Float Like a Butterfly

Last night, I had the chance to attend Jenyne Butterfly's workshop for tricks and transitions, and it was a great opportunity to experience superb teaching techniques, as well as learn creative moves and combos.

Jenyne is the performer in the now viral video "The Best Pole Dance Ever". She is extremely flexible and very strong, and you can really feel her emanating passion for pole dancing.  She is sympathetic to her students, and appreciates the hard work everyone is putting in.


Some major points that she made in the workshop were conserving energy when performing, and doing everything right from the start. I was hit hard by the first point during my attempts to put together routines for performances; you need a lot of stamina to do combo after combo. Up until last night, I was so convinced that the pain and suffering that comes with the beauty that is pole is inevitable, but it makes complete sense that it doesn't have to be.  The only thing is, it's a little difficult to figure out the most efficient variation of a move on your own, especially when you are a newbie, and having a talented teacher would be of great help. As we know, pole is not a sport known for its standards, and the amount of variations for even the basic moves are immense out there, not all of them of course being the most efficient types.

As far as doing everything right from the start goes, I believe that is part discipline, but also, once again, a large part having the right teacher. Being a dedicated athlete takes a lot of work, but there is only so much one can do. The hard work needs to be done right to bring maximum returns, and it is the teacher's job to know what is right. With a knowledgeable mentor, that dedication and determination can be channeled into being exceptional. Doing conditioning and reps on the pole is hard work, but only perfect practice makes perfect.

There are bad teachers in all fields, from engineering to piano, from accounting to basket weaving, and pole is of course no different. In fact, my guess is that it is more probable to stumble upon someone unqualified (not uncertified, mind you) in the pole industry, as once again, it is a new sport that lacks the strict and entrenched standards of, for example, ballroom or ballet. From my experience, the below are some things that pole studio owners do that not only do nothing to improve the sport, but can even demote the sport.

• Putting too much emphasis on the business: from my experience with track, piano, art, and dance teachers, teaching won't exactly get you on the cover of Forbes magazine. Lots of studios purposefully create programs that take their students slower through their paces than necessary. Many studios put no effort into getting involved with the pole community to upkeep with standards and recent developments. Some don't provide their students with qualified instructors, or the right equipment, but still charge an arm and a leg. Students are not completely ignorant; they can sense when they are being duped, or when their teachers are simply not putting in the effort. I understand we all need to earn our livelihood, but cultivating the incredibility of the sport is not a long term business model. 
• Giving yourself too much credit: just because you are a successful athlete on the pole, does not automatically qualify you to teach the sport. Breaking down the moves for students can become confusing if they are overanalyzed, and can appear impossible if they are not explained correctly. Furthermore, many pole performers are eager to perform, but in teaching, the focus should be on the student, giving them the chance and support to try moves and perform themselves.
• Not giving your students enough credit: students are not as incompetent as some teachers assume. Combined with encouragement, better progress can be achieved through challenge. Baby sitting grown ass women (and men) is completely inappropriate.
• Being afraid to critique: studios want students to come back, so they are afraid to say anything discouraging, but it doesn't do much good for the sport if people out there aren't even aware of basics such as pointing toes, or keeping the knees straight. It simply looks careless when the instructor squeaks an irritating "yaaaaaaaay", knowing full well the student is not there yet. Structured critique, combined with the right amount of encouragement, will take students farther.

Students can sense when something is simply not right. The only people that are fooled are the studios themselves. To be a great studio and teacher, you need to have passion for the sport and the people that are in it, from the shy beginner, to the egomaniacal competitor.

I really felt that Jenyne had stricken a great balance to eliminate the above points from her teaching, which made her decorum appear professional and knowledgeable. The sport needs more people like her to truly try and bring it to a respected level from the inside. At the end of the workshop, she mentioned how long it took her to get to where she is now - which is 11 years - and touched on the fact that one needs to be dedicated to see much results, but also be patient. Don't dunk yourself into moves that are too advanced, or ones that run the risk of injuring you, and really take the time to enjoy the process of blossoming into a graceful pole athlete. I've been hearing the latter all my life, but  I think I only started believing it quiet recently.