First Performance Night

My pole studio had its first performance night Friday the 20th of September 2013. The inaugural performance night of many, many, many to come.

Let me say from the get go I was a tad nervous, particularly in the lead up to it. Okay I was shitting the proverbial bricks. I have not danced performance wise (I do try to get my groove on daily be it in the car, in the kitchen, or in the shower), in an incredibly long time so I was feeling terribly self conscious.

In her wisdom the ever gorgeous and thoughtful Karla kept performance night to only studio members and their bring-a-friend from the week before. Not having partners or friends and family was a huge relief for me. I had already thrown my trust in with these other women who pole at our studio so performing with them and for them, while daunting, didn't have me wanting to pass out or pee myself.

The theme for the night was girl power and pink. I must have lost part of my hearing in the panic over performing and only focused on girl power. Let me give you some background...

Life being what life is, things became hectic. I got caught up in sitting my advanced remedial massage practicals, kids and their sporting commitments, avoiding the ironing - about 4 weeks worth now, and before I knew it, it was Friday and the performance was that night and I had no costume, or anything pink.

Spotlight beckoned me. I couldn't get in to any of the costume shops in the city, I only had a three hour window and still had things to sort for my kids. Luckily I found one, it fitted and basically it came down to "That'll do".

My bring-a-friend had to legitimately bail so I took my daughter along, even though she was on crutches. I just needed someone this first time. I drove to the Pole Gym very, very carefully. Tonight was not a night to be pulled over or have an accident. Eventually I found myself parking the car and sucking in a few deep breaths. I opened the Pole Gym door and it was decorated and lit up beautifully. People blinked when they saw me and I swallowed even though my mouth had gone completely dry thinking maybe I was a tad too enthusiastic in my costume choice - no pink in sight on me!

I can do this...

Squeals followed, and laughter, and praise, so I was happy. Shy, still and out of my comfort zone big time, but relaxing minute by minute. I was okay that I chose to perform as Wonder Woman - one of the ultimates in girl power, maybe if I'd had more time or planning I could have changed her top to a pink one but desperate times call for desperate measures, store bought without any Deb personalising just had to do.

We were entertained by the staff performing, the girls who did the short course showed us what they'd learned, us level 1's did our routine and we did damn good too if I say so myself. Everyone just seemed to have reached that mindset of "I'm doing this so let's get on with it", and we did. Some grads performed and showed us what we could achieve if we stick with it, very inspiring. Then Karla gave us the chance to perform level 1 again. I'm pretty sure ALL of us leapt up and had a second shot. We were all far more relaxed and really grooved into it this time around. There was even giggling this time, not so serious.

Performing as a group for the first time

A huge surprise on the night was the giving out of Teacher Awards, and yes I got one.

I think I screamed, I'm not sure, I know some kind of guttural noise escaped me. I kept thinking don't cry, don't cry, don't cry. Even though I wanted to sob hysterically like that time Gwenyth Paltrow did when she accepted her Oscar, this felt just as amazing and overwhelming but I managed to keep the tears, snot and sobs in and enjoyed the feeling. I haven't won an award for something in a very long time, it felt really good.

I popped my wonder Woman belt in the excitement

It has been weeks and I am still up myself about it, teasing my family that I got an award that proves I'm awesome, so I'm awesome. Oh, you want me to iron, no sorry can't do that - I'm too awesome. Cook dinner, no, not going to happen - I'm awesome, got an award to prove it. Awesome.

So the scary step of starting poling, joining a group of people and not knowing a single person, making my body move in unfamiliar ways, motivating myself to get fitter as the clothes become smaller - need more skin to grip as the tricks become more challenging, that first step is over now. I am so glad I made the decision, so glad I didn't make excuses not to.

I think women who are contemplating poling really need to come up with reasons supporting why they should pole, and why haven't they started already, and stop with the excuses to not give it a go. If you've gone so far as to phone, or email, or make some form of enquiry, that tells me you're ready to give poling a shot, you just haven't realised it fully yet. You have to tip that desire, that want, into action. My suggestion: book the Taster - it's free, open the door and cross that threshold, look at us - we don't mind and we remember what it was like. You will see young women, older women, voluptuous women, thin women, boobs, butts, flat chests, no bums, muscles, flab, tummies, wobbles, six packs, cellulite, guns. Just women who are learning to be at ease with themselves and at ease with others in shorty shorts and tanks, or even less. Your have nothing to lose I can promise you that.

You might even get an award!