Hey love birds 🖤
Did you know that some months ago I stepped on the stage of an international competition of exotic pole dance?! The contest took place in Turin, which happens to be one of my fave towns here in Italy, soI took the opportunity to leave for a weekend with my dude: on friday we'd arrive in town, on saturday morning I'd be competing, on saturday night we'd be attending a nice live gig of electro music.
I danced to a song from A Perfect Circle, one of my fave alt rock bands: I love their dark powerful sounds and Maynard James Keenan's voice is just out of this world. The lyrics fitted perfectly with my state of mind (they always had!) and I finally felt ready to dance to that song - I say this 'cause I wanted to dance to their music since so long but somehow I didn't feel ready. As if I wasn’t a "good enough dancer" to build a choreography on a music I’ve always loved. but eventually I felt I was and I did it.
I not only arranged a coreography on the music I chose, I also decided to use huge feathers fans typical of Burlesque acts - but I did it in a very different, more "dramatic" way. Also, I looked for a costume designer who could help me bring my dream costume alive - yup, she's on the site too @inkedlili 🥰
Though I was a bit nervous when I stepped on the stage, I managed to have some fun anyway. My pole technique is far from being perfect, but I'm getting quite used to be on stage due to the performaces I do here and there, and I could see myself engaging a bit with the judges and the audience. I think it did a difference.
I ranked 5th out of almost 30 people! I knew I did a good job but I didn't know that I was that close to the podium! I was incredibly happy to see how all the hard work paid off 🖤 And being the one who did it, with little to no help from a coach or a trainer, made me even more proud!
Next competition will be in February 2024 and I'm about to start practicing again - I'll be brining the same routine, with some differences in tricks. I want to clean my lines and dance in a smoother way.
I don't think I'll ever get used to the stage and this is what keeps me at doing this: that feeling deep in the stomach when you're right behind the courtain. The exact time you ask yourself why you're doing it... that thrill in your bones, that's why! ✨️
I also want to thank you all for being always so kind and supportive every time I share my pole progress on here. A lot of what I do, I wouldn't be able to do without the support (emotional but also material!) of my online friends.
XO
Lauretta
