Background
Calm before the Storm is volume I of a III part pole dance workshop series called ‘The Electra Chronicles’. The series explores three stages of a storm through movement, music and emotion. Each volume captures a
different atmosphere, inviting dancers to express themselves through fluidity, musicality, dynamic transitions and storytelling.
Calm before the Storm
FLOAT | SUSPEND | UNFURL
Calm before the storm is a love letter to Electra’s contemporary performance of
The Swan at West End Pole’s anniversary showcase. This workshop takes
inspiration from that performance, revisiting the emotive, fluid movement and
expressive storytelling that made it so meaningful to her.
Students will be guided through a dynamic warmup, before exploring a
selection of floaty spins and airwalks. The second section will encompass a
choice of holds which will allow students to be suspended in the air. The third
section will be focused on the pathway of big movements becoming small and
vice versa, through unfolding and unfurling.
After exploring movements within these three sections, this toolkit will then be put together in the teaching of a short 1-2 min choreo to the music of ‘Promise’ by Laufey. Students will be encouraged to use the moves in their new toolkit (or appropriate progressions/regressions) within the flow, whilst also incorporating their own style. Throughout the flow, there will be focus on seamless transitions, along with important details like hand/finger articulation, facial expressions and gaze.
This is a mixed level workshop, however it is most suited to students who have tried spin pole before! In order to get the most out of the workshop, it's best that you are comfortable performing a basic climb, tinkerbell/chair spin and scissor seat as these will provide the basis for content within the workshop.