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Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Pioneer of Pole: Anna Grundstrom

When I first started talking about interviewing pole dancers from around the globe, Shelly Lamb told me Anna Grundstrom was one of those I absolutely needed to catch up with.  We have finally touched bases, and so here she is:  Anna Grundstrom!!

 
When did you first start pole dancing and how did you get into it?
 
I started taking classes New York Pole Dancing back in 2007 and applied for an instructor position a few months later.

How do you feel pole dancing has changed since you started?
 
When I co-founded USPDF with Wendy Traskos, most interaction in the pole industry existed primarily on YouTube. To see all these pole dancers meet for the very first time at the inaugural US Pole Dance Championship in 2009, I recognized that change was happening.
 
Having watched hundreds of submission videos, I’ve seen a lot of technical and artistic growth throughout the years. New tricks, concepts and movement styles are being presented all the time and will hopefully continue. All art forms experience growth; stages of molding and shaping. Pole dancing is no exception.
 
My personal journey has focused on artistry, which was greatly inspired by my involvement with Brook Notary’s “Pulse Project” 2 years ago. It’s had a major influence on what pole dancing is to me. My individual style and approach to pole started to shift. My movement became more inspired by inner dialogue and telling a story versus just doing pole tricks. My body naturally responded to this new approach to pole dancing. And while this form of self-expression probably existed within me all along, it emerged as an “AHA!” moment while working on Pulse Project. Brook has been an amazing choreographer who has allowed me to organically grow into who I am as a dancer.
 
Who are other pole pioneers that you admire?
 
I don’t follow the industry as closely as I used to since leaving USPDF in 2011. But I greatly appreciate any pole dancer that takes the time to discover who they are as dancers and performers. I know from personal experience that the process can be both fun and frustrating. As artists, we go through this process of imitating, faking, failing, and ultimately daring to push ourselves out of our comfort zones until all that’s left is the real us.
 
What moves me most is witnessing a performer’s artistic drive and purpose: what is their intention or story? And what compels each movement choice? Dance is captivating when performed from that raw space; regardless of difficulty level.
 
Do you own a studio?  If not, where do you currently dance?
 
I don’t own a studio but I teach at New York Pole Dancing at a regular basis, and spend time doing my own personal practice around the corner from my house at Sacred Studio in Brooklyn, which is also the current home of the Pulse Project.
 
Tell us one thing about you that people might be surprised to hear about you.
 
I just got certified in Applied Positive Psychology (CAPP) at the New York Open Center this month.
 
What does 2013 hold for you?
 
I’m performing in a year- long underground series with the Pulse Project. Part 1, “Love & Guts” will be held at Sacred Studio in Brooklyn, May 30th - June 1st. I’m beyond excited! Please, check it out: http://thepulseproject.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/thePULSEproject
 
I’m teaching contemporary pole workshops that are focusing on improvisation, transitions, movement quality and other fun stuff.
 
I’m creating non-dance workshops that teach people simple tools to create more flow and positive emotions in their daily lives using CAPP.
 
I’m co-writing a textbook in positive psychology.

 
_________________
 
Anna Grundstrom
Pole Instructor/Coach, Pulse Project Dancer, CAPP practitioner
 
_________________
 
Check out my previous post about the beginning of the Pulse Project HERE.

Friday, May 17, 2013

Twirl for a Cause...an AIDS Walk Fundraiser!

Twirly Girls Pole Fitness and Club 1220 present...
 
Twirl for a Cause...an AIDS Walk Fundraiser!

Please come support Jimmy Gale in his quest to raise $10,000 for AIDS Walk SF! 

Date:  Saturday, July 6, 2013
Time:  6:00 PM (get there early if you want the best seats)
Location:  Club 1220, 1220 Pine Street, Walnut Creek, California (this is a bar so you must be 21 to attend)

Please join the event on Facebook HERE.

If you have any items you'd like to donate to the raffle, please contact me directly at tazzie at yahoo dot com! 

Come see pole performers from local Bay Area studios such as Twirly Girls, Club Etak, Poletential and Studio Botan.

If you are wondering who might be dancing this evening, here's who we have signed up so far!   From Twirly Girls: Of course, the amazing Jimmy Gale!   Seanmichael Rau!   Robert Carstensen!  Patrick Loranger!   Grace Garcia!   Diana Kottke and Kimberlee Larson!   Alyssa Tran!  We will also have the amazing Kate Cotruvo from Club Etak, Sasha from Etak/Poletential, and V-Girl from Studio Botan/Poletential. And I am hoping the super awesome Jill Anne might be able to join us as well! 

The charge to get in is only $5 and tipping the pole dancers WILL be allowed (respectfully, of course).  The dancers will be donating a portion of their tips to the fundraiser as well. 

Also, BEFORE this event, the charity drag show will be held at Club 1220 on Sunday, June 23.  And if you can't make either event, but would like to donate, please click HERE

Hope to see everyone this summer!

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

May Blog Hop: Questions for a Pole Dancer

This month, for our blog hop, we are answering some questions!  Now, there are a lot of questions, so I will probably skip a few.  Ain't nobody got time to read that much about me!  :-D

THE QUESTIONS

  1. How long have you been pole dancing?  Three and a half years (since December 2009).
  2. What’s your favorite song to pole dance to?  Strangely, no favorites right now.  I do like the Radioactive song that is popular right now.
  3. What’s your favorite pole dance move?  I have been working on plank/layouts. 
  4. What pole move is your nemesis?  Pretty much anything that requires inverting or climbing. 
  5. If you have to classify your dance style, what would it be?  I don't really know anymore.  I used to like to be a little dirty and dance to loud rock songs.  Lately, since my strength hasn't been improving, I've been working on my flow and have been dancing to softer songs than I'm used to.
  6. What inspires your movement? Why do you dance?  My class.  Boys, Girls and Twirls is really what keeps me going.  I have been very frustrated with myself personally and professionally.  But knowing I have to show up every week for them makes me happy.
  7. How often do you train, dance or attend class per week?  I teach once a week and take Sean Michael's Saturday class at Twirly Girls. 
  8. Do you train on both sides when you pole? Why or why not?  I do not.  Bel's theory is that you don't bat left-handed if you're right handed, so training yourself on your weak side can put you at a higher risk for injury.  I have heard many people argue the opposite, especially as you advance, that you better have trained both sides so that if you're 20 feet in the air and get into trouble, you have the strength on either side to get down safely.  I guess I see both sides, but still am not advanced enough for it to matter. 
  9. If you’re not a full time poler, how do you balance work and pole? Friends and pole? Life and Pole?  I am not balancing that so well lately.  I am ready for a big life change soon, I think.
  10. Why did you start a pole dance blog?  I met my friend, Heather, through her blog, and I also started reading Jennifer's Pole Skivvies blog.  Then I decided that I missed writing and needed an outlet, so blogging about my adventures seemed like a great idea.  Who knew it would lead me to all the amazing people I have met!?  I know some people question why I do what I do.  I'm not the best poler, nor the best writer.  I have a day job, so pole isn't my entire life.  But it's fun.  No, I don't necessarily think I will change the pole world.  I don't think I'm so super awesome at pole that people should want to watch me.  I just want people to see that regular people can also pole.  That's why I like to say that pole dance is for everyBODY.  Sure not everyone can do ALL of the tricks, but there is room for everyone to express the art in their own way. 
  11. What does your pole dance blog mainly focus on?  My blog is actually not just about pole.  I talk about everything.  I talk about gastric bypass and weight loss (or gain) and health.  Lately, I've had some health issues, so I've talked about bone spurs and heart problems.  I even talk about depression and anxiety.  I feel like so many people go through life feeling alone, like they are the only ones going through something so I guess my hope is that I reach someone and make them feel like there are people who understand them. 
  12. If you have ever performed, how do you usually prepare your performance?  Performing makes me sick to my stomach but I do it because, I don't know...I feel like it's expected of me.  I always have fun once I'm done and feel like I have accomplished something. 
  13. Also, since its May… does your Mother [or any maternal person in your life] know that you pole dance and what does she think?  Ha!  She's guardedly supportive.  My Mormon mother actually came to a class once and she was ok with it, until Bel encouraged me to perform a piece I was preparing for a showcase, and the song was Darling Nikki.  There went that support. 
  14. Finish this sentence. Pole dancing is….about friendships.  I have met so many amazing people and I really love them all!
Boys, Girls and Twirls at the Lovely Rita Fundraiser at Twirly Girls in April 2013