Resolution
. 2016 is coming to a close, and at this point in time we remember the resolutions we had set for ourselves at the beginning of the year. Maybe you were going to workout more, eat better, try to become more financially stable, visit family more, or even travel the world. Some of us have reached those goals and others have not. The thing that gets me about making a resolution is that a resolution is defined as a firm decision to do or not to do something. Many people make a resolution and attempt to be committed to their decision and struggle. This causes some people become negative and give up. I should know, I have been to that point plenty of times this year, where I was ready to give up on my goals. The hardest choice I made was to continue to be positive about my goals. What I would like to remind you of is that a resolution is a choice to do or not to do something. Your choice! This doesn’t mean that every single day that you will be fully committed to your decision. You may lose your path and get lost along the way, but you cannot forget that the power to make a difference for yourself lies within you. No one else. You are the one who will get yourself back on track. Having others to support you along the way is an amazing feeling and it can help drive you to reach your goals. I have been trying to be more committed to reaching my own goals and not trying to focus on what others need or want from me. That last sentence makes me sounds like I am an extremely selfish person, but I can not be my best self unless I take care of own self. At the beginning of 2016, I set a resolution for myself. My resolution was to continue working on my physical strength and to rediscover the person that I truly am. 2016 was not the best year for me. There were significantly more downs than ups, but I am grateful for some of the downs as they have made a stronger person and helped rebuild parts of me that I had lost. I did not reach all of my resolution goals for this year….. but I have made progress. The beauty of the new year is that I don’t have to start all over with my goals. I can keep the goals that I did not yet reach this year and maybe add a few more for the coming year. If you were to meet all of your goals 100% of the time there would be little room for growth. Remember resolutions are not set in stone, just because you made a choice doesn’t mean that it can’t be adjusted or changed to meet your needs. After all a resolution is something you do for yourself. So as we rapidly approach the new year, I am asking you to reflect on what it is that you did in 2016 that you are proud of? Did you reach all or part of your resolution? If you met any portion out it, I am so proud of you!!!!! You tired!!! Trying is the first step to becoming successful. Lastly I ask you to reflect on what decision will you make for yourself this year to meet your needs or better take care of yourself? This year I am choosing one word to help me stick to my resolution. The word I have chosen is FIERCE! What will you choose? I wish each and everyone of you a Happy New Year! Be safe and enjoy bringing in the new year! Janelle
Beware of the Internet
The internet is the best and worst thing ever. We all love the rabbit hole of Instagram videos watching amazing feats of beauty in the air for hours (usually accidentally….I swear I was just going to look for a few minutes….three hours later…) The internet is a great tool for aerialists. It can give us new ideas. It can show us new combinations. And it can inspire us. We encourage our Extreme students to share videos with us that they want to learn. But all those pretty videos can derail us in two very damaging was: No one is posting real life. You take a video until you get it right. Then you type “look at this new thing I tried” and it seems like that was her first attempt. It wasn’t. She failed at her first attempt just like you will when you try it. And she kept trying it, just like you will, until you get it. Internet posts are not reality. A lot of the time you aren’t seeing what goes into the move/post/exercise. This can really damage what you think is “normal”. You are “normal”. You are awesome! People posting are not experts. I love the aerial community for being so supportive. There are great groups that share information and everyone is willing to help. It is so fantastic. However, just because someone posts an “awesome shoulder exercise” does not mean it is in fact healthy for you. There is a LOT of misinformation on fitness, health, muscle use, and exercise online. So when you see something you want to do or try, bring it to your instructors and let’s talk about it. A lot of time there is a reason you’re interested in something but we can find a more healthy way to accomplish your goal. You could really hurt yourself if you did some of the “awesome shoulder exercises” I’ve seen. So use the internet for what it is good for, inspiration, and use the experts at your studio to help you reach your goals with concrete plans and real encouragement.
TTFN–Ta Ta For Now….
First off, GREAT JOB on the Christmas Show everyone! Those were BEAUTIFUL routines, and you all did AMAZING. I just read Paula’s blog post about the headaches that come with the show, so a BIG thanks to her and the instructors for all the hard work they put in to get this show going! I’m so proud of everyone and I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to dance, especially with my awesome routine partners! 😀 Second, it is with sadness that I must say that I will be taking a leave of absence from classes at Aerial Dance. A pressing family situation has arisen, and I will be dedicating much of my time to it in the coming year. I promise I will return once that family situation has been straightened out. I hope to be able to stop by the studio to visit between now and then because I will miss all of you! Even if I am not at the studio, know I’m always here for you and cheering you on! This also means I won’t be writing about my journey anymore, so I want to leave you with some closing pieces of advice: Perpetuate the sisterhood. Share Aerial Dance with others so that they too have the opportunity embark on their own amazing journey and have as much fun as you do. Cheer on your fellow dancers when they have success and offer encouragement when they are having troubles. Help one another. We should reach out to one another no matter the level we are, but upper-level students, I ask this of you: reach out to the beginners and new-ish students you see in practice. Remember how scary it was to be them? I do! Reach out, to say hello and/or to help them with any troubles. It’s always nice to know you have someone there for you that understands, in some way, what you’re going through. This is my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE part of Aerial Dance. Pole and the aerial arts are pretty freeking awesome, but it’s so much better when you get to share it with awesome ladies! Don’t take yourself too seriously. This sport IS fun, so remember to HAVE FUN. It’s OK to close your eyes in a spinning layback or Bat (if you’re cleared and comfortable) and pretend you are flying. I do it every chance I get. Remember to laugh when things start to get frustrating because otherwise, you’ll just burn yourself out with frustration. Take joy in the little things. Celebrate those small victories, whatever they are. Maybe you didn’t get the whole sequence or the whole move, but you did better today than you did last time, and that’s important to celebrate. Punch fear in the face. I bet you that today, you are doing things on the pole or an aerial device that, months ago, you thought were scary or impossible. But here you are. Just look at you, you freeking bada**. When it comes to the moves that scare you, utilize your trusty awesome instructor to spot and guide you and then PUNCH FEAR IN THE FACE because nothing is going to stop you from doing crazy awesome pole and aerial things. I know you can do it (safely 🙂 )!! If you’re not sure that you can punch fear in the face–just go for it! I never knew I could do some of the things I can do until I just went for it! Embrace the journey. This is not a race. There is no set destination here. You are on a lifelong journey of fitness, fun, and awesomeness. Despite what you may think, you do not need to get to a certain point at a certain time. Granted, you ought to still punch fear in the face, but don’t feel undue pressure to be what you are not ready to be. Do it at your own pace and enjoy the sport. I don’t mean be complacent! I’m just saying don’t compare yourself–this is YOUR journey! Perhaps an example will help here. I started in 2012. I did take a long break at one point, but otherwise I have been and Advanced (and occasionally Extreme) student over the last four-ish years. I do believe that every single instructor except for Paula and Leah (duh) started at some point AFTER me, and are now teaching me. Shoot, Instructor Meegan and I took the same class for a while back when levels were numbered! The fact that they have surpassed me has always made me smile. Why? Because that is how their journey has gone, and I am forever grateful for that. Another example: I remember when Paige was a newer student! She was such a rockstar, I would just sit and watch her whip out amazing stuff like she was born to do it (ok pretty sure she IS born to do it because she’s still awesome). In mere months she was teaching! She has grown so much since then as a person and I will miss her when she goes to CA–but I’m glad to have been witness to a part of her journey! Those are my nuggets of wisdom for you as you continue forward on your pole journey. I will miss seeing you every week! I look forward to seeing you all again soon. If you want to stay in touch, feel free to friend me on Facebook, follow me on Instagram at @tenaciousbre, or Snap me at @violetlyte 🙂 Much love to you all, and happy spinning!
'Tis the Season
Hello Everyone!!! Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!! I just have to share my parents gorgeous Christmas tree with all of you! It is 13ft tall and takes almost a week to put up. ‘ Tis the season for the flu, colds, and other yucky illnesses. I was pumped to take a bunch of fitness classes at Aerial this past week, but my body had other plans. I have been battling a super bad cold/sinus infection. YUCK! Needless to say I have not made it to any classes this week. 🙁 I have been dog tired and exhausted by the end of the day. It is my first cold of the season, for that I am grateful that I made it to and beyond the Christmas Show without getting sick. Now I am working on resting and trying to build my energy back up. It is the strangest feeling to exercise 4 to 5 times a week to not going at all for a week. I did try a small workout and was completely exhausted. So I am taking it easy and trying to get better. I have been drinking a ton of water, eating well, loading up on vitamins. On top of being sick, the holiday season is in full swing! This time of year can be extremely busy and many loose track of their exercise routines and eat terribly. I am not saying that I eat healthy all the time and follow strict exercise or eating guidelines, but it is really easy to slip out of the smallest routine that you have and super hard to get back into it. Keeping up with your conditioning and attending pole practice is key to maintain your strength during this off time and to help prevent any possible injury’s. I have seen several articles about preventing holiday weight gain and as I read through some of them I found that I am doing everything wrong. One of the tips is do not position yourself near the food. I am so guilty! I can always be found the the kitchen near the munchies. My only saving grace is that I tend to gravitate to the veggie tray. The list of tips goes on about maintaining your regular sleep and exercise schedule. SHOOT! Guilty again! I have not exercised in a week and my sleep schedule has been off. So as I read through the rest of the list, I kept putting check mark after check mark about what I was doing wrong, and then I hit the last tip on the list. It said, “REMAIN POSITIVE!” The whole time I was reading the tips, I was beating myself up about how I was not keeping up with my goals and then the last tip reminded me that I may be a little off course, but I can always adjust my course back on track. This holiday season I want you to think positive about yourself, yes you may not keep on track, but you have the power to change that and you can!!! You are human and no human is perfect. Love the person that you are, because in this life there are millions of people, but there is only person who is uniquely you! Hopefully I will be seeing you at the studio soon!!! I hope that you all have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Janelle
The work you don't see
After the Christmas Show one of the main comments I get from students is that they would like to have two shows a year. And every instructor promptly says “NO”. Why? Because to put on a show of that magnitude is an insane amount of work for the instructors. Most studios do what we did when we started the Christmas Show. They reserve a date at their own studio. Use their own equipment. Create simple routines that can be practiced daily in the performance space. And it is nice simple event. The problem with this model is that you are limited to ~100 people watching and it has the feel of a studio showcase instead of a Vegas Level show. I tend to like to go big…. A few of the time consuming things that people don’t think about for the show include: Editing the song files. There are 24 or so songs in the Christmas Show and most require that I edit them to a specific length. Some are super easy to cut and take 15 minutes. Others are extremely difficult and take HOURS. One routine in particular wanted something very specific and to get it to work took me a solid 6-7 hours of editing what became a 2:50 minute song! The venue really helps us. Working with Jason at Tanner’s makes some things a lot easier for me. I don’t have to worry about renting chairs or basic room setup, he takes care of it. We meet about 3 times before the show going over details on how I want the room laid out. We also talk about food options and decide what to serve for the party. This past year was nice since we didn’t change venues it was tweaking what already had happened rather than creating. Getting stage poles there. First, I HATE stage poles. They are heavy. They require a lot of setup and lots of constant tightening to keep safe. I know I’m neurotic but I don’t want anyone getting hurt on my watch so using the stage poles is a big worry for me. I have an irrational fear that some day the damn think will just break in half. We bought the best on the market at the time. We’ve taken great care of them. But man do they make me uncomfortable. Last year I bought additional weights to put under them to increase the saftey margin. So now we not only bring 3 stage poles that are heavy and awkward to transport, we also bring twelve 25 pound weights. The X-stage bags the stage pole parts come in are made poorly and rip so we can’t just lift them in the bad using the handles because all of them have ripped to shreds. So we carry them piece by piece and protect them from damage in transport. Then we have to remember the tools to set them up. Rehearsals on stage poles means setting them up. The aerial studio floor is padded and the stage poles dent it so we had to create a way to protect the floor. When it is stage pole rehearsal days the instructors take a solid hour putting up the stage poles. Then checking them constantly. Then taking them down. Have I mentioned they are heavy? Getting aerial in show was a whole new problem last year. We found a rig to rent in Milwaukee so I drive down a few days before to get it and drive it back a few days after the show. Our studio engineer doesn’t love the rig so he reinforces it for maximum stability. We then have to also get the aerial equipment there. Every aerialist likes their own specific hammock/hoop so we have multiple of each. I also back extra span sets since the height is always a questions. It doesn’t perfectly match the practice height so we have to test and adjust at the venue. We need a stage. And of course the stage that we could use from Tanner’s isn’t big enough to accomodate the aerial rig foot print. So I rent a stage from a local company. That means deciding the size I want long in advance and ordering. Then sending studio engineer to the venue whenever it is being set-up to help and make it is where we want it. I’m lucky, Jeff with the staging company is really good to me! Sound and lights are another huge thing that makes the show special. We have hired a proper company, Event Production Systems, the past two years. They are great! We don’t have a rehearsal with them, however, so I create an outline of the show for them called “technical cues”. It has the song, performer names, starting picture and description of starting picture so they know when to start the music, any specific lighting requests or details for each song, etc. Creating this takes hours because it has to be 100% correct. Also created is the stage crew sheet so they know when to move which equipment on and off. There is nothing worse than a show where you are waiting for the set to change. No one’s got time for that! So we enlist a crew of awesome men to make our set changes happen quickly. They arrive early on show day to go over the requirements and facilitate quick changes. All of this is organized and written out in detail to make it work well. Photography and videography are things we’ve been adding to the show the last few years. Students wanted to keep memories from their performances so I coordinate with Debbie Daanen Photography to have pictures taken. We’ve worked with Ashley for about 5 years so she does a great job at catching moves in the “best” angle even with the live show. For videography this is only our second year having the show professionally filmed. We went with a new company this year and I spend a ridiculous
Another year, an amazing show!
Now that the dust has settled, let’s talk Christmas Show. WOW. You are all amazing. This year the show brought a new level of preparedness, artistry, choreography and bad-ass-ery to Appleton. The routines were spectacular. I loved the seamless transitions between dance and pole. The level of skill and work was extremely evident. Walking through the audience I kept hearing about how hard those girls must train and it made me smile. I can’t properly convey how proud you all made me. It wasn’t just the level of choreography and tricks that took a step up this year, so did the costumes! It was really outstanding to see how each group brought a complete performance idea to the stage. Now what? How do we top this? How do we keep offering ways to expand our students skills? Oh don’t worry, we have ideas…. 🙂 There are a few things I need to figure out for 2017. Dancer seating is the biggest one. In 2015 we had 40 dancers and I had 40 seats reserved. Only 6 or so of the seats were actually used as most of the dancers were pacing, standing or backstage. It wasn’t the look I wanted with the first two rows on both side empty. So this year I thought I’d do 30 chairs for the 60 dancers and for some reason everyone wanted to sit and I got a bunch of complaints. So not sure why this year it was so different. And not sure what to do about it for next year. We did sell out of tickets so if every dancer had a reserved chair that would mean a large number of family and friends couldn’t attend. So I’m just not sure what to do. But we’re thinking about it… We’re also thinking about a theme! We’re kicking around a BUNCH of awesome ideas and will hopefully decide soon. And with that will go song choices, which was so much fun this past year. The theme really helped guide the show so we want to keep with that as a basis for music selection. One of the big things I’m working on for 2017 is going to be mind blowing if I can make it happen. The level of trick is growing past the stage pole so we are looking into alternative options….that’s your hint…. We have Tanner’s reserved for Friday December 15 for a dress rehearsal and the 2017 show will be on Saturday December 16, 2017. That’s one year from today so I better get on the planning!
After Christmas Show Withdrawal
Hello My Fellow Aerial Artists! We are closing in on a full week after the Christmas Show, 🙁 I can’t believe that it is already over!!!! The show was absolutely amazing! The routines were on point and the audience was amazed. The day went by incredible fast! It was almost too fast. We began our day with dress rehearsals, then hair and makeup, and tried to eat lunch some where in between. With all the pre-show jitters it was hard to sit still. With it being my first year in the Christmas Show I opted to have my makeup done professionally. This was the best decision that I could have made!!!!! If you are thinking about it for next year, I think it is a must! The ladies that Aerial Dance hires to do makeup are phenomenal! I would recommend them to anyone in a heart beat! My makeup was very dramatic, but it was perfect for our dance routine of Jukebox Hero/I Love Rock and Roll. I wanted dramatic eyes and big 80’s hair! I was astonished by the end results! It was the most makeup I have ever worn, but boy did it help boost my confidence for the day! I have to give a huge shout out to my soon to be sister in law, who hooked me up with Younique Sultry Lip Stain! That is how I came to have sassy red lips. I am not a lipstick or lip stain wearer on a daily basis, so I do not own any of my own. Thankfully she was able to come to my rescue! It really pulled my whole look together! I was so happy to be able to share the experience of the Christmas Show with my close friends and family. My parents were right up front and center! During my performance I tried to look for them, but the stage lights are a little blinding! It felt really great to have own little fan club out in the audience cheering me on. In attendance I had 14 people come!!!!! My family and friends have been a tremendous support for me during my pole journey! I was only able to get a picture with my parents and some of my siblings as the rest of my fan club had to rush off to other holiday events! Each person that I had attend the event were left speechless! They couldn’t believe their eyes! My dad was the first to say that he was extremely impressed with the amount of strength and determination that it took for each women to get up on that stage and perform. My brothers were even making comments about how they don’t have the strength to attempt some of the moves these ladies were performing. My family and friends were really excited to see what the instructors had planned for their solo performances and boy did they not disappoint! It really showcased their hard work and strength! It also made my parents feel more reassured that yes I am safe at Aerial Dance. They also received a better understanding of why I always have so many bruises. I just wouldn’t be right if I didn’t recognize the amazing ladies in my routine! I was blessed to work with five beautiful and caring ladies! Our friendships grew stronger and we became closer! We all put forth our best effort and it showed in our routine. We practiced for countless hours and we were super proud of our finished product. The Christmas Show was a wonderful experience! If you were on the fence about performing this year, and didn’t, DO IT NEXT YEAR!!!! You will not regret your choice. Now that the show is done, I have found myself in a kind of withdrawal stage. The past few months I have been so focused practicing for the Christmas Show that it has created a small void in my life. I am almost at a loss for what to do. It is sad to think that I will not be seeing the incredible ladies I danced with regularly. We all will go back to our regular schedule classes. Thankfully, Aerial has plenty of other classes planned to keep everyone busy over the holiday break. There are some pretty awesome workshops that benefit Instructor Kelly who is participating in the Red Cross’s Dancing with the Stars! These workshops will be happening in the following weeks. I am extremely interested in the Battle of Sexes, co-ed fit class. I am currently looking for a male friend to take it with me. I think it could be fun to have some competition. Also the Santa Baby Chair Workshop is happening this Saturday!!!! Check out Aerial Dance’s website for more information! The Christmas Show was a truly extraordinary experience. I am so happy that I made the decision to perform! Have a great weekend! Stay warm and travel safe in the snow! Janelle
Red Cross Fundraisers!
No experience necessary! Join Instructor Kelly as she fundraises for “Dancing with the Stars” benefiting the American Red Cross. Register online for Santa baby Chair Dance and/or Co-Ed Strong, a co-ed pole and fabric workshop.
It's Show Eve!
It’s almost time! Janelle hit it right on the nose with her post, go check it out! I’ve got some more pieces of advice for you this show eve 🙂 Pack your show bag now. Seriously, when you wake up and you are all set to walk out the door, you’ll thank yourself. I wrote a post last year about this if you need some suggestions. The one thing I would add that I did not have was a mirror. Paula has said it over and over–not a lot of reflective space behind the stage, so bring a mirror and be prepared to share it! If you’re not sure if you should bring something—just bring it. If you don’t use it, someone else might need it. We can help each other out 🙂 . Bring food and water. If you’re a nervous eater like me, then this might be a good idea. Not a whole lot of food, because you don’t want to get ill when you are spinning. Aim for food that gives you long-term energy, like protein. Something sugary can give you that last bit of energy right before you perform. Also, clearly you want to be hydrated for this. It’s cold. Tanner’s is absolutely great and I’m super glad we have the show there. I will just warn you that backstage can get chilly. bring some warm comfy clothes to lounge in and a small blanket. The blanket can stake out your corner and leave you an area where you can keep your bare feet clean. It is also nice to wrap up in them when you’re cold but don’t want to ruin your hair with your sweatshirt 🙂 . Be positive. If you stay positive, it not only helps you but all the ladies around you. Let’s motivate and support one another! 😀 Watch and enjoy. I do love performing, but the best part to me is watching your fellow ladies dance and cheering them on! Don’t forget to whoop and clap–it helps! When in doubt, SMILE. Even if you are nervous, there is something about smiling that can help you feel better. Try it, I dare you. Don’t freak out about your “after-party” outfit. I’m not freaking, but some people might, so l want to address it. Some put a lot of effort into their get-up, and power to them. Just know that you don’t have to be all gussied up if you don’t want to. You just worked your butt off, and if you want to hang out in your sweats, you go right on ahead. You’re a star, and you can do that 😉 . Besides, if you load up on the grip, good luck getting real pants on. Seriously. I learned this the hard way and I want to save you the learning here… looser pants or a dress/skirt are best options if you’re a super-gripped person. Thank. Thank the instructor that choreographed or helped. Thank your dance partners for their dedication to the routine. It’s also very important that you find Paula tomorrow and thank her for organizing this show :). It’s going to be a great day! I can’t wait to see everyone’s routines! Good luck ladies!
ONE DAY!!!!!
IT IS DECEMBER 9TH!!!!!!!!! IT’S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR! THE CHRISTMAS SHOW IS TOMORROW! BE PREPARED TO BE BLOWN AWAY! It seems as if I had just signed up to be in The Christmas Show! That was only two short months ago! At that time it seemed as if December may have been a life time away. In October, I was not confident in my Juliet spin and was extremely nervous about the idea of performing in front of hundreds of people. You see, I was always the person who would not try new things because what if I failed?….. I have let many opportunities pass me by, because I was afraid. When I found Aerial Dance, I had to face my fear of failure. After two years of taking classes at Aerial Dance, I have failed a 1,000 times over and will continue to fail, but with each failure, I grow stronger and more determined. I finally realized that, I am not defined by my failures. I used to think that if you were to perform it would be for others. The truth is that when you decide to show case your talents or whatever it is that makes you happy and share it with the rest of the world, you do it for yourself. No one else. Once I changed my mindset that I was performing in the Christmas Show for me, not the hundreds of people in attendance, it changed the way I viewed my performance. I am not perfect, nor are all the parts of my routine, but I have worked extremely hard and put in countless hours preparing. I am proud of myself regardless of how I do tomorrow. I may slip and slide a little, but I DID IT! As the days dwindle away, that nervous feeling begins to close in again. I am sure that many of the other dances are feeling this same way. Thinking, I am not ready, my routine is not perfect, and am I truly ready to show the world what it is that I really do at Aerial Dance? For me the answer is easy, YES! I am ready to share with the world the accomplishments that I have made in my pole journey. I am as ready as I will ever be for the show. I say bring it on! I would like to give a shout out to Paula the owner of Aerial Dance and all of the instructors for all of their all hard work and time in preparing for the Christmas Show!!!!! I would really like to thank Paula for coordinating people to do makeup before the show! Yes, I wear make up but I do not know the first thing about putting on fake eyelashes. Yesterday, was the first time I had to purchase fake eyelashes in all of my life! The idea of me applying adhesive to my own eyelids sounds like a huge disaster waiting to happen. I would probably glue my eyes wide open! YIKES! Few quick tips for ladies who are performing tomorrow! Remember to drink lots of water today and tomorrow to prevent any cramping from occurring. Be gentle to your body, don’t exercise to hard or stay up too late tonight, you will need all of your strength and rest to perform. Be more conscious of what you are putting in your body tonight and tomorrow morning. Remember to smile or use facial expressions that match your routine! You are performing and it should show on your face! We are not robots! REMEMBER TO EAT TOMORROW MORNING IN ALL HUSTLE AND BUSTLE BEFORE THE SHOW! Most of all, you are gorgeous, and everyone at Aerial Dance is proud of you for all of your hard work! I look forward to seeing everyone tomorrow bright and early for the Christmas Show! Extra little tidbit for today! I know this has nothing to with the Christmas Show, but I have to add this! Yesterday was the first time I was EVER, EVER able to let go in a Double Knee Hold!!!! I was able to do it multiple times! My knee was not very happy, but from the picture you can tell, I was ecstatic!
