New pole video

We finished yet another session of Level 6 (previously called Level 5/6) today. Here’s my performance! I don’t think it’s my best, but then, I’m my own worst critic. I still haven’t gotten over the extra nervousness when I know I’m being recorded; maybe one day I’ll be able to forget about the camera completely.

Sorry it’s a little dark and grainy… but I would rather have a slightly lower quality video than dance under insanely bright lights!

New moves in this video: The hangman (still photo below the video, courtesy of Liz a.k.a. Carmen Elantra!) and the lotus.

Pole recital, 10/20/2008

The photo is much better quality than the video, so maybe next time I’ll go back to just doing photos. I don’t get nearly as nervous with still photos.

SWC 2008: Success!

Thursday night was Sex, Wine and Chocolate 2008. It was AMAZING. Already I’m looking forward to Sex, Wine and Chocolate 2009!

It was at the Park Tavern this year, which, if you’ve never been, is a beautiful venue. And the place was packed. I got there at around ten after seven, thinking I’d get there early and beat the crowds. Silly me.

I took a few photos but they didn’t really turn out; my camera doesn’t do well in low light. Here are the ones that are decent enough to post:

Sex, Wine and Chocolate 2008

Sex, Wine and Chocolate 2008

Entanglement Circus at Sex, Wine and Chocolate 2008

PoleLaTeaz at Sex, Wine and Chocolate 2008

My camera’s video function does surprisingly well in low light, though, and I saved the day (okay, maybe “saved the day” is an exaggeration; but we like delusions of grandeur, right?) by taking video of the PoleLaTeaz performance when their camera wouldn’t turn on. I’m going to put the video on a DVD and give it to Angela Monday night at class, and whenever she posts it on YouTube, I’ll embed the video.

Speaking of PoleLaTeaz, they brought down the house just like last year. I can’t even convey to you how much they rocked. Every time I see them perform, I feel myself almost bursting with joy, cheesy as that might sound. And I was thinking, “I wish all those people who talk shit about pole dancing could be here to see this.” Because if you could be there and see that performance and feel that energy, and still try to tell me that’s NOT feminist, there’s just something wrong with you, and that’s all I have to say about that.

The Entanglement Circus performance was also amazing. I stood with a few of the PoleLaTeaz gals while the EC lady was performing, and we just kept saying, “Wow. Wow. Wow.” I think we have an extra appreciation of just how amazing her performance was, because it’s like doing everything we do on the pole but on silks - so no hard, sturdy support. She was doing things like climbing to the top of the silks, wrapping them around her ankles, and hanging. And then doing three flying eagles in a row, simultaneously climbing backwards.

All of this was so much better than watching the VP debate!

My one complaint would be that people who aren’t sitting and watching need to lower their voices when the performers are on. Even if you’re in the back of the room at the bar and not watching the performers, even if it’s something that doesn’t interest you - be respectful. These are people who have worked hard and are donating their time and talent to make this event a reality. Do not talk over them.

SWC 2008 was a huge success, and I can hardly wait for next year. The atmosphere there just felt so right. The whole time, I was thinking, “This is what sex-positive means.” As I said to Mia in an email: I wish every day could be Sex, Wine and Chocolate!

Reminder: Sex, Wine and Chocolate 2008 tomorrow night!

Sex, Wine, and Chocolate 2008:
Telling Our Truths, Taking Off Our Masks

A Fundraiser for SPARK Reproductive Justice Now and Project South

Sex, Wine and Chocolate 2008

FEATURING: LAKARA FOSTER

PERFORMANCES BY: POLELATEAZ * BLAKKAUFI * MS. VAGINA JENKINS * YOLO AKILI * KEN J MARTIN * DJ MARK ANGEL * MS. STEWART * ENTANGLEMENT CIRCUS * N2 PASSION * DJ CHA CHA JONES * MILLICENT M. JOHNNIE * ESHE SAKURA * JENNY BUNNS YOUNG * KERESTEN BOOKER

Join us for a sensual night free of sexual oppression for all of us fighting for the freedom of our bodies everyday. Celebrate your authentic self at our Anti-Masquerade Ball with live performances, delectable desserts, fabulous prizes, a live auction and more!

October 2, 2008 at The Park Tavern, 500 10th Street NE, Atlanta, GA 30309 (on MARTA Route 45!)
Doors open at 7pm. Show begins at 8pm.

Advance Tickets - Suggested Donation: $20
Tickets at the Door - Suggested Donation: $25
**No one will be turned away for lack of funds; sliding scale tickets only accepted at the door.

RAFFLE:

  • GRAND PRIZE: 3 Day - 2 Night Cruise for 2 to the Bahamas or Mexico–your choice! ~ Meghan Elliott, travel consultant for World Ventures.
  • Two $100 Gas Cards.

LIVE AUCTION:

  • Self-Love Date: Enjoy a night in with the Bunny Love Kit. Courtesy of Babeland.
  • PoleLaTeaz Dates: 3 free classes for the winner and a friend at the PoleLaTeaz studio, plus an extra $100 gift certificate! Courtesy of PoleLaTeaz.
  • Chocolate Pink Gift Certificate
  • Sutra Lounge VIP Lounge for 30, worth $1,500.

All proceeds benefit SPARK and Project South. Can’t make it? Donate a ticket, buy some raffle tickets or make a general donation to support SPARK & Project South’s work!

Contact mia@sparkrj.org or call 404-532-0022 for more information and check our Evite for the latest updates! You do not have to be present to win prizes!

WATCH THE SWC VIDEO:

Buy your tickets here.

Upcoming stuff

  • This Wednesday night, I’ll be on the Cult of Gracie radio show on XXBN. The show will be streaming live at either 9:00 or 10:00 - I’m waiting to hear back from Gracie on which it is, because her blog says one thing and the BlogTalkRadio page says another. I’ll update this post when I know. Update: It’s at 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time! You can call in during the show… and I’d love for some people to call in, so I don’t feel like I’m just listening to myself bloviate the entire time.
  • This Saturday, I’ll be at BlogOrlando, a social media unconference organized by Josh Hallett and now in its third year. I’ll be leading a session called Professionalism 2.0. I posted the description a few days ago, but here it is again:
    What does “professionalism” mean in the context of blogging? Is it a matter of the topics you write about, the language you use, the amount of research you put into a typical post - or all or none of the above? Social media tools offer us the opportunity to express our full humanity instead of compartmentalizing aspects of who we are. To what degree do we need to adjust our pre-conceived notions about what’s professional and what isn’t?

    I’m interested to see what direction the discussion takes.

  • Sex, Wine and Chocolate 2008 is coming up on October 2, at the Park Tavern! Buy your tickets now (it’s only $20 this time around). And yes, the PoleLaTeaz ladies will be performing again!

PoleLaTeaz on CNN!

Check it out… PoleLaTeaz, the studio where I’ve been taking classes for the past two years, is featured on CNN today, complete with a video! Awesome!! These ladies rock!

Stuff this weekend

It’s going to be a jam-packed (in a good way) weekend. Here’s the run-down:

There will probably be live-blogging from SoCon07 tomorrow. See ya!