Australian Pole Festival 2014 - My experience
I'm not quite a whole week home from the Australian Pole Festival. I have worked through my pole depression, my muscular aches, and am comfortably ensconced back to being a blogging recluse in my blogging cave. I have to tell you about my experience before I forget the cool stuff. Prepare yourself, this kind of shit happens when you get older, and is part of the motivation behind this blog - to help me remember my poling adventures, experiences, and opinions.
So, you may or may not know the Australian Pole Festival (from here on to be referred to as Pole Fest) was held at Coolangatta, a part of the southern Gold Coast of Queensland, from October 17-19. I arrived Thursday afternoon, the 16th, to check-in to my hotel and join in the welcome meet and greet that evening.
Thursday night's meet and greet
The venue:
In a nutshell it was perfect. On one side of the road was the accommodation - the Outriggers Resort. Walk across an air-conditioned, carpeted, security monitored, above the road walkway and up one flight of stairs, to the workshop/market stalls/buffet luncheon/chat chair area; the third floor function rooms of the Twin Towns Services Club.
I just loved how this venue enabled us to stay almost in a complete Pole bubble for the whole time we were there. No catching transport to a multitude of various locations. No rushing to off site timetable events so no having to get changed. No awkward gawking, okay maybe a little bit of that but enough to handle. Having it all on one site just made it so relaxing and stress free. I thought it was just the ideal set up and I can't rave enough about it.
One of the workshop rooms
The workshops:
In total I attended twelve workshops. Six on the first day, which I thought was going to kill me but in hindsight was the best thing. Three workshops on day two and three workshops on day three. There was optional yoga each morning as well as a final yoga option on the last day before leaving Pole Fest. I'm not yet a yoga devotee so I dodged that one and either lolled about in bed longer or dawdled a bit getting ready.
The workshops covered a broad range of specialties, all relatable to poling and to the level group you were placed in to. I was in a beginner level so the workshops I attended involved activities like: acro lap, twerk & pop, flex, pole vixen, heel bangs, lyrical pole, spinning pole, stretch, choreography, pole moves, and bringing sexy back. Great range covered you'd have to agree.
One of the keys to really enjoying Pole Fest is recognising the information, tips, and routines are for you to take away with you, not to perfect then and there. These are new skills to be developed and honed once back at your home studio. Pole Fest is about establishing the baseline, the expectation, you then take from that what you want and develop it further.
During a workshop
The instructors:
Lou Landers: the queen of booty/twerk
Amber Ray: the queen of lyrical, organic dance
Kristy Sellars: choreography queen, technique wizard, contemporary dancer
Michelle Shimmy: the stripper gymnast herself
Jedda J Jordan: getting your flexy on, Miss Pole Dance 2014
Leigh Ann Reilly, the only import this year. From LA, yes as in USA, as in California, as in Los Angeles. *whispering breathily* Leigh Ann is my current pole crush!
First up I have to say the instructors were all AMAZING. When giving their workshops each was unbelievably professional, incredibly helpful, patient and understanding. They altered their approach to each group, and even each person, based on what we could comfortably and confidently do. We were encouraged to push ourselves and guided each step of the way. And they were generous beyond a fault. We were allowed to, and even encouraged, to record routines, techniques, tips and tricks. Of course on the proviso we kept the recordings personal and didn't publish or share them. Fair enough as far as I'm concerned, this is how these guys make an income. Using it beyond your personal use is just not cool. And really, they didn't have to let us record them, they could have justifiably said no to protect their business, their brands, and their knowledge. Allowing and encouraging this just makes me love them all the more.
Even when on down time, in between sessions, or taking a break, these ladies were so real, so approachable, so friendly. They mingled, they worked their stalls, they even wore each others merchandise, mucked around and laughed. Hell I'm just gonna say it... THERE WERE NO DIVA'S... and definitely no diva moments, well certainly NOT from the instructors (I can't give details cause I'm not that kinda blogger, I'm the type to tease and hint... buy me a coffee one day and I may spill).
I think the thing I was most proud of in spending time with the instructors is what an opportunity Pole Fest gave to show the talent we have in this country. These professional pole dancers and quality educators, with some serious qualifications I will add too, each of them are just wonderful. The years of experience in honing their craft, and the generosity in sharing even the smallest of tips, which in my case helped me overcome a huge block, well I just can't thank them enough. The Australian Pole Dance community definitely has professionals we can be very proud of.
Instructors before the Hollywood Glamour Showcase
I guess you can tell I had an amazing time at Pole Fest. I can guarantee that any time it's on in the future I will most definitely be attending. I'm glad I didn't let being a beginner or alone in my group stop me either. I got so much out of it, I brought so much home with me to work on, and I've been motivated and inspired. Seriously consider saving your money to attend, or pay it off weekly when it comes up next. Keep your eyes open around March when information starts to filter through. My suggestion is like the Australia Pole Festival's Facebook page, make sure you check you want notifications, that way you'll definitely know when things are about to happen.
Hopefully I'll see you at a future Pole Fest, heck we may even be in the same group, yay!
