Dance Like A Stripper: My First Experience Pole Dancing

How I was moving by the end of the class...in my mind.

You know how you have a few select things that you'd like to do before you die?  Well mine was taking a pole dancing class and I can finally mark it off my bucket list.  Being in boring Augusta I try to find exciting things to do so while searching the internet for "pole dancing Augusta" I came across 5, 6, 7, 8 Studios.  I found a coworker who was just as awkward and willing to try new things with me.  Next thing we knew we were standing in the back of the class looking at each other like, "What the f*ck did we get ourselves into?"  We started the class out stretches to sexy music like Christina Milan's "Dip It Low" and started learning a few spins on the pole.  I'm not sure if I've ever told you all this, but I'm probably one of the most uncoordinated people in the world and I'm not sure if it has to do with me being left-handed (they say we do everything backwards).

The first spin we learned was the Princess Spin.  It involved us walking around the pole really sexy, wrapping our inner foot around it, pushing off with our outer foot, and bringing it under our other foot.  After many attempts I only got half way around the pole.  Another girl who was at our pole seemed to have a lot of experience despite this being an intro class.  Everytime she approached the pole for her turn I just thought to myself, "This hoe is trying to show me and Maria up.  Hell naw."  I swear she looked like an amateur stripper with all the grace she had, but we learned she had taken classes for a month up in New York.  I still hate her.  I think halfway through the class I was finally moving with some form of grace, this must have been around the time we learned how to do circles with our legs.  I pretty much had to hold onto the pole and kick my legs out into circles.  The funniest thing was when the instructor told me to just "spread my legs out more."  I seriously busted out laughing.  Yes, I'm immature and have no shame in admitting it.  I was happy that Maria didn't end up with a concussion after nearly falling as we learned some move that resulted in us kicking our legs out and dipping back.  We closed the class out with a "pop quiz" of the different things we learned.  When it was my turn I selected Beyonce's "Dance For You" and showed out...in my mind.

The next day I woke up with extremely sore arms and thighs followed by the next day which resulted in EVERYTHING hurting.  Despite this I really can't wait to go again.  It's probably the most fun I've ever had and it'll help build my upper body strength.  The class really made me think about how insecure women are with being sexy or at least myself.  Our instructor encouraged us to look into the mirror as we danced but I often found myself looking everyone other way as I giggled at what I was doing.  I believe this is something that is highly discussed in the Black community, at least when it comes to the act of masturbation and sex.  When I came home I just told my Mom that I went to a dance class out of fear of her going back to tell my Dad who probably would have spazzed out.  My cousin actually takes classes in Atlanta and every picture or video she post just inspires me.  She's actually the reason why I wanted to try the class out.  Whenever I tell people she does this they always ask, "Your cousin's a stripper?!?!?!"  Which results in me saying no and telling them that she is very educated.  I hope to return back a few times before the summer ends as classes are $13 without the having a monthly package.  I've even looked up pole dancing in Athens.  I'm that serious.  Here's to hoping this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.