Erin has training experience with all ages and faces, from children to seniors. She is enthusiastic about helping clients create a healthier lifestyle. She holds a BS in Community Health Education and is a certified ACSM Personal Trainer and AFAA Group Fitness Instructor. Erin is also Mat Pilates and Vinyasa Yoga certified.

Erin believes that physical fitness can change your life. Active her whole life, she got serious about fitness in high school when she began running track and playing softball. She decided she wanted to be a personal trainer because she wanted to help those who were afraid to venture into the weight room by themselves. She understands fitness can be a daunting experience, especially for the novice, but her goal is to help you feel comfortable about exercising.

Erin’s interests and hobbies include: Running, lifting weights, practicing yoga, reading about health, and spending time with her husband, greyhound, and kitties.

Donna Moison, the studio’s owner and instructor, took to the poles to demonstrate for visitors and to explain a bit more about what pole fitness is.  Some of Center Stage’s former clients dropped by and also took the poles for a “spin.”  This generated a lot of interest with visitors asking lots of questions, impressed by the skill and strength of Donna and her clients.

Following last evening’s event, Center Stage was hosting a private pole party event this evening, starting things off with a bang in the new studio.  Classes officially begin next week and the class schedule can be viewed here, as well as registering for classes.  For more information on classes, visit the Class Information page on her website at http://www.centerstagedancefitness.com/class_info.html

Below are some pictures from the event.

Our classes are offered in three-week sessions to help you progress from one level to the next.  Each class is scheduled for an hour and a half session.  A minimum of four students to a class and maximum of two students to a pole ensures that everyone will have plenty of pole time, individualized instruction with safe and secure spotting.  With each class, you will progress and increase your own strength and stamina. These classes are a full body workout and you will improve your strength level, stamina, and tone and condition your entire body.

Sign up today by clicking here or come to the Grand Opening event and register at the studio on Friday, August 10.  To check to see when a particular class is offered, or to sign up for a party or special event, visit our website at http://www.centerstagedancefitness.com

Pole dancing is an art that requires both balance and strength, and if it’s done right, it can tone up just about every muscle in the body. It’s no surprise then that it’s becoming so popular. All across Britain, both men and women are swapping their Pilates mats and exercise bikes for a 9 foot pole.

It is thought that dancing travellers contributed to its foundations after using their tent poles for their performances. The ‘fitness sport’ is now seen as a combination of dance, fitness and gymnastics by professionals and physically, a very good form of exercise.

Vertical Dance, members of the Register of Exercise Professionals are firm believers that pole fitness should be accepted as a reputable form of fitness, so much so they created a petition pushing for the 2016 Olympic games to feature the controversial sport.

Emma Simmonds, Director of Pole Performers Pole Dancing School in Bournemouth and Miss Pole Dance UK finalist for the past three years, agrees. She believes pole dancing is just like any other form of dance, having taken part in all genres from cabaret to classical ballet.

Emma said: “You can’t knock it until you try it. You have to give it a go and you’ll see it’s great for fitness and will tone up your whole body. You’ve got to keep at it like everything else. It’s not an easy sport but it’s definitely a sport. It’s gymnastics on a vertical pole, there’s no doubt about that.”

Emma set up her school in 2004 and describes pole dancing as “fitness and fun”. She prides the activity as being professional – a far cry from what critics have called it.

Chloe Cook, President of Bournemouth Student’s Feminist Society argued: “It’s saddening that women today are still putting so much focus on men and pleasing them. It was designed to turn men on for money not to empower women and release them from sexual oppression. When a woman is on a pole, she is an object, something to be looked at.”

The growing numbers of pole dancing schools and classes all over the UK can’t be ignored. At present, there are five in Bournemouth alone, and whilst none seem to market their classes as for anything other than fitness, across the country, some pole dancing schools have named their classes ‘Pole Seduction’.

Emma points out that there is a big difference between pole dancing as a seductive form of dance or as a form of exercise. She says her school doesn’t have these classes.

“They are very different, going to a class once a week or doing it in a club. Obviously you’re doing it for money there and this time you’re doing it for fitness.”

“It actually empowers women, it takes a lot of strength and gives women a lot of confidence no matter what size or age she is; everyone can have a go at it.”

Original link to article: Click here

Albright College will be the site for a one-of-a-kind event Saturday, Sept. 24.

That’s the day Kinetic Poetry will be taking over Albright’s Theater for the Arts.

Kinetic Poetry is comprised of fast-paced slam poetry alongside professional pole dancing. Sounds a little crazy to me, but I’m looking forward to it just the same.

I’ve been invited to MC the event (along with singer/actor/poet Alaina Salks) and thought I should probably do a little investigation.

I contacted one of the stars of the show, pole dancer Rachel Skye, to get some information on what to expect. Here’s how our conversation went.

Sue: What is your background? I mean, how did you come to this sport?

Rachel: I began taking pole dance classes in January of 2009 because I heard it was the best workout. I was instantly addicted to it and four months later I became an instructor!

I’ve always been involved with fitness through gymnastics, kickboxing and aerobics. I’ve always enjoyed teaching. So this seemed like the next best step!

I teach outside of Philadelphia at Flirtastic Fitness and also in West Reading at Vertical Fitness, located in It’s All the Rage Hair Salon.

Sue: Kinetic Poetry has been described as Cirque du Soleil meets Def Poetry. How is what you’re doing like circus acrobatics?

Rachel: Pole dancing, acrobatic yoga, and hooping are all breathtaking, incredibly athletic performances to watch. Like Cirque du Soleil, you can expect to see gravity-defying moves in the air while each performer tells a story through movement. Many people are unaware just how much strength and control it takes to pole dance. I know the audience will be in awe!

Sue: When you say pole dancing, I think of strippers. Why is this different from that?

Rachel: Pole dancing became popular in night clubs in the 1970s. Since then, it has evolved into something much more — an art form, a competitive sport, and a form of exercise!

Pole studios are popping up everywhere and more and more pole dance competitions are taking place world-wide. Like any other form of dancing, pole dance is an expression of movement. And every dancer has her own style of dancing whether it’s sensual, athletic, graceful or urban.

I want to showcase the artistic side of pole dancing — to show the audience that it doesn’t have to be raunchy. A pole is merely an apparatus such as the uneven bars, beam or trapeze.

Pole dancing may have started in the clubs, but it most certainly is not where it’s headed.

Sue: I agree. I know the first time I saw pole dancing, I knew it was something special and deserved an audience beyond that of ogling, sexually frustrated males. I’m glad there are competitions that give it legitimacy.

Considering each performance is unique to the performer, how are these contests judged?

Rachel: The majority of competitions judge on technique and execution of tricks/spins, flexibility, musicality, originality and overall performance. Some competitions require specific moves to be executed during a routine.

The US Pole Dance Federation national and regional competitions have a compulsory and optional round. The compulsory round is a 90 second routine consisting of required elements while the optional round has no required elements and gives the competitor the opportunity to perform with creative freedom.

Sue: Since it does take strength and endurance, I imagine men would be interested in it. Are there males showing up at performances and competitions yet?

Rachel: Oh yes! While pole dancing is mostly popular amongst women, there certainly is a fair share of men involved as well. There are even some co-ed pole competitions. Since men are naturally stronger, a lot of their moves are more strength-based and less fluid. They have some pretty wicked tricks!

Sue: Let’s talk about the Kinetic Poetry event. Where did the idea come from?

Rachel: For the past year I have been wanting to produce a pole art event in Reading to showcase the beauty and athleticism that pole dancing demands. And since I’ve been involved with the Berks Bards I thought it would be exciting to showcase slam poetry with pole dancing.

Sue: Who all will be participating?

Rachel: We are featuring a star line-up of poets and dancers coming in from Philadelphia, Stroudsburg, Miami and Chicago!

Sue: That’s amazing that you’ve attracted talent from all over the country. Who all is organizing Kinetic Poetry?

Rachel: Elizabeth Stanley and Marilyn Klimcho from Berks Bards have been a huge help in getting this event together. Also Wayne Vettleson, who runs the theater department at Albright College, has been a great asset and will be volunteering his time to manage the lights and sound.

Egedeme is one of the featured poets who is responsible for bringing in A-List poets to this event.

Sue: Any corporate backers?

Rachel: We have reached out to local and national businesses for sponsorships. Tite Grip and X-Pole are our Platinum sponsors for this event.

Sue: That’s great to see these businesses getting involved. Can you give us a hint about what we’re going to see?

Rachel: Gravity defying moves and words that will speak to your soul.

Sue: Well I can’t wait to see what all that involves. Rachel Skye, thanks so much for giving me a glimpse of what we can expect on the 24th. Good luck with the show!

And for you out there in BCTV.org-land, I hope you get a chance to see the show.

Tickets are $13 in advance and you can pick them up at Shoo! (610 Penn Ave., West Reading), It’s All the Rage Hair Salon (1213 Penn Ave., West Reading]) or Mi Casa Su Casa Cafe (320 Penn St., Reading).

Otherwise you have to pay $15 (cash only) at the door. Albright College Theater for the Arts is at 13th and Bern Streets in Reading.

See you on the 24th!

(Author Sue Lange, of Bernville, blogs irregularly at http://suelange.wordpress.com.)

Original link to article: Click here