“We truly are on different journeys! Enjoy the trip. Watch with amazement as you cheer for your fellow classmates because they are watching you with that same wonder and amazement. Be inspired. Breathe and dance!”
Miss August 2017: Pamela
Occupation: Mom to the most amazing son
Your motto or favorite quote: “My goal is not to be better than anyone else, but better than I used to be.”
And of course the dance ones that I love…
“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain.”
“Dance like a fallen leaf on a windy day.”
“When you dance, your purpose is not to get to a certain place on the floor. It’s to enjoy each step along the way.”
“Dance is a way to find yourself and lose yourself… all at the same time.”
“To watch us dance is to hear our hearts speak.”
How long have you been pole dancing at Divine? Four years in September.
Did you have any previous dance or fitness training before starting pole? No dance experience except Japanese Obon Festival dancing in the summer. I took Crossfit for about a year over 10 years ago.
What made you decide to take pole dancing classes? I saw the Groupon and said to myself, “Why not try?”
Favorite class? (spins, inversions, or boudoir), and why? Boudoir… especially Advanced Boudoir (I will be taking it for the 7th time this fall). I love being challenged to do things artistically and expressing myself. I love the five archetypes we have at Divine and the exercises we are asked to do in class.
Inversions is my second favorite class. I love being able to challenge my body physically and making beautiful shapes..
What is it that you LOVE about pole dancing at Divine? Divine is my second home. It has given me a second family and friendships that I will treasure for my entire life. I have been to showers, weddings, and held new babies and furbabies. I have laughed and cried with these amazing beautiful women. They have seen parts of me that no one ever has. When I walk inside these walls, I am safe. The amazing owners, teachers and students have created a community of love and support. There is no judgement. When I dance, I dance for me. I can be sexy, playful, strong, wild and nurturing or any combination of the above in my dance.
Platforms or legwarmers? Depends… In this temporary studio, I love legwarmers and being able to slide everywhere since the floors are so slick. I love platforms when I am in a mood to be sexy.
What are you currently working on technically? I injured my shoulder three times and have had to deal with taking almost a year off of inverting and spins doing rounds of injections and physical therapy, so I am working on just gaining strength and being patient with myself and working on perfecting that elusive beautiful basic invert.
What are you working on artistically? I am working on always pushing myself to find things that are new and maybe uncomfortable. I love creating new shapes and stretching in my dance. I had fun combining 2 archetypes not too long ago (think It’s a Small world gone crazy Warrior). I dance for myself but I hope people feel the passion I have while I dance.
What is your favorite move? In Boudoir, wallwork, floorwork, walking… ok all of it. In Inversions, Bow and Arrow. In Spins, the classic Fireman.
What is in your pole bag (ex: grip aid, journal, etc)? Oh goodness! This is going to take a bit…
Poledancera Knee pads, Legwarmers, Booty shorts, Sports bra, Leggings, Top, Itac, Pole journal, Flowy skirt, 7 inch Pleasers, kleenex, Mint hand sanitizer, Zipfizz, granola bar, Ginger chews, pen, phone charger.
Do you have a favorite song to pole dance to? Either Way by Chris Stapleton and Piece by Piece covered by Kurt Hugo Schneider, Sam Tsui and Kirsten Collins
We LOVE music at Divine. What 3 songs would be featured on the soundtrack to YOUR life, and why?
I may have to do more than three.
1. I get to love you by Ruelle. For my son.
2. Paralyzed by NF. For all the struggles I have been through and being scared to try to change.
3. Either Way by Chris Stapleton (sorry I had to do this one again).
4. Warrior by Demi Lovato. Divine has given me the strength to become a warrior.
Guilty pleasure:
AMAZING FOOD!!! Ok, I am a total foodie. On Mother’s Day or my birthday, I do research to find the perfect restaurants. Reading reviews and menus. We go out for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Sometimes, we make a whole weekend of it. If we go out of town, or I know we will be in a certain city, I spend a while researching restaurants in the area since I know we will be having a meal there.
Champagne, Very Dry Grey Goose Martini with Three olives, Sushi, Seafood, Wild Game
Final Question:
Any inspirational advice you would like to share with new polers?
We truly are on different journeys! We all have different body types – athletic, slim, curvy, voluptuous, petite, or tall. We all have different strengths and weaknesses. We may have new or old injuries. Some people have flexibility, while others have strength. Some may have both. Some may have neither. Some people are musical. Some people have dance or gymnastic experience. Some dance with emotion while others dance to do spins and inversions. Some people have the time or finances to train only once a month, once a week, a couple times a week or daily. Please don’t compare yourself to others. Enjoy the trip. Watch with amazement as you cheer for your fellow classmates because they are watching you with that same wonder and amazement. Be inspired. Breathe and dance! Remember… “When you dance, your purpose is not to get to a certain place on the floor. It’s to enjoy each step along the way.”
