I want to preface this by saying, I'm not being racist with the title of my blog. Just read... you'll see.
My name is Libby Ives and I'm a pole dancer. I first discovered pole dance and pole fitness two years ago in Queensland, Australia. The Gold Coast was my home away from home. I was a student at Griffith University, and every day on my walk to campus, I would pass by Pole Blitz, a studio on the corner of Currumburra and Corporation roads in Ashmore. With "body manufacturing" staring back at me in sizable letters, it was hard not to be intrigued. I began taking classes in February 2011 and was instantly hooked.
For the following nine months I took classes nearly every day. I was addicted to the challenge of mastering new tricks and the endorphins of a solid workout. Not to mention the environment within the studio. Everyone was so positive and supportive of one another. Classes of 10-15 people would include everyone from beginners to advanced students, yet no one ever seemed to feel left out or left behind when it came to learning.
Sadly, after bonding with this snug Pole Blitz family, my uni was over and off back to Canada I went. After being down under for a total of 17 months, settling back into Canadian life took a while (to be honest, a lot of the time I still don't feel settled). It took several months before I found a pole studio to continue my training: Spinbuddies in Newmarket, Ontario.
For anyone who has ever changed studios (dance, yoga, pole, what-have-you) or gyms, you know that not every place runs things the same way and different instructors can have very different approaches. Spinbuddies was different than what I was used to, but somehow it still worked and I fit like a missing puzzle piece into a class of some very talented advanced students. The class was a set group from week to week, which most of my Aussie classes weren't. Plus I was (and unfortunately still am) only taking one class per week; a huge step down from my previous training regimen. But the studio is a half hour drive from where I live in Barrie, Ontario, whereas Pole Blitz was less than a five minute walk away. I guess we make do with what we can and we adapt to compensate for the differences.
I've been at Spinbuddies for about eight months now and it's been incredible to see both myself and my classmates grow as athletes and performers. I also have the added excitement of preparing to start my own classes as an instructor. Beginning February 4th, I will be running beginner classes in Orillia, at Mariposa Dance Company. Becoming the one at the front of the class is both thrilling and nerve-racking, but I'm considering it a giant step in the right direction when it comes to my future career.
