Student Spotlight

Say Hello to Elizabeth!

By October 24th, 2017 No Comments

“Divine came to me right when I needed it and gave me a new passion, new friends, and new opportunities I never thought possible.”

Miss November 2017:  Elizabeth
 
Occupation:  Editor/Publications Coordinator
 
Your motto or favorite quote:  “What’s coming will come, and we’ll meet it when it does.”

How long have you been pole dancing at Divine?  Over two and a half years.
  
Did you have any previous dance or fitness training before starting pole?  I grew up doing ballet and jazz dance from a very young age until I was about 12, when I was told to continue dance I had to become more competitive and wear pointe shoes. I also played soccer and tried other sports throughout my youth. As an adult, I have dabbled in various fitness activities–long distance running, zumba, barre–but never really found one that stuck until I found Divine.
 
What made you decide to take pole dancing classes? 

I have been involved in the burlesque scene for almost five years now, creating and selling pasties with my friend and business partner on Etsy and out in the Seattle burlesque community. About three years ago we noticed a dance studio was being built in her apartment complex–when I looked it up, I discovered it was a pole dancing studio named Divine Movement. I was immediately interested because of how Divine described itself, what boudoir dance classes meant to them, and the similarities and relations to burlesque. Finding the Groupon soon after online was the cherry on top–I’ve been hooked ever since!

I like to think that Divine came to me on purpose. I had graduated from college not that long before and was getting settled in a job. New people and new possibilities had already become stagnant. I often felt like something was missing, or that I should be doing more. Divine came to me right when I needed it and gave me a new passion, new friends, and new opportunities I never thought possible.
 
Favorite class? (spins, inversions, or boudoir), and why?  Boudoir. Anyone who knows me knows I generally attend boudoir twice a week, almost every week. I always feel stressed about doing things the “right” way in my life–boudoir is a place where everything is the right way. I not only can, but am repeatedly told, to move in whatever ways feel best to my body. Some days I go to class and feel fantastic. Some days I go to class and cry and feel refreshed. Even on days when I feel stuck, I can go to class and go through the motions and everyone around me fills me with words of affirmation. Boudoir is a place where we all love each other and can just find joy in movement and feeling together.

What is it that you LOVE about pole dancing at Divine?  If you’ve read my above answers, you can see I have a lot I love about Divine. I don’t think there is anything I don’t love about Divine. Foremost, there is something wonderful about having a safe place where I can feel good about myself with a family of other fantastic women.
 
Platforms or legwarmers?  Legwarmers–I like to roll and slide across the floor.
 
What are you currently working on technically?  I am just generally working on my strength and flexibility. Strength will aid me well when I get into a wider range of spins, and flexibility aids me every day in having longer lines and more graceful and beautiful moves.

What are you working on artistically?  I am working on letting myself get out of my head, and not just during my dance. I often spend the warm up or my other dances thinking about my song or my moves, but I think my best dances happen when I get out of my head and just let go.

What is your favorite move?  I really love a nice back roll.

What is in your pole bag (ex: grip aid, journal, etc)?  Usually my change of leggings, a pair of leg warmers, and whatever prop or outfit is needed for the boudoir theme.
    
Do you have a favorite song to pole dance to?   It can often depend on my mood, but I always love a song with a lot of beats and pace changes. Meant by Elizaveta is a current favorite.
 
We LOVE music at Divine. What 3 songs would be featured on the soundtrack to YOUR life, and why?  
1. Woman by Kesha. I’m very independent and enjoy running my own life and knowing that I can manage whatever gets thrown at me.
2. Tongues by Joywave. Sometimes I can feel rather disconnected from others, like we’re speaking foreign languages. I think this song describes the struggle with expectation well.
3. She Used to Be Mine by Sara Bareilles. This song talks about self expectations, as well as self reflection. I find myself often struggling between expectation and reality from the past or about the future.
 
Guilty pleasure:  YA fantasy audiobooks, especially if they have some cheesy romance. Think the Mortal Instruments or Hunger Games series.

Final Question: 
Any inspirational advice you would like to share with new polers?  Remember, everyone comes with a different body, a different strength, and different goals. Struggle is part of the journey, but don’t forget it’s okay to deviate and try something else. Sometimes a different perspective, instructor, time, or variant can make a move or theme feel better, and sometimes it’s better to just have fun!