Learning from the Best

To move forward as pole dancers, we need to learn from the rich history of dance that precedes us. That’s why I’m introducing …

A new series analyzing exceptional dance performances!

In it, I’ll be breaking down dance videos to show the nuances and subtleties that set that performance apart. Think of it as helpful eye candy – you get to see beautiful performances from a variety of styles, while learning to spot the moments where something extraordinary is created.

What these reviews won’t do is point out the negative.

While that would be worthless in a personal coaching session, the goal here is to show what works, not what doesn’t. Luckily, we’ll be learning only from the best!

West Coast Swing – Tessa Cunningham and Ben Morris

To kick the series off, I’m beginning with one of my absolute favorite dance performances ever – a West Coast Swing by champions Tessa Cunningham and Ben Morris. Now, I know nothing about West Coast Swing (or any other type of swing), but I do know dance – and this one blows me away.

Watch it first all the way through, just for the thrill of seeing such beautiful dancing. Then watch it again, looking for the moments I’ve highlighted below, to see what you can apply to your own dancing.

Highlights

Going Slow. Ben and Tessa know better than to rush their movements – they feel into every beat and get the most out of even the slightest motion. You first see this in the way Tessa leans into the music at 0:16. Another gorgeous example of this is at 1:10. This is what feeling into the music should look like.

Flirtation. Flirting is a subtle art – one that I feel often gets lost in the stripper moves of pole dancing. Watch how the eye contact between Ben and Tessa, along with the coy way she cocks her head at 0:25, turn up the heat.

Smoothness. This entire performance exemplifies smoothness in dancing. Look at how they seem to glide across the floor – no jerking from one step to another. See how it creates a canvas upon which they can call your attention to other gestures – from a touch of the hair to a shake of the shoulders. Watch the few seconds around 1:15 to see this smoothness in action.

Play. Watch the series of pirouettes at around 2:00 and see how they are followed with both Ben and Tessa using hopping movements. This is unlike the rest of their dance – but the playfulness works perfectly with the music.

Staying in Performance Mode. Ben and Tessa keep their eyes on each other, which is what is wanted in this style of dance. Watch from 2:24 on and see how Ben and Tessa maintain this connection and stay in their performance mode until they are fully offstage. Granted, they don’t have a backstage in this example to exit into, but they definitely stay in character until the end.