The 2009 USPDF East Coast Champ, herself – the fabulous Karol Helms of PolePraxis!

You just won the USPDF East Coast Pole Dance Competition. How did you prepare for the competition?

First, I started by picking some music that I felt like I could stand listening to over and over again for the length of time I trained.

After the music was picked, I listened to it numerous times trying to decide what moves I wanted to perform in what parts of the song. Then it was just a matter of choreographing every single move to fit into the song and figure out which transitions and fillers to use to get me to the next move I had in mind. I trained for about three weeks straight, about three hours a day. I have to tell you, I was really glad when the competition was over and I could give my body about a week to rest!!

What was it like to get up there and compete against so many talented pole dancers?

Oh man, there were so many great dancers that I was up against. I tried not to compare myself to them since we all naturally had different styles and body types. Needless to say, I was still nervous going up against so many talented dancers, but, I just went out on the stage, and gave my best.

What was the first thing you did to celebrate your win?

Well, I screamed when they called my name for first place … lol. But I definitely had a couple of celebratory drinks bought for me at the afterparty!

How did you get started pole dancing?

When I was 19, I started working at a local gentlemen’s club. There was one girl there who did pole tricks and danced really well, so that was my first exposure to pole dancing.

I IMMEDIATELY wanted to learn how to do pole tricks, as well. I would go to the club super early everyday and practice for about 3-4 hours while no one was there and come up with things on my own. At the time, there were no pole dancing lessons or DVDs out to learn from, so a lot of my first moves were things I came up with either by accident or sheer luck!

I found Fawnia in 2002 and bought her Pole Moves DVD and quickly learned everything on it. For a while, I was getting bored doing the only moves I knew over and over again. Then, in 2006, I found some pole dancing videos on YouTube. Some of the first videos I came across were of Alena Downs and TaraKarina. I felt like a whole new world of pole dancing had been opened up to me. It wasn’t long before I purchased an Xpole and started really perfecting my technique and mastering new moves.

Favorite makeup tip:

For a quick daytime look, use your sheer coverage powder, a hint of shimmery white in the inner corners of your eyes, and finish with some mascara. Quick and easy!

Barefoot, sneakers, or platform heels?

Oh, definitely heels. I hate the way dancing barefoot or in sneakers looks.

Favorite grip enhancer:

Well, I tend to have overly sweaty hands. My favorite, hands down, is Tite Grip which is an antiperspirant for your hands. And it smells good, too.

Pole dance move that made you proudest to learn:

The Cartwheel Mount Handspring was my first major move. It took me a year of trying on and off to finally nail it!!

Pole dance pet peeves:

A few of my pet peeves are flexed feet, not extending moves all the way, and excessive hair flipping.

Favorite treatment for bruises and sore muscles:

Epsom salts baths, massages, and chiropractic care!!

Who would you most like to have in the audience when you pole dance?

Anyone and everyone. Friends, fellow polers, family, and I especially like the audience members who have never seen pole dancing performed – they tend to give the most astonished reactions!

Who is your hero or role model?

My pole role model is Jenyne Butterfly. She has really taken her affinity for pole dancing and branched into other areas of aerial arts. I hope to do the same. (If only I lived in Vegas! lol)

What are your favorite words of encouragement?

You can accomplish anything that you put your mind to. This applies to so many aspects of life, as well as pole dancing.

Favorite pizza toppings:

Plain Jane here … pepperoni. Sometimes onions, if I’m feeling daring!

Cupcakes or ice cream?

Definitely ice cream. Chunky Monkey, to be exact.

What do you like to do when you’re not pole dancing?

I like to read, play video games, and chat with other polers. Yes, I’m a geek.

Anything else you’d like to share:

I love the fact that pole dancing has become such a craze. Just four years ago, if you had mentioned to someone that you were taking pole dancing lessons, they would immediately associate that with “training to be a stripper” and leave you defending your choice – usually to no avail.

Nowadays, when you mention to someone that you pole dance for fitness or sport, 7 times out of 10, they’ve seen an amazing Felix Cane video online, or have a friend who has tried it and raved about it. I think a lot of people have misconceptions about why pole dancing is becoming such a big avenue for fitness. People who haven’t personally seen it or tried it firsthand really don’t understand the allure until they do. It is such a great thing that pole dancing has become as popular as it has so far, there are so many more minds out there to change and open, but so many women (and men) have already found empowerment, community, and fitness through pole dancing!

I have lots of travel plans for the new year and will be traveling the U.S. teaching workshops. If you are a studio owner who is interested in having me visit your studio, please let me know! If you are a fan and want to keep up with everything I’m doing visit my website, www.polepraxis.com, and stay informed!

If you want to take a workshop from Karol, you can reach her at Myspace.com/polepraxis or find her on Facebook. Be sure to check our her website, too – PolePraxis!

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