Blumineck

Pole Freestyle

I realised I don't often post any actual routines or dance sequences, so here's something I threw togther in the moment when this song came on shuffle. It's not exactly a full performance- there's no real story here- but it was nice to just move to music for a while!

Side Flip Tutorial (part 3): Final Steps

Do the thing! (As long as you feel safe to do so)

Side Flip Tutorial (part 2): Exits

Once you've done the first half, time for the second!

Send Me Pose Requests!

Oh, also: this time next week, I'm meeting up for a shooting session with Null Entity, who shoots stock photos, for a pose photography photoshoot. We'll have bows, swords and poles available, so let me know if there are some particular references/ poses that you'd like to see!

Side Flip Tutorial (part 1): Entry

This is basically the first half of the move, all packaged together. Spend some time on it, so that you don't feel like you're only just able to make the catch. It should be quite repeatable after a while!

Pole Tutorial: Side Flip (intro)

No idea if this is the move's real name! I'd probably pitch this as an intermediate difficulty move overall, but it's a very fun and approachable flip.

Buying a pole (part 2)

This is a breakdown of some of the technical details to look out for on a pole if you're looking to buy.

Quick guide to buying poles (part 1)

Generally, you can get a long way with the poles you have access to in a studio, but if you want to progress faster, it can be useful to have a home pole. Here is a breakdown of some of the types that I've come across.

Cradle & Jamilla: Extensions

If you've got Jamilla and are wondering where to go from there, here are some ideas!

Jamilla

...and then from Cradle to Jamilla itself!

Cradle Spins

And now let's take it into a full cradle, both in spin and static poses!

Cradle & Jamilla: first steps

Sorry for the relative spamming here: technical issues earlier in the week mean I'm a bit behind on posting!

Here are some things to think about as you start to move towards the pole for these moves!

Jamilla: Wrist & Hip Warm-up

This is primarily for the Cradle/Jamilla series, but these are useful warmups (especially the wrist ones) for a variety of pole moves.

I'd recommend doing some of these as part of a more extended warm-up featuring some cardio and active stretching!

Cradle & Jamilla: Intro

Hopefully the sound works this time!

Jamilla was a requested move, and not one of my go-tos, but I enjoyed rediscovering it for this series!

Thank you!

Just some reflections as I walk around town today. Thank you all for all of your support, financially and emotionally. It means so much to me to have people behind me who love and support my work, and that keeps me going when it's cold, or I'm tired, or whatever. And of course, I couldn't afford to do all of this without you all. So thank you, and here's to the future!

Beginner Pole Class (part 6): Cooldown

This is a crucial addendum to any pole class- pole can be a lot like weight lifting, in that it takes the form of several high intensity reps of hard moves, but it also can push at the rangea of your flexibility, so a proper cooldown is crucial to keep your joints and muscles healthy!

Beginner Pole Class (part 5): Seats

Sorry for the trickle-through uploads here: coming to the end of this series now with seats: a static hold that some people find very easy, and others (like me) can take a long time to get the hang of. Don't be discouraged if something seems simple to others but not to you - everyone's journey is different, and we all put points into our pole skill tree in a different order!

Jarmakee breakdown (part 2)

More points on Jarmakee, including some muscle engagement stuff

Beginner Pole Class (part 4): Climbs

Climbs are not necessarily beginner moves in pole, but they are essential for most intermediate moves, so I like to introduce the building blocks early, and revisit them regularly.

Beginner Pole Class (part 3): Chair Spin combo

This is a short transition that puts the two chair spin variations together.

Beginner Pole Class (part 2): Chair Spins

After floorwork, I'll try to cover some static spins. These use a little more strength, and can pose more of a mental hurdle as you need to convince yourself to actually leave the ground. Don't worry if it takes some time to get past this, or if you slide down quickly at the start. All of this can be built up and improved on over time!

Beginner Pole Class (part 1): Step Around and Pirouette

I like to do some static floorwork in my intro classes, so that people can get a feel for the pole without feeling like they need lots of strength to get started. These sort of moves take a little coordination, but can usually be picked up reasonably quickly!

Beginner Pole Class: Intro

This is a slightly different tutorial concept, so let me know what you think: for this next series, I'll be posting a set of videos that will essentially add up to a condensed pole class.

Partly this is because some of the beginner moves are a little harder to do a full series on, and this allows me to put a few more moves out quickly, and partly it's to show a little more of how I'd structure a class, in case that interests anyone.

Pole Tips: Warming Up

Warm ups are crucial for reducing injury when doing intense activity like pole dance. Here's essentially a speed run of one of my usual warm ups.

I do tend to vary the exercises depending on what sort of moves I'm doing, but as a rule, if you start at the top of the body and try to warm up as many of the main muscle groups as you can from your head to your feet, you'll be good to go!

Goofing around in the studio

I was teaching a 1 to 1 class and I found this outfit lying around in a corner. Gremlin mode activated and I ended up trying it on and doing a quick combo jam!

Crucifix Tips: Jumps (part 2)

The second half of the video on jumping into crucifix. Take your time with these drills, and build your confidence slowly, and you'll be jumping into it in no time!

Crucifix Tips: Jumps (part 1)

This is the big one! Jumping into moves can be scary, but once you break it down and get comfortable with it, it's a fun, showy and reliable entry into a combo!

Crucifix Tips: Progressions

Once you have the hold down, you might want to progress towards hands-free and inverted variants. Inverted Crucifix in particular is a great move to have in your arsenal, as it looks very dramatic, but it's arguably more stable than the upright version (as long as you're not scared of being upside down!)

Crucifix Tips: Prep & Getting Started

If you've not done Crucifix before, here are some tips for making sure you start off on the right foot (or your left if you prefer!)

If you have, here are some tips to make sure it's as strong and stable as it can be!

Crucifix Tips: Intro

Crucifix is one of the earlier moves that is taught in many studios, and it is the base from which you can enter into a whole bunch of positions. Here are some tips for how to get started, learn the move, and then take it to the next level