Welcome back to another edition of the XPERT blog, and this month it’s a super exciting one! I absolutely adore attending and reviewing courses – is there really any better way to truly give you the inside scoop on all things XPERT? Well, this month I took the plunge and undertook my Pole Fitness Level 3 and Four certification – and I’ here to share my experience and tell you exactly why you need to undertake this excellent course

This course is a particularly special one for me, as it signals progression and growth. I remember when I first started out as an instructor and completed my level one and two, the idea of doing level three and four felt a million miles away. After all, surely the next level of pole fitness course would be so impossibly difficult, only for the strongest pole dancers, reserved for the elite of the elite (or at least, this is what my own minds’ conclusion was). Safe to say, my worries were unwarranted.

Something I absolutely love about courses with XPERT is the pre-learning available beforehand. You don’t have to turn up with no context, expected to perfectly memorise everything just from two eight-hour days. By heading to the online portal, I was able to gain vital knowledge on what lay ahead for me on the course; with anatomy and physiology learning, textbook snippets and a comprehensive online video library showing moves up the pole and XPERT-perfect breakdowns of each one. Before even attending the course, I was left feeling prepared, if not still a little nervous for what the weekend had in store (anticipatory nerves are hard for me to squash, I’ll admit!)

As I arrived at Studio Flare in Redditch, I received a warm greeting from Studio Owner and XPERT trainer Jade Bensilum. As we all assembled by the heater, yoga mats adorned on the floor and coffees in hand (the reality of courses held in winter here in the UK), Jade talked us through what we were to expect from the next two days. The course was different from level one and two, not just in content, but how the learning was laid out, too.

I really liked the way that XPERT had identified and acknowledged that this course is tough (although, not as tough as I feared, more, make sure you pack a good whack of protein in your lunch and have some epsom salts at home for a bath when the weekend is over). The way the weekend was scheduled meant that whilst still covering everything we needed for our assessment on day two, our bodies were not too tired to effectively teach our test-conditions-classes.

I thoroughly enjoyed the variety of moves on offer within the course. Often, we can mistakenly think that the more ‘advanced’ pole becomes, the more time we spend upside down. Of course, to an extent this is true – but the syllabus covered more complex spins, rotations and more grounded shapes like handstands and forearm stands too. As ever, the handbook provided not only knowledge on how to execute and teach moves, but also the tools to structure a well-rounded class that provides challenges and important foundational moves for students to improve and expand their pole skills.

Throughout the weekend, I really enjoyed Jade’s approach to teaching. She was great at fielding any and all questions, as well as shooting questions right back at us. There was an excellent balance of imparting knowledge whilst also encouraging us to participate and share our own experience too. After all, if you are undertaking level three and four training, the odds are you already have some teaching experience from completing level one and two. The way Jade delivered the content kept us engaged and interested, and ultimately meant that the content was easy to comprehend and exact in the XPERT way.

Another part of the training which always deserves an honourable mention is the emphasis on spotting. When I attended the XPERT ‘Train the Trainers’ week at their HQ in London, The XPOLE Academy, the head of training Stacey Snedden shared that a lot of their positive feedback and why people enjoy training with XPERT so much is the emphasis on spotting. I can see why – the explanations and techniques are comprehensive, and give you all the knowledge you need not only to safely teach your students, but also on how to safely spot them through moves too. The face to face training provides you with ‘hands-on’ experience which is simply invaluable. Jade dutifully worked her way around the room after teaching us each spotting technique to ensure that all our questions were fielded, and that we were demonstrating good quality spotting, the XPERT certified way.

Safe to say, under Jade’s excellent teaching and the comprehensive resources made available by XPERT before, during and throughout my course – I passed! Now, I’ll admit, my arms were a little sore after and I certainly needed a twenty-four hour break from outside leg hangs, but I wouldn’t change a thing. I would highly recommend level three and four pole fitness to anyone who is keen to take their teaching game to the next level – it’s a game changer.

If you’re reading this before the 6th of December 2024, then that means we are still in the midst of Cyber Week here at XPERT! Nab yourself a 35% discount on all courses, with the discount applied at checkout. If you’re feeling inspired by my blog – this is your sign to get booked in now.

Happy October everyone! Welcome back to another edition of the XPERT blog, where we sit down once a month to have a little chat about all things pole and aerial. Now, this month I’m talking about one of my most favourite topics – it’s a pole competition, and it’s a big one.

Earlier in the month the iconic Elite Pole Championships took to the Peterborough stage to the delight of the UK pole dance scene. With the competition now in its second year, organised by the wonderful duo Jade and Stacey, this show has secured its spot on the ‘must-attend’ calendar marks for pole dancers everywhere. The premise of EPC (we love a good acronym) is to provide a platform for high level, professional pole dancers to showcase their skills to the world, with categories for Semi Pro, Professional, Elite, Heelography and two very special, invite-only categories: Heelography Idols and Artistic Idols. This year, I truly had an all-access pass to the event, as I not only took notes for this blog throughout, but I also competed in the Heelography category myself

Upon arrival, the excitement in the air was palpable, with stage testing already in full swing. Dancers from every category, from different parts of the UK were warming up and preparing to try out the poles, ready to show the crowd their routines. Watching the tiny snippets of what people had planned for their routines was exciting enough on its own – one of the exciting things about this competition is that everyone brings their unique style.

After being swiftly checked in by the well-organised team, and stage checks finished, it was time for the show to begin. The backstage was buzzing with anticipation, as pole dancers piled into dressing rooms with their props, make up, costumes and snacks. With the running order set, and the doors open for the event, it was time to wait for our time on stage to show that crowd what we are made of.

Meanwhile, the doors of the event opened to excited attendees, as ticket-holders from all over the UK arrived to observe this incredible event. There was a wide array of stalls, selling everything from grips to outfits, pole heels to mindfulness journals. In a world where post-Covid, there was always the risk that live events may have never returned to what they would be, it was so affirming to see such a large crowd for EPC. For me, all the way back to when I was a baby-poler, there really was nothing else quite like watching a live pole show. Seeing your favourite pole dancers showcasing their skills in front of a joyous audience is so inspiring – so if you’re reading this blog and have been looking for your sign to get a ticket to a pole show, do it, it’ll change your pole life!

Each of the competitors who got up on the stage this year were incredible. There was such a variety of performances – some focused on tantalising theatre, others showed us flawless flow, tricksters wow-ed us with their flips and kips, and there was no shortage of moments where the crowd simply went wild. This year’s show was a real testament to the talent within the pole scene at the moment. Every performer had put their heart and soul into their pieces, and the audience supported every performer equally all the way through the show. In the capable compere hands of Bexiita and the backstage team, the show ran flawlessly.

Whilst I was backstage waiting to perform, I had the chance to chat with a few people about their experiences with competing. It was so interesting to hear the perspectives from such a diverse range of performers, and what struck me was that even some of the most seasoned pole dancers I spoke to still get nervous before getting on stage. After speaking with everyone, I’ve come to the conclusion that really, nerves are actually quite a good sign. Ultimately, if you’re feeling nervous, it’s because you care – and caring is a good sign! Any routine, whether it’s for a competition or a showcase stage, you have put the work in. You’ve spent time on it. There have been times where you could have easily just stayed at home and caught up on your favourite TV show, but you chose to be at the studio training instead. Of course you care about this routine, so you should. Feel your feelings, embrace those nerves, turn them into adrenaline and take them with you onto that stage to dance your heart out.

Safe to say, the talent up on the EPC stage this year was next level. In the days that followed the event, there were posts shared to social media from both competitors and spectators discussing how inspired they felt by the show. For me, there’s only one more thing left to say – bring on next year! Entries are already open so if you’re feeling the itch to try your hand on this iconic stage, the time is now.