. And also with a scarf.

What are you currently working on technically?  I’m still in Basic Inversions and am getting a feel for being upside-down. I like it because it is the same feeling as hanging upside down on the monkey bars with your shirt flipped over your face when you were 7 years old. 

What are you working on artistically?  I’ve discovered new feelings through dance and am waiting to see how they emerge through my body. I’m still in kindergarten with this. For example, when I’m frustrated or joyful, that energy  comes out in 3 rapid-fire hair tosses without planning or thinking – that’s how my body shows frustration and joy at this point. But clearly, “frustrated” and “joyful” are two different emotions. I’m excited for my body to show me what other physical vocabulary it has for the more intense emotions that I’m discovering. Hair-tossing this much is starting to hurt…

Do you have a favorite song to pole dance to?  Anything by the Black Keys. And I’m really into strong female voices now – ones that communicate weirdness and fierceness and unconventionality. Alison Mosshart from the Deadweather and Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s are two good starts for me. They’ve got a bit of hell fire in them, but also love and vulnerability.

 We LOVE music at Divine.  What 3 songs would be featured on the soundtrack to YOUR life? 

 1. Something from Radiohead or Black Keys

2. Something from the Manu Chau and Bob Marley

3. Something from Black Thought from the Roots

4. (and now something from Alison Mosshart or Karen O)

Guilty pleasure:  Pizza, cracking my knuckles, Korean food, People.com, ‘Lil Wayne, alcohol, COFFEE

We hear there are some big and exciting adventures in your near future… what are your travel/life plans (so we can come and visit):  Come visit me! I’ll be in Costa Rica working on some bird and plant conservation stuff before heading to Cambridge (UK) to hunker down into a PhD. Check this out: Cambridge hosts pole classes on campus during exams week: “Lessons will take in the Blue Room of the historic Union building, more commonly used as the venue for debates among venerable statesmen including Winston Churchill, the Dalai Lama and former Archbishop Desmond Tutu (The Telegraph, April 11, 2010).”

 Any inspirational advice you would like to share with newcomers?

• We think our left brain (analytical brain) is supposed to run the show, but that is so not true. That is not the rightful place of the left brain in the Government of Dance. The real stars of the show – the best deciders - are our senses, intuition and instincts. Let them guide you. Even Einstein knew this: “The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant….” So never forget which mind is the master (intuition, right-brain) and which mind is the servant (reason, left-brain)!
• The dancing really begins the moment the music comes on at the warm-up. Don’t think that the warm-up is something you have to “get through,” to get to the dancing and learning part. The boudoir dance starts the moment the music comes on and the minute you let your body respond to it.
• I guess I have to go back to my first “motto,” which is: “You must be willing to get rid of the life you’ve planned in order to have the one that is waiting for you.” Except take out the word “life,” and put in the word “dance.”

Miss June 2011: Jessica

Occupation: Pondering the horizon (recovering graduate student)

Your motto: “If I can’t dance, I don’t want to be part of your revolution” ~Emma Goldman

How long have you been pole dancing at Divine? Since January 2010

Did you have any previous dance or fitness training before starting pole? I have danced my entire life.  Everything from ballet and tap to jazz, modern, hip-hop, two-step, swing, etc.

What made you decide to take pole dancing classes? For years I wanted to learn to pole dance.  In January I moved into a fabulous apartment that had plenty of room for a pole and a dear friend of mine, Beth Dial, recommended Divine.  It was an instant connection.

Favorite class? (spins, inversions, or boudoir), and why?  Boudior.  I simply love to dance.  I love getting out of my head and feeling my body.  I love the candlelight.  I love getting to watch my fellow classmates reclaim their feminine power.  Sitting on those benches and honoring these women as they express such sacred parts of themselves through dance is life changing.  My admiration for femininity is affirmed.   It is healing.  It is magical.  It is prayer and celebration.  It is the best form of therapy in the world.  In Boudior, I get to experiment with what I am wearing, playing with the walls and the floor and my clothes.  All my senses are joyful and I feel incredibly alive.

What is it that you LOVE about pole dancing at Divine?  The atmosphere at Devine is unlike anything I have ever experienced in my life.  It is hard to describe.  The space is so affirming, when you walk in the doors it is like all the mundane and insignificant parts of my life melt away and we just honor each other.  I have never been in a group of women that is so uplifting.  We cheer each other on.  It is as if we get energy from seeing each other succeed and be powerful, which is counter to my pervious experiences in women-only spaces.

Oh, and I have to give a shout out to the instructors.  They really create the space for us.  They are absolutely fantastic.

Platforms or legwarmers? PLATFORMS.  Seriously, dancing in those shoes has opened up an entire new experience of myself and my body.

What are you currently working on technically?  All my inversions.  Because I LOVE to dance, I was surprised to find I also love inversions.  My body has never felt this strong and capable in my entire life.  Inverting for me was about getting over this mentality that I am not capable of hanging upside down, taking my hands of the pole, and keeping my body safe.  I have blown through all the limits I had originally put on myself and I am exploring all of these things I had no idea I could do.  Yet every time I invert, I get totally terrified to dive.  The difference is I have gained this innate trust in my body and I know I can do it.

What are you working on artistically?  I need to get passed my John Mayer-type, slow-moving-Jamie-like music and dance to something with more of a beat.  I just LOVE moving slow, so it is hard to motivate myself to try something new.

Do you have a favorite song to pole dance to?  Yes.  Slow Dancing in a Burning Room

We LOVE music at Divine.  What 3 songs would be featured on the soundtrack to YOUR life?

1. My Strongest Suit, Aida

2. This is Where, The Wailin’ Jenny’s

3. Shoes, Shania Twain (I just realized I have never danced to this at the studio – get ready!!!!).

Guilty pleasure: Can dancing be my guilty pleasure?  If I go more than a couple days without dancing I end up doing a hair toss while walking down the street or vacuuming in my heels.  I would be more than happy dancing every single day for the rest of my life.

You will be leaving Divine soon ~ we are so sad!  Tell us about your fun plans:  I like to think of it as going on sabbatical, because I will be returning in March 2012 – and I am counting down the days!  I am moving to the Bay Area for the summer, getting married in September to a gorgeous woman and moving to Zimbabwe for 6 months for an extended honeymoon.  And yes, I am taking my pole with me to Zimbabwe.

Any inspirational advice you would like to share with newcomers?  I am one of the slowest learners I have ever come across. I will work on a particular move for a month, and a new person will show up and have it down in a day.  So be patient with yourself and never push your body to do something it doesn’t want to do.  I always listen to my body and over time, it eventually agrees with me – and now I am very comfortable hanging upside down!

 Miss May 2011: Susan
 
Occupation: Pilates Instructor (at the moment)

Your motto: Don’t really have one! 

How long have you been pole dancing at Divine?  A little over a year. 

Did you have any previous dance or fitness training before starting pole?  I’ve played sports and/or danced my whole life. 

What made you decide to take pole dancing classes?  I can’t remember the first time I saw someone do it, but it’s been a fascination since then.  When I heard there was an option to learn it outside of a strip club, I knew I had to try it.

Favorite class? (spins, inversions, or boudoir), and why?  It’s sooo dependent on my mood.  Basic spins is like maintenance now.  If I go a week without it, I can tell. Basic Inversions and Advanced Spins always kick my butt, but it’s fun to learn and work on new stuff.  And Boudoir is just love.

What is it that you LOVE about pole dancing at Divine?  I love that there are all kinds of women here, and that my definition of beauty has broadened.  I’ve been in dance my whole life, and the competition with yourself and other dancers can really suffocate your potential.  The atmosphere at Divine is so genuinely loving and accepting of who you are as a woman, at any level of skill or fitness, that it’s been a very healing place for me.  And of course, there’s the fun of finally dancing like you’ve always known you could! 

Platforms or legwarmers?  I love sliding around in legwarmers, but I have to say that I enjoy being 6 feet tall in my platforms!  It just makes you feel sexy. 

What are you currently working on technically?  Walking into inversions and, hopefully soon, learning to incorporate them into dancing without losing the flow.

What are you working on artistically?  Finding new ways to get into and out of the named movements while staying out of my head.

Do you have a favorite song to pole dance to?  There are so many!!  One of my favorite finds from Divine is Radiohead’s “Everything in Its Right Place.”  No matter where I’m at in my head, this seems to always make my body take over. 
 
We LOVE music at Divine.  What 3 songs would be featured on the soundtrack to YOUR life?   (Um, this is not fair, and I plan to live a very long and full life, so some of these are whole albums)
(1.) Of the Colour of the Blue Sky by OK Go  (2.) Le Fabuleux Destin d’Amélie Poulain by Yann Tiersen  (3.) Pickin’ Up After You by Tom Waits and Crystal Gayle
  
Guilty pleasure:  Twilight (I even feel weird putting this in writing!)
  
You are a woman of many talents!  Fill us in on your newest adventure with The Cabiri:  I went to audition for The Cabiri, an aerial dance company, in April, and was invited to join! I’ve never gotten a job directly from an open audition before, and thought I was done with dance, but being at Divine has really been the key to change that. I was able to stay out of my head and just move during the dance part of the audition thanks to practicing it all these months at Divine, and I am sure it made a difference. Since I just started, I don’t know much else about it, but we’re having an open rehearsal on May 1 at 4:30 at Cal Anderson park if anyone wants to watch!
 
Any inspirational advice you would like to share with newcomers?  Everyone feels ridiculous and awkward at first. All the other students and teachers want you to succeed, though, so if they’re watching they’re cheering you on.