12.11.10

YOU CAN AAAAAAALWAYS POLE!!!

No matter how injured you are, you can ALWAYS find a pole move to suit!!!
Me x

27.10.10

MY APOLOGIES....

Hi you guys!  I just wanted to make a really short post to let you know that I haven't forgotten you all!  I've been away on workshops for my Exercise to Music course so have been really busy studying etc. 

Please keep your eyes on the blog and on my Facebook - there are some awesome developments in the works and I'm really excited about them - can't wait to share with you!!!

Take care and happy pole-ing in the meantime.
Me
xx

6.10.10

I LOVE MY GIRLS :)

I made a joke a few weeks ago about the way to my heart being through my stomach....and bless her cotton socks, Kayleigh from our Witney classes showed up to class 2 weeks ago with this beauty!!  She even knows me SO well that she brought a knife so that I could dig in immediately!  FYI, it was an AMAZING cake - thank you Kayleigh, so much!! xxx

30.9.10

AMAZING KAREN CHAUNDY MASTER CLASS!!!!

For those of you who weren't able to make it on Sunday, I thought I'd pop a few pictures on here so you can see what we were up to! 

Karen is an incredible pole athlete, and - dare I say it - an even better teacher.  All of us had an amazing hour with her, and I hope everyone learnt alot!  I certainly learnt the pain of the pole burn all over again!! 

We started the day being warmed up and prepared ready for Karen's wisdom, and she started us off with some nice dips and spins round the pole, warming up our shoulders and legs.  For those who aren't familiar with her work, Karen's style is really gymnastic, and she works alot with her feet (think chinese pole climbing).  So, we had our first introduction to 'foot climbing'.  As ever, it is a LOT more difficult than the wonderful Karen makes it look! 

We moved flawlessly onto some much harder moves, including the Flying K - one that I unfortunately didn't master on the day (but will be practising practising practising!!!) but that looks incredible!  I was so proud of and impressed by my girls, they picked things up SO quickly and were so graceful and beautiful - you guys ROCK!!!!!

I'm hoping to show lots of the moves Karen taught in your lessons over the next few week.  If anyone wants to see more pictures, just let me know!

My sincere thanks to Sharon and Simon for helping to fund this incredible day.  We are hoping that many more will follow after Christmas, so definitely be ready!!!



21.9.10

AMAZING KAREN CHAUNDY MASTER CLASS!!!!

To all the fantastic PFA pole ladies….I have some amazing news. …….


Go to your computer right now, and Google ‘Karen Chaundy’. Check out Youtube, her Facebook page, the Bodybarre website, anything you can find. Then dash back to this email.

Because, believe it or not, The Pole Fitness Academy are offering 12 of you the chance of a lifetime. For the BARGAIN price of £35, you can spend an hour with the amazing talent that is Karen Chaundy.

Here’s the blurb on Karen from her website:

Karen Chaundy is the founder and inspiration behind Body Barre. She has immersed herself in the world of fitness and dance all her life starting with gymnastics at 2 years old. Karen continued with gymnastics; training in Bulgaria and competing at regional squad level before becoming a club coach and chief choreographer by the age of 21. She also trained in martial arts and studied dance; performing at charity events as well as choreographing and performing at fashion shows.

A career in professional dance followed and included her greatest highlight of performing as an aerialist and ground based dancer within the Millennium Dome Central Arena Show. Karen has also performed at a Bollywood awards ceremony and as a burlesque dancer on the ITV's drama series ‘The Royal’. More recent work includes choreographing and performing burlesque shows & 80's cabaret.

Karen has continued her knowledge within the fitness industry and formalized this with qualifications with REPS and YMCA gym instructor level 2. She has been selected and qualified to teach New York City Ballet Workout as well as Nike Rockstar Workouts; involvement in these different dance styles has inspired her and continue to feed her creativity.

The workshop will run on Sunday 26th September from 12:30pm – 1:30pm and we only have spaces for 12 lucky Ladies. As above tickets are £35 per person.

Places will go like FIRE for this workshop, and rightly so, and your place can ONLY be secured with full payment. Please call me or text on 07899 722031 or email me at lucycropper@aol.com to secure your place on what will be an amazing hour of pole-foolery! 

9.9.10

DANCE ROUTINES ONLINE

Hi ladies - I know it's taken me a little longer than I wanted, but the CIARA dance routine (mostly used for Level 1 assessment dances) is now online.


It's not fantastic quality but I'm hoping it's enough to be helpful. I've talked you through each part of the beginning of the dance as I do in class, and then the rest of the dance is yours to complete. If you feel more comfortable, you can always repeat the moves I have given you again (if you're not feeling confident about choreographing for yourself) - or you can work in pairs or teams to make up dances.

As always, if there's any feedback at all you know it's more than welcome. I will try to record a better quality version at some point for you.

If you are one of the ladies working on the RIHANNA routine, Jemma and Angela will be posting a version of this online asap - hopefully this evening or tomorrow, so keep checking back.

The videos are available on my Facebook page (search 'Lucy Cropper PoleFitnessAcademy') or at our YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/polefitnessacademy.

Happy dancing!!


L x

5.9.10

Get ready to DANCE!!!!

Hi ladies!



Just a very brief reminder that lots of you have your assessments this week…eek!!


Having seen lots of you practising recently, I have no doubts at all that you are going to be amazing – now all YOU have to do is BELIEVE IT!!


We will be doing shortened warm ups during these assessment sessions, and please remember that if you’d like copies of your dances once I have finished reviewing them, please bring me a blank CD and I will make copies for you. I can no longer upload videos by email or internet, sorry 


Don’t forget to use whatever tools will give you more confidence, whether that be extra make-up, a special outfit, heels, or just an extra dose of self confidence. And don’t forget to bring your music!


Wishing you the very best of luck (which you don’t need!) and really looking forward to seeing you all ‘perform’ this week. Don’t forget, any questions or anxieties, just get in touch! We’ve all been there and most of us still get as nervous as we did on the day of our first dance!


Lots of pole love


L x

30.8.10

PHOTO SHOOOOOT!!

Hey guys - yesterday the wonderful Sian Hudson (an ex-dancer of ours and great photographer) came to the studio and we (gratefully) interrupted our teacher training to have an amazing instructors photo shoot.  Unfortunately some of our instructors weren't available due to the Bank Holiday weekend, but those of us that were there had a fab time - it's actually pretty hard to hold a pole pose for 30 seconds LOL!!  And head shots.....urgh what a nightmare!  The pictures will go on the new website once it goes live, along with a short biography of each instructor....I will let you know when!  

I'd just like to thank Sian from the bottom of my heart and thank all the girls for their commitment and hard work yesterday.  I really hope everyone is happy with their final shots - watch this space!

Thanks again, and Happy Bank Holiday!
L x

27.8.10

I'VE BEEN PUBLISHED!!!!

Hey guys - I just wanted to share some really exciting news.  As you will know, last month I competed at the very first Taylor's Retreat Cup.  I contacted the amazing Pole2Pole Magazine, and they kindly allowed me to submit an article about my experience as a 'competition virgin'. 

This month's Pole2Pole Magazine features a SIX PAGE SPREAD of my article, with photographs!!!  Amazing!!! 

Please buy a copy!  They are around £3 and you can subscribe or buy a single copy at www.pole2polemagazine.co.uk

If you've read the article, I'd love to know what you think :)

Big smiles
L x

25.8.10

NEW CLASS AT AYLESBURY

Hey guys!!  Just to let you know we now have a THIRD class running at the Nuffield Health Centre in Aylesbury, which starts TOMORROW NIGHT!!  If you have any friends who might be interested, please let me know - email me lucycropper@aol.com or give me a call 07899 722031.  Remember, first lesson is FREEEEE!!!!!!

IMPORTANT DATES FOR YOU

Hello ladies!! I know you’ve only just heard from me but I have some important news and dates for your diaries!

ASSESSMENT DATES
As lots of you will know, I have been waffling on about assessment dances for a few weeks. Just to confirm for some of you who have been on holidays or away, here are the dates for the venues that I teach.

Aylesbury
Monday classes 25th October

Bicester
Monday classes 6th September

Didcot
Sunday 3pm class: 29th August
Wednesday classes: 8th September

Witney
7pm class 31st August
8pm class 7th September

You will see that some dates have been moved back a week, just because I’m nice and wanted to give you all a little extra time!

For all other venues, please contact your instructor direct or email me and I will find out your next date for you J

BANK HOLIDAY CLOSURES

As you know we have an upcoming Bank Holiday. This means that some of our Monday classes will be cancelled as the Health Clubs are rarely open on Bank Holidays, or open with skeleton staff and for reduced hours.

Class at both Bicester and Aylesbury venues will NOT RUN on Monday 30th August. However, Pole Play will be available at both venues on the Sunday. Bicester ladies can attend any time on the Sunday as usual, and at Aylesbury the Nuffield Health Centre have kindly agreed to allow Pole Play between the hours of 12pm and 3pm on Sunday 29th August.
UPCOMING COMPETITIONS
October is competition month!! There are quite a few competitions during October, most important the World Pole Championships in Zurich (October 2nd), the British Isles Pole Championships in Essex (15th October) and the European Pole Championships, again in Essex (16th October). If you’d like more information on these competitions, you can google and get all the details, or check out www.pole2polemagazine.com for details of the two Essex Championships.

I’m hoping that lots of us will be going so perhaps nearer the time we could all be in contact and arrange to convoy down?!

Hope you are all well and practising hard!!
L x

17.8.10

New YOUTUBE channel

Hello all - just a quick post to let you know that we now have a new Youtube channel, in accordance with our re-brand from 'Showgirls' to The Pole Fitness Academy.  You can visit the channel at www.youtube.com/polefitnessacademy.  If any of you have home or practice videos that you'd like to be shwon on the channel, do please let me have them, it would be brilliant to get as many students on the channel as possible! 

Now go and get watching!!!

L x

12.8.10

NEW VENUE LAUNCH!!!!

Hey ladies!!

As some of you may know, this weekend we launch our SEVENTH venue, at the Nuffield Health Centre in Aylesbury - yes, we are taking over the world!!

We are also in the process of re-branding the Pole Fitness classes, as we really want to show our commitment to fitness and wellbeing as opposed to the flashier, more performance side of what we do.  SHOWGIRLS has therefore now become The Pole Fitness Academy (PFA).  We have a new website which is due to launch very soon, so keep your eyes on this spot please!!   We have a lovely new logo which you will see very soon...I know you're all going to love it!!

If you have any questions about the re-launch, or if you'd like to book any friends or family members onto taster sessions for classes in Aylesbury, please get in touch!  You can email me anytime on lucycropper@aol.com or find me on Facebook!

Lucy x

24.7.10

Alethea Austin X-Pole Workhshop

I was lucky enough to get a space on X-Pole's Master Class workshop with Alethea Austin on Sunday 18th July 2010, held at Spin City in Bristol.  Spin City Pole Fitness (http://www.spincitypolefitness.com/ ) is run by the lovely Kate Johnstone, who is herself and incredible and accomplished dancer.

I was welcomed by her lovely team, and we then enjoyed (!!!) a 90 minute floorwork session, where we did extreme stretching, floor exercises, and were taught by Alethea how to use every muscle in our bodies to make beautiful shapes and move from pole to pole and around the floor.  It was intense but amazing, and I was surprised how much I enjoyed doing so much work without even touching a pole. 

We were also lucky enough to have Chantelle Pritchard (British Isles Champion 2009) in our group, and it was awesome to watch her pulling her toes over her head while some of us (me!) struggled with our splits training!

We had an amazing day, and I learnt lots and gained lots of new bruises.  I'm looking forward to doing further training, particularly with Kate and her team, who are fabulous!

Let me know if you'd like to be included in any future workshops at Spin City :)

Alethea and I


Chantelle and I

An exhausted team at the end of our 3 hours

Taylor's Retreat Cup 2010


The day finally arrived for my very FIRST competition on 10th July 2010.  The Taylor's Retreat Cup is in its first year, and I am in my first competing year, so I thought it was the perfect place to start!  I've been to Taylor's Retreat previously for an amazing workshop with Alesia Vazmitsel so it was nice to at least be familiar with my surroundings, if nothing else!

The whole day was absolutely incredible, and I was so pleased with my performance.  I placed 7th out of 10 which isn't amazing but, I didn't slip, fall or forget and those were my main worries!  I'm really happy, and am now practising for my next entry at the end of October in the Miss Pole Dance/Fitness UK Semi Pro category.  I may even have managed to persuade some students to compete!!

I am also lucky enough to be having an article published in Pole2Pole magazine's August edition, so you can get full details and photographs of my day out there!  Subscribe or buy a single issue at http://www.pole2polemagazine.co.uk/.

General Update

Hello ladies!  And firstly, may I apologise for the lack of posts on the blog - things have been absolutely manic and unfortunately the blog has suffered!

So, the biggest news is the launch of our newest venue in Caversham, Reading. We started classes there 3 weeks ago with a Thursday evening and Saturday daytime session of Tasters at the beginning of July. Classes began the following week, and are already filling up.  We've got a fantastic group of girls who are already progressing through Level 1 moves, and the classes continue to fill each week. 

You can check out the Club at http://www.clubchf.co.uk/, and if you have any friends or family members who might be interested in trying the class for FREE, please contact me at lucycropper@aol.com, or on 07899 722031. 

Watch this space for our next venue launch in Aylesbury!!

x

11.5.10

Pole dancing on Radio 1

Hey guys!  I was thrilled to hear poledancing reach a wider audience a week or so ago when Fearne Cotton tried poledancing on Radio 1!!!  You can see the video here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p007qtbw?moduserid=100506_fearne_poledance&pid=95977764&upm=False&asb=False&pmp=False#dnaacs

I have obviously offered her a free one-on-one LOL!!

Lucy x

9.5.10

Cancelled holidays, merged classes and master classes!

Hello lovely ladies....and apologies for taking SO long to update this blog.  Things have been manic here, with lots of potential new venues to see, dates to confirm and classes to take. 

As most of you will know, I was supposed to be on holiday from 19th April but due to the stoooopid volcano we are now booked for 28th May.  Hopefully it will be a nice change for you to have different instructors covering your classes - I will of course be asking for feedback when I get home (if I go...fingers crossed!!!).

Our lovely instructor Iszy has also left us this month to jet off to Ibiza, where she will today be enjoying her birthday! Happy Birthday Iszy, we all miss you!  Iszy's departure has meant we have merged some classes together and I must say it's been lovely to have some of my 'old' girls back :)  They've all come along so far and it's lovely to see such progression in their dancing - well done ladies, you know who you are.

I'm off to a master class with Sally-Ann Giles with Bella next Sunday so watch this space for photos and hopefully I will be showing you all some new moves soon!! 

Our blog address has also changed - it's now to be found at http://showgirlspoledance.blogspot.com/.  Please visit and make yourself a follower!!

Talk soon.
Lucy x

22.3.10

MOVE IT!!!

On March 12th I was lucky enough to go to Olympia in London to visit the Move It dance exhibition.  It was a great day out, but my main motivation for attending was to finally meet Stacey and the rest of the team from X-Pole.  Of course it helped that I also got to play on their beautiful X-Stages while I was there, and get some expert (and totally priceless!!) advice from Annie, God bless her :)  My Shoulder Mount is improving no end, and she taught me the start of the Elbow Grip Ayesha which is flipping hard!!  I thought I'd post a few pics (the rest will go on Facebook) for you to see, and I will almost definitely be going next year so, make sure you stay tuned - maybe we can all go together?  ROAD TRIP!!!!!! 



L x

Every girl loves a good shoe.....

Hello my gorgeous girls - I've had quite a few ladies ask me recently about dancing in shoes.  We will often do a 'shoes' lesson, particularly if people are keen, as it's quite a shock the first time you dance in shoes - it really is quite different to dancing barefoot, as the way you move your body weight around on the ball of your foot is totally changed. 

However, if you want to get some shoes for class, or to practice in, I've been buying from a really great ebay store.  The shoes are really good prices, come really beautifully boxed, and have good straps around the ankle (this is really important, particularly for first-time shoe wearers!!).  Please take a look and let me know what you think!!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Showgirl-Centrefold-Stripper-Transparent-Platform-Shoe_W0QQitemZ110475807508QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAdult_Fancy_Dress_UK?var=&hash=item5f75f802ce

L xx

10.3.10

Hi ladies. Apologies for not writing for SUCH a long time. As you may be aware, Showgirls has expanded, and we’re now teaching classes at the following venues:

Inspirations, Didcot
The Fitness Company, Bicester
The Ozone, Oxford
Club Energise, Swindon
TwoTone, Witney

We had a Taster Day in Swindon on Saturday 27th and one in Oxford on Sunday 28th, and they were both REALLY busy. Thanks to Bella and Alex Nye for their help – couldn’t do it without you!

Obviously, all these extra classes and venues has meant that our Instructors in Training have really had to up their game, and they’ve been amazing! Bella (Sharon Auckland), Emma Wixey, Cezz Taylor and Iszy Smitham are already teaching regular classes, and next Tuesday Angela Vaughan and Jemma Carman will take their very first class over at Oxford!! Congratulations to all the Instructors in Training, I’m really proud of the effort and commitment you’ve put in so far. Still a way to go though….

Other than the hectic madness of all this wonderful new stuff, I’ve also been trying to sort out new outfits, as I know lots of you are waiting for them. I promise they should be delivered within the next 4 weeks, bar any disasters. Will keep you up to date.

I’ve also been rehearsing hard for my very first competition in July. I’m REALLY nervous, but it’s now or never!! I’ll post a rehearsal video online at some point and ask for your (honest!) feedback.

NIGHT OUT
1st April – be there or be square! We’re taking a couple of poles to the Oak in Didcot, and ALL venues are invited. It would be amazing to see girls from the new venues meet up with the Didcot ladies – it’s all about pole love!! Bring your boyfriends/husbands/families/friends – it’s an open house and will be a great night out. See you then!!

Ta ta for now.
Lucy x

17.2.10

POLE DANCERS REQUIRED!!

Ladies, a night out has finally been confirmed…..and we want you ALL there!


It’s my birthday on 28th March so to celebrate this, and the launch of our 4 new venues, we’d like you all to join us at The Royal Oak pub in Didcot on Thursday 1st April 2010 for a nice of spinning, climbing, shimmying and general pole-foolery.


There is NO entrance fee, and NO obligation to use the pole(s) that we are taking, just come along, have a drink, a laugh, and meet polers from other venues.

We've always had a fab time at The Oak, and it would be so great for all of you to meet and drink and pole and dance!!!


Please let us know if you’re interested…..details will follow later on!!!

L xx

WANT TO BE UPDATED WHEN I UPDATE???

I've been scrolling through good old Google, and have found some info on how to use Google to help you get updated when I update the blog, so that you don't have to keep checking!!!  Here's the link - I haven't set it up myself yet, but if anyone does and gets it working, please let me know!

http://www.google.com/reader/view/#welcome-page

L x

11.2.10

SHOWGIRLS GO INTERNATIONAL

Our first pole girl goes international!!!  Here's a lovely pic of Sian, one of our Bicester ladies, Showgirl-ing the Dublin way!!  You GO GIRL!!!

NEW VIDEOS!!

Hey ladies!  Bella and I have been going through her camera, and found some video from the Christmas party!  It's the first time I've seen our Christmas routine!!!  Enjoy :)



28.1.10

DANCE ASSESSMENT DATES

DATES FOR DANCE ASSESSMENTS

Tuesday 7.10pm – 23rd February (Level 4)
Tuesday 8.10pm – 9th March (Level 1)
Wednesday 7.30pm – 3rd March (Level 4)
Wednesday 8.30pm – 10th March (Level 5)
Thursday 7.15pm – 18th March (Level 5/6)
Thursdsay 8.15pm – 11th February (Level 1/2)

Remember that as some of you have moved classes/times, you may be doing a slightly different assessment level – just check with me if you’re not sure.

The assessment dances will be videoed, but this is purely for our purposes – it means that we can watch and enjoy your dance, and then assess it via video later on. These videos will NOT be published anywhere without your express permission.

Also, don’t forget you can go as mad as you like for your assessment dances – make up, outfits, props, your own music – this is YOUR time to dance, and we want you all to really enjoy it.

20.1.10

Happy (late!) New Year!!!

Well, here we are, we’re already almost 3 weeks into the New Year, and things are finally getting back to normal. I don’t know about you, but I’m well over the snow!



Because of the weather conditions, lots of classes were cancelled early in the year, so for lots of you, last week was your first ‘proper’ week back. I don’t know about you guys, but the first few practice sessions I had after Christmas made me think I was going to have to give up the pole dancing and try crochet or knitting! Or that perhaps I had left my biceps in Disneyland!!! Don’t worry, I can assure you that your strength and technique will come flying back after just a few sessions, and then we can all really get our teeth into new moves, dance routines and polishing up what we already know.

As most of you will know, I very sadly had to postpone the Karen Chaundy workshop that was planned for 30th January. I totally appreciate that people just didn’t have the cash so soon after Christmas, so we’re going to set a new date in May – so get saving!!! It really would be good if as many of you as possible could get booked on, and by May, even the new starters will be able to take part confidently.

We’ve also put together new warm up and cool down routines, WITH NEW MUSIC!! I, for one, was getting a little weary of the warm up music LOL! Some of you have already had a go at these, and the general feedback has been really good.


For those of you who have ordered clothing, I am hoping to get this sorted during the following week or so, and will be collecting payment over the next fortnight. If you have ordered clothing, please can you bring cash for me either this week or next week, then I can get things ordered asap. If you are thinking of ordering a pole, please let me know asap too, as we are placing a pole order in the next couple of weeks.


Keep checking in on the blog, I will be trying to update it regularly now that we’re all ‘back to normal’!


Lucy x