January 20, 2013

Why am I sliding off the pole?

You think it’s the pole that’s not ‘grippy’ enough all of a sudden?  Think again.  There’s a whole bunch of reasons this could be happening as it happens….

The Pole

Mingin pole syndrome – it may have ‘residue’s’ on it.  This could be sweaty deposits from your hands, body lotions, dead skin (iew!), grip aid build up, or even hair product!

CLEAN YOUR POLE: For a general clean, use an fragrance free, un-lotioned baby wipe (the cheaper the better usually!), followed by a drying cloth – we like the microfibre cloths for this.  Do this regularly throughout your training session.

If you still don’t think that’s done it, or it somehow feels ‘greasy’, dab some neat CHEAP GIN (don’t waste the expensive stuff!) onto a cloth, wipe it onto the pole, and then follow with a drying cloth.  Try to only do this if it NEEDS to be done. Read more →

January 6, 2013

A basic guide to looking after your shiny new x-pole! 

‘HOW TO’… Release a jammed X-Joint (new range X-Poles)

Although the new range X-Poles (which include the new X-Joints instead of the screw threads) are an improved version of the older model and eliminate all the below issues of screw joints seizing shut etc…, they have a problem of their own – sometimes they get jammed – I mean, that they twist around inside the pole so that when it comes to breaking the pole down, the holes are all mis-aligned and you can’t get the hex key back in.

This happens because when you set up, you are SUPPOSED TO screw the bottom one a bit at first, then the top, then the bottom etc…. not screw each one in fully one at a time….it is buried in the instruction manual somewhere but we all miss it! Read more →

January 5, 2013

Extra Grip for slippery pole dancers!

In most cases, if you get slippery, sweaty hands when you pole, it’s something that gets better with time, especially when you have mastered the moves that at first made you panic and sweat.

That said, if you’re trying to learn a tricky move or you need to be on top form for a performance in a hot room, just wiping your hands down and keeping the pole clean might not be enough.

We have covered tips on how to prevent slips on the pole (you can see them HERE), but sometimes, you just need to CHEAT!  And reach for a grip aid!  But which is best?  Different ones do different jobs, and all are useful in different ways so it’s best to try and sample each if you can to find out what works best for you. Below is a quick guide of products you can try and how they work. Read more →

December 6, 2012

Teen Pole Queen and our 2011 Miss Pole Dance

These days, people can’t strike a conversation about pole dancing in the UK without naming ‘Jess Leanne Norris‘ straight from the off, whether you are in the industry, a newbie learner, or even just Joe public. Why??? Well, she is this year’s Miss Pole Dance UK, a phenomenal pole artist, has had an extensive amount of media coverage in the last year, set up two pole studios after just 3 years of pole dance experience under her belt …. yeah yeah yeah …. this is all very impressive but did I mention that Jess is JUST 18 years old?! Read more →

April 2, 2012

The AWPC 2012 …. By Candy & Chrome Read more →

November 14, 2009

KT – Britain’s Original Pole Dance Fitness Ambassador

If you have been learning to pole dance in the last 5 years, chances are; your first real research or point of contact will lead you straight to Katie Coates, or Vertical Dance.

Katie was one of the first pole dancers in the UK to promote pole dance as a means for women to get fit, taking the stigma of seedyness away from it’s original past time, and bringing it forward into the present as a widely accepted sport.

She’s also ‘The Original X-Pole girl’!, and widely known as the first, the original, the only!

It has not been an easy ride for Katie, but as you read more from her bio, Katie has some impossibly huge achievements under her belt, some are of a global scale! She has inspired women worldwide to find strength and courage to carry out their dreams and better themselves.
Candy & Chrome wanted the opportunity to converse with her and learn more about the great struggles and great triumphs this lady has single handedly had to fight for, and to find out about the woman herself – BEFORE pole, during the hard times, and now as an inspirational leader, and Britain’s first pole dance ambassador.
This interview is about ‘What Katie did’….. Read more →