Running Away to Join the Circus

Anyone who knows me knows I LOOOOOOOVE to talk about 'my studio'. Pure-Studios, my home away from home, has been apart of my life for 4 years now and I can't imagine staying sane without it.

I've had difficulties adjusting to life in the UK and with life in general, but when I found Pure-Studios 4 years ago and started Pole Dancing, I knew I found my tribe. I started Pole Dancing once a week, on and off for about a year and a bit, then took to new adventures--tried a Chair routine, a burlesque routine, and a hoop routine. Then a brand new studio brought a range of classes throughout the week and I was sold--Unlimited Classes Membership please! 👍

 

Now, I normally like to do 2 nights a week, maybe an odd 3rd every so often, but lately I've found myself doing 4 nights, 9 classes a week--and that's not even a full docket.


I was thinking about everything that I've been able to do at the studio (so far I've only NOT tried 1 discipline and only a handful of classes), and which were my favorite/least favorite disciplines.




So here are my thoughts on all the disciplines offered (the ones in blue are classes I've tried in each discipline) in order of my personal favorites:

1. Pole Dancing
   Offered at Pure-Studios: Beginners Pole, Improvers Pole, Mixed Ability Pole, Spins Flow |& Trick Combinations, Pole Flow, Sexy Pole Flow,  Beginners 6-week pole routine, Improvers 6-week pole routine, 6-week Sexy Pole Routine, 6-week Spinny Pole Routine
   
   My Point Of View: I love pole dancing because there's such a stigma attached to it that it's trashy, but it actually takes a lot of grace and hard work to balance yourself and bend your body unnaturally against metal. Personally, I prefer the Flow classes or 6-week routine courses because its more dancing to music rather than just learning and executing a move, but pole will always be my first love.
   
2. Aerial Hoop/Lyra
   Offered: Beginners 6-week hoop routine, Improvers 6-week hoop routine, Intermediate 6-week hoop routine, Hoop Tricks & Combinations, *Aerial Training, Youth Hoop 6-week course, Kids Aerial Hoop, Kids Improvers Aerial Hoop
   
   My POV: LOVE! possibly my favorite discipline after dancing around a pole. Again, I prefer the 6-week routine courses so I can dance to music, but I find the static moves more achievable in a hoop and can look pretty on their own. Hoop was painful and hard to start with (I cried by first lesson) but I've grown to love it and it's the class I get most excited for during the week because its fun and it challenges my strength and ability no matter what level I grow to.
   
3. "Smoothment" (6-week course)
   My POV: I've only taken this class once, but it's one of my favorite classes. I learned a lot movement and how I could take how I move and make it more fluid, softer, and prettier. This was something that I learned a lot from and can take into my other forms of dance. Plus the warm up was hilarious and the music was so soooooothing.
   
4. Burlesque (6-week routine)My POV: I love the art form of Burlesque--the history behind the 'art of the tease'. It's not all about taking clothes off, it's about how you get there in an entertaining way. I love learning choreography and each style of burlesque is unique and entertaining to work with.
   
5. Chair Dancing (6-week routine)My POV: So much fun. And each instructor brings out a different style or interpretation of chair dancing--sexy/sultry, music video-esque, Fosse style.... There are some challenges with Chair dancing, whether that's new chair balances, or getting a very specific transition move, but I enjoy really getting stuck into a new routine.
   
6. ContortionMy POV: I prefer this over stretch & flex because I've seen more results of increased movement and flexibility in myself.. I also prefer the stretches more in Contortion; I've always had trouble with my back and I can feel more movement in my upper back when I come to contortion.
   
7. Stretch & FlexMy POV: I don't go to this class too often anymore because of everything that is offered at the studio but it's a really great 'easy' class that can improve flexibility and have a less intense workout (active stretches!).
8. Static Trapeze (Beginners 6-week routine)My POV: At first I did not believe it--there is something more exhausting than Silks and more painful than hoop. That was my first lesson. I soon learned I was being a whimp. I've only just started Trapeze, but it's growing on me.  I've come to realize that although similar to hoop, it is hard and it is painful, but that's just the body getting used to laying on a straight metal bar instead of curving your body into a hoop. I prefer hoop, but the jury is still out on this one....I may have to take another course to make an informed decision.
   
9. Aerial Tissue/SilksOffered: Foundation 6-week course, Beginners 6-week routine, Improvers 6-week routine, *Aerial Training
   
   My POV: Not my thing. I've tried silks 3 times and I still cannot get over how crap I am at it. Some things I can do and make it look pretty, some moves are hard but if I push myself I can just about get them, then there's some stuff that just seems unachievable and that's quite discouraging for me. 
   
10. Ballet (6-week routine)
    My POV: Haven't been, so I couldn't say. But ballet, although pretty has never been something I wanted to pursue. All I know is that Beth, who teaches ballet is lovely. :)

Overall, the classes and the instructors are all great and people who come to this studio are welcoming, inclusive, and friendly. I love learning new things, I love having fun while I work out, I love making friends with people who I have common interests with, and I love feeling confident strong and capable of doing things that others never dare to try.