Podium Dancing

hi all

Well it's been a hectic couple of weeks for me with my main work. I've been up to Birmingham for a team meeting which meant a very early start for me - trust me I'm not usually a morning person!
I've had a really great weekend in the Plymouth studio. I was teaching my normal Thursday night and then had 2 classes on Friday eve and a further hen party on Saturday morning before Nixi then stretched me out in her flexibility class. I'm putting together my routine to teach you for my sequencing Masterclass next Saturday at 1.30pm. I'm quite excited about it as I'm doing something fun, and a little faster than my last routine to be in complete contrast and trying a few different tricks in it. Don't worry if you're not that advanced I'm structuring it so that everyone will be able to do the dance elements and the tricks can be adapted to whatever level you are working at whether beginner or more advanced - hope to see some of you there.
Thought I'd just share with you a video of my audition/warm up set of my club dancing in Berties from a week ago on Saturday night. Many of you know I used to be a part time club dancer - some of you may even have seen me in Destiny's - but since that shut I haven't really done my club dancing having found my new passion of Pole dancing with the Art of Dance. I've really missed it so was great when Berties asked me to dance for them after they have done a bit of a refit of the club. I'll be there on Sat nights for a while until the summer so if you ever venture down to Newquay come and say hello. The podium is a bit small and has a wall directly behind me but otherwise all went well considering it's been over 2 years and I'll be 34 this year!. I even managed to get a pole move in....

xxx

New pictures

Thank to Chris trent from Global Eye photography for the new picture of me!

Face of Exeter performance

Hello all

Firstly a huge welcome back to Julie who attends my Exeter classes - (gold star to me as I remembered to call her Mrs Julie Morgan!) but also a farewell to a couple of my students there -Jane & Kylie. Kylie is starting her own business so they both won't be attending for a few weeks whilst Kylie gets this up and running. Wishing you all the best with your new venture Kylie and hurry back - we'll all miss you and your Mum.

I'll be seeing you all again next week and Kelly will be in again shadowing me. I think you'll agree she did a fantastic cool down last week and will be a great asset to the Art of Dance. I had a great session with Sam and Kelly yesterday going through our syllabus and going over some moves - I even achieved a new one myself so watch out!

Thought you might like to see the video of myself performing at the Face of Exeter model competition last September. It took me forever to work out how to turn it the right way up on my computer as my friend had recorded it sideways on my camera! Sam and I were both asked to perform as part of the fashion and hair show and I was the opener to the show. Hope you enjoy.

See you all soon

xxx

Bits & Pieces & Inverts masterclass

Well it takes me a while and then you get a couple of posts in the one week - you can tell I'm off work this week and have a bit more time to do my blog.
Nixi and I caught up and had some time going through our moves in the studio on Tuesday and earning a few more bruises from the session we did at the weekend. Check out the videos Sam has put up of all the instructors practising together - i think you'll agree a pretty good bunch we are!!
Whilst in the studio a couple of our students coming in for their lesson mentioned the photos I had taken from our Spearmint Rhino night the week before Xmas - so just for you here are a couple of the photos from the night ...better late than never and a reminder of the old studio!

Don't forget our master class day this Saturday. I'm taking the 11am class covering inverts. If you have just started inverting or are now working on the likes of the gemini, scorpio, mantis,chopper - then this class is for you as I'll be looking at your technique and helping you improve your hold of these moves and give some variations on the basics. It will also give you an opportunity to test your strength and stamina doing a whole hour dedicated to inverts - believe me it's more tiring than you may think!

see you soon xxx

Congratulations Julie!

For those of you that know one of my students Julie Bowden from both the Plymouth and Exeter studio - a big congratulations to her and her partner Tim who tied the knot this Saturday. I'll now have to get used to calling her Mrs Julie Morgan - which for those of you who know me is never an easy thing as I have a real problem remembering names.
Well I love an excuse to dress up and Steve & I were lucky enough to be invited to join the wedding party at the beautiful Orestone Manor at Maidencombe. Julie looked stunning and every bit the beautiful blushing bride - what a lucky guy Tim is.

Despite the rain (dashing from the taxi in a long evening dress was a hilarious sight indeed) the warmth of the Manor's real wood fire ensured everyone was kept nice and cosy. The Manor had a real Colonial house feel about it, the food was excellent and staff lovely. Steve was really able to enjoy himself as being a DJ he is always working on a Saturday night and it was great to have the night off together and no cheesy wedding DJ to put up with either as Tim's Mum and her band entertained us throughout the night. It really is an impressive sight seeing someone playing the double bass these days and they were a joy to listen to and the perfect compliment to a stylish and classy wedding. I know Julie and Tim are off on their honeymoon today so I do hope they have a relaxing few days away.

No time away for me although I do have a few days off my main work this week so Steve and I will get a chance to get a few chores down (yawn) but hopefully get out and about a bit - weather permitting. We took a leisurly drive back through Torquay, Paignton and via the Dartmouth ferry yesterday stopping on route for a few drinks and stretching our legs and the obligitary cream tea at Dartmouth. There were several people out crabbing which reminded me of my childhood. I used to love throwing the line into the sea and trying to pull the crabs up before they fell off or knocked each other off. Of course we always put them back after - they were never really big enough to eat anyway! We might try and take Steve's kids crabbing at some point - or is that take me to do it..sometimes you just never grow up!!

I'm looking forward to teaching in Exeter tonight and seeing all my regular students - first week back after being shut on the Bank Holiday Monday. A big welcome to our new instructor Kelly who will be shadowing me in class tonight. Kelly has a wealth of experience and will be looking to take a further class in Exeter and possible Torquay as this is her home town.
See you all soon and as I'm off work haven't sent me anywhere this week so I'm back in to see my Thursday night students in Plymouth as well.

xxx

Hectic Weekend!

What a fantastic start to the weekend with our student social at Annabel's on Friday night. Jo's blog gives the full low down and I completely agree with her comments - I think the instructors and students that performed did a fantastic job and are a real credit to the Art of Dance.
I was a sucker for punishment the next day as I took an invert masterclass at 12.15. Well done to my ladies who turned up for this and especially as two of them then stayed on with myself to do Nixi's dance class - we were starting to feel the effects of an hour upside down when Nixi was telling us to be relaxed and flowing! Still another great dance class by Nixi and I must have been mad but really enjoyed Jo's hour of terror. I actually managed not to wimp out of the shoulder mounts - yes I know I'm a bit of a wimp when I know it's going to hurt. Mia if you're reading - well done and Jo says I have to make you do it this Thursday...so be warned!!! Well after 3 hours in the studio - it wasn't over for me as I was back in teaching Saturday night. By the time I got home and put my feet up I think I was well deserving of that glass (well rather big glass)of red wine. A little indulgence while I gossiped to my friend Julia for nearly 2 hours - the only reason I stopped was my battery went flat!
Sunday was more relaxing. I didn't get to see my Mum as she is some 260 miles away so I had sent her a present and some roses which are her favourite flowers so she was chuffed when I spoke with her on the phone. My brother was spending the evening with her and she was seeing a friend in the afternoon so she was kept busy and spoilt. For those of you wondering my Mum is doing really well since we lost Dad in November last year and I'm really proud of her. She's been socialising with her friends more and she's even booked a 2 week holiday in June to Tenerife. It's still quite raw for her and she doesn't sleep much but she knows she has to move on as that is what Dad wanted. Love you Mum. xxx
Well Steve and I enjoyed a lovely lunch with his Mum and his family at Zucca's - for a set menu the food was rather good. We then took a stroll into town and bought a DVD to watch with his kids that evening as they were staying with us. Dinner was from the curry man that night so really indulged on Sunday - good job I put in all those hours on Saturday!
I had a crap night sleep last night so was pretty tired when I woke up but as the day progressed I felt ok and was ready and looking forward to my class in Exeter. Hello to our two new students Amanda and Tahnee - what a fantastic achievement for their first night. We worked more on arms tonight so I know you will all be aching tomorrow. I will see you all again next week and just an advance warning but we won't be holding a class on Easter Monday as Sweat & Stretch will be shut. I'll teaching my regular Thursday night in the Plymouth studio and anything else Sam sends my way!!!
Enjoy your week and see you all soon

xxxx

Post Valentine!

Hi all

Well I was spoilt on our Valentine's night. Steve and I had a lovely evening at Tanners - splashed out on some pink bubbly (cost nearly half the price of our meal again) but worth it and then finished the night off with a couple more drinks at Mo-funk at Annabel's to then arrive home to some beautiful red roses. A lovely relaxing evening, great food and of course with my perfect man. I definately think it was worth going out the night before and not be in the throng on the day plus the bonus of having a chilled morning together and a long walk in the sunshine along the estuary at Tamerton Foliot before I came to teach in the evening.

For those of you that came in last Thursday for my sequencing class - thank you - I had so much fun with you all and it was great to see your outfits. I've had great feedback from several of you both from Thursday's classes (see some of the students performing the routine in the photo) and my Exeter students on the Monday night (you got to test it on the Monday) -so I'm glad you all enjoyed it so much. People often ask about how they can work on the dance element of pole dancing so this was a good challenge for me to focus on this and bring it into a short sequence with a couple of basic tricks. Let me know if you'd like to do some more sequencing as i can maybe look at this as an option for a future master classes.

If you are keen on the dance element then in this month's master classes Nixi is holding a further body isolation/sexy dance moves class at 1.30pm on Sat 1st March. I am also holding a class this day at 12.15pm covering basic inverts/ improving inverting/ gemini/scorpio and mantis - so hopefully see a few of you there. All classes are £10 and if you feel brave enough (well she is the Lordette of darkness!!!) Jo is also holding an advanced/world class moves session at 2.45pm.

I had a busy weekend just gone. I was teaching a private class Friday night and then we had the studio open Day on the Saturday. I came in for a couple of hours to support Jo and Sam and we had a steady flow of people through the door which we were able to spend time with and demonstrate various skills and tricks we all have. I know Sam has taken several more bookings for the Inductions so a great success and boost to the business.

I then drove to Bristol to spend the evening from one of my closest fiends Julia. She is fabulous - 51 and still loves her dance music. I have a lot of respect for Julia - she actually used to be my old boss at BT several years ago (and i was scared of her!!) and we then bacame the closest of friends. We were out at the Syndicate with 4 others - Dave Pearce was playing - a bit heavy for most of us but none the less an enjoyable night. i also caught up with one of the resident DJ's there as we used to work together when i was dancing at destiny's in Plymouth. Of course we had a good girly gossip the next day and put the world's to right - well sort of!

Must sign off now and get some shut eye - not long been in from teaching in Exeter and have a long day tomorrow - travelling to Gatwick as away for a couple of days for a team meeting (lots of minutes to type up I sense!) See you soon or Thursday night if you are in.

xxxxx