Being Amber Rhea

So, the details of the showcase, because I want to!

It was similar to the first student showcase, but with 1) a bigger audience, 2) instructors as well as students performing, 3) over twice as many performers, 4) pole circuits in addition to solo performances.

I was nervous the whole weekend leading up to it. I arrived at the studio at 4:30 on Sunday (the show would start at 5:30). Once I walked in and was surrounded by my fellow pole addicts, everyone getting dressed and prepared, my nervousness disappeared. I could feel everyone’s excitement in the air and it was contagious.

We warmed up, checked music, talked, got mentally prepared… then, as more and more people started arriving, audience members were ushered into the studio and we, the performers, went back up front to continue warming up. Darcey and Angela gave us all a pep talk. Then it was time to start the show!

We walked in a single-file line into the studio and were met with a huge round of applause. For the first part of the show, we were all dressed in pink and black (official PoleLaTeaz colors!) so we’d have a unified feel. Darcey introduced the show and gave people an idea of what to expect. Then each of us talked briefly about our personal experience with pole dancing, how long we’ve been doing it, what kinds of things it’s done for us, etc. I think this was probably the most inspiring part to Level 1 students and prospective students in the audience.

After the introductions, we broke up into three groups and did pole circuits for four songs. Let me see if I can remember all the moves we did… fireman, chair, pinwheel, fireball, climbing, inverting. (I think that was it.)

We took a brief intermission, changed outfits, and got another pep talk from Darcey. Then the solo performances started. The first performance was actually Angela and Talya doing a duet, which was awesome. After their performance, Darcey explained to the audience that theirs had been choreographed, but the rest of the performances were improv.

Everyone was so impressive! The only person I didn’t get to see perform was Melissa, because she went before me, so I was out in the hall warming up. When it was my turn to go on, I felt a little wound up, but I wouldn’t say I was nervous exactly. Also, I decided to perform without my glasses on - which I almost never do - so that I wouldn’t be able to see people’s faces in the audience! That definitely helped quell any remaining apprehension that lingered. I also asked Rusty not to record me, which I think helped me feel not pressured (although as I said already, now I wish he would’ve secretly recorded anyway!).

All in all it was an amazing show. I just wish there were even more opportunities like this! Angela said people would definitely pay for a show like this (she’s gotten tons of emails asking how much it costs, etc.) and she said she wants to start a “clothed strip club” and give us all the money! I know she’s mostly joking, but I don’t think it’s a bad idea. I really wish there were more places where you could see good, fun, interesting pole dancing without it being a strip club. Not that I have anything against strip clubs, but there need to be alternatives to that type of environment. I mean for one thing, it pisses me off that a lot of the male customers in strip clubs have basically no appreciation for any pole work the dancers do. When a bunch of us from PoleLaTeaz went to Mardi Gras back in November, we were clapping and hollering and tipping like crazy, and several strippers told us it was a much better atmosphere with us there.

Oh, that reminds me, before the show started, someone (Eva, I think?) said, “I want everyone to reach into your pockets…” -and you could tell we were all expecting her to say something about bringing out money! But she said, “…and turn off your cell phones.” We all laughed because we were ready to accept any and all cash donations. Ah well, maybe next time! ;)