Miss Drusilla

A dancing, fitness, flexibility logbook.

[missdrusilla]

*palms sweating* Before I got on stage at 2015 Pacific Pole Championships, all I could’ve asked for was that:

1. I didn’t die or fall during my performance 2. That I looked like I belonged up there with the Pros

What I didn’t expect was to be three-way tied for 2nd place. I’m so humbled to have been welcomed onto that stage with open arms, incredibly loud applause and screams, and lots of fist pumping. I’m ecstatic for my 4th place placement, making me an alternate for US Nationals this fall.

If you enjoyed this performance, tapping “Like” on Youtube would help me stay in the running for the Brian Friedman Choreography award. If you didn’t, that’s okay too (i’ll still like you :D). 

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Such full movement and precision! 

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Stop everything you are doing and watch the liquid gold that is Tracee Kafer. 

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Joana Silva shot by John Diaz (x)

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Beach bumming it at a friend's birthday party last weekend. Rare photogenic moment in the scary double knee hang, haha. 

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Now that National Aerial Pole Art is over, I can freely post my winning Pacific Pole Championships (L4 Jr) piece. Incredibly honored to have worked with National champs Sergia Louise Anderson and Mary Kolacinski on this.

My first gold medal! 

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Goal in life is to be as strong and fierce as Sasja.

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I applied to the 2014 Body & Pole Summer Camp Intensive. I'm so scared. Hopefully, I'll get in and will get to spend the summer in New York and play with all the greats!

[caresseisabelle]

Marlo Fisken at our recital this past Saturday. I really hope that one day my movement can be half as fluid as hers.

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I can hear the universe sighing in awe of her wonderousness whenever Marlo dances. 

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I decided to try and challenge myself for my performance at The Vertitude's Circus Burlesque Showcase. I took my existing choreography that I had used for California Pole Dance Championships and tried to set it to completely different music. 

I think this is the "softest" I've ever tried to dance, haha. 

[missdrusilla]

A PPC 2014 Recap

It's been a pretty wild ride since November's training for California Pole Dance Championships. I immediately started choreography for Pacific Pole Championships straight afterwards. Now that PPC is over I have a moment to breathe!

Seeing all of the first time competitors at PPC made me giddy. I love seeing someone go out on stage for the first time and just ride the wave. One of the first performances I watched on Sunday was the Entertainment 4 Senior division. Thank yous are in order for Tilly Erikson and Jamers. Waking up at 7am isn't that bad if the first performances to greet you include a  Michael Jackson medley and a rendition of Singing in the Rain! I missed Tiffany W's performance because I was preparing for mine when she went. She danced to The xx's "Together" and I'm itching for that footage. 

A HUGE congratulations to Margarita Evans and her winning pro-division piece. You shined so bright! 

In the past few months I've learned a lot about vulnerability in my pieces. In my newest piece I really explored what I wanted the piece to say rather than trying to preemptively gauge the audience's reactions with facial expressions. All of the negative emotions that I feel during competitions: inadequacy, intimidation, and fear; I wanted those to live in this piece. I think it was just the kind of catharsis that I needed after CPDC. 

I'm asked a lot about how I come up with my pieces. A few of these I've answered in my competition preparation articles: 

How do you pick your music? 

I want to compete. How do I start that? 

These are a few that aren't. I'll be making full-length articles to address them in the future.

Who does your choreography? My initial choreography and pole passes are all done by myself. I'm blessed to have pole champions Sergia Louise Anderson and Mary Kolacinski as my coaches. They work together to figure out what makes me look my best and also ways to increase the tension and fluidity in my pieces. I think this dovetails nicely into "What resources do I need to become a better dancer?", and the easy answer is that it really does take a village. 

How do you keep so calm on competition day? The day before, I try not to do anything related to the competition. This year I went to an aerial yoga class and took it really easy. Going to movies are also great. I eat a filling meal the night before, usually rice or pasta, so that I don't accidentally forget to eat the day of. I pack my bag the night before so I don't forget anything — this includes snacks. When I wake up, I drink a LOT of water to replenish, make a smoothie, and begin the day's mental prep work. I try to remember that everyone else is just as nervous as I am and that we're all friends. I also try to make the area backstage as friendly as possible; if someone forgot their grip aid, you bet your bottom that I'll give you mine. I find that helping people and laughing keeps me together better than listening to my music over and over. 

What tricks make it into your passes? (Additionally) How long do you train a trick for? If I haven't had a few months of nailing the trick solid, I won't put it in a routine. I plan bail out moves for everything. Preparation really means the difference between life and death when you're 10+ feet off the ground. I take it very seriously. 

More later!

[missdrusilla]

I never would have thought that "I'm Too Sexy" would ever be a song I'd see a pole dance to. Margarita, you rock. 

[missdrusilla]

HOLY SHIT YOU GUYS, I BROUGHT HOME A GOLD MEDAL LAST NIGHT. 

[sam1ster]

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Ooh! Want!

[missdrusilla]

I get a lot of requests for my favorite pole products (grip aids, poles, shoes, shorts, etc) so I thought I'd make a nice little list for you guys. You can check it out here. 

I recently discovered Heel to Toe Sloughing Lotion. Although it sounds counterintuitive to be putting on lotion before you pole, I've found that this stuff makes for excellent grip aid without drying out my already scaly skin. My post-pole skin is soft and smooth! 

[missdrusilla]

Mary Kolacinski's Bronze Medal winning routine from USNPC 2013 (x).

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Anastasia Sokolova at LOFTONE in Switzerland (x)