By Shelby
You stretch your arm gracefully to reach that $20 bill on stage, tuck it into your bra strap, then flip your hair and twirl around to the other side of the pole, all while balancing on five-inch lucite stilettos. You slide down the pole, absentmindedly thinking about the homework you need to finish for your 8 a.m. bio class tomorrow morning…
Well, okay, you’re not really a co-ed stripping your way through college, but that’s just part of the act. The ladies of Brass Ovaries Pole Dancing use this scenario to help you slip into a more explicit side of yourself in their beginner pole dancing classes, which are offered twice a month for $20 a pop at Forbidden Fruit on North Loop. (Or that was the case when this was posted in 2010. See the website above for more up-to-date information.
Anyone who has ever seen Showgirls or set foot in a strip club knows that pole dancing is pretty hard work, but the ladies of Brass Ovaries kick it up a notch, elevating pole dancing to a cross between a sport and an art. These women are strong, badass and confident, which are three things I aspire to be (as I imagine every Chickster out there does). I first read about Brass Ovaries in the February issue of Rare magazine (now defunct), and when I noticed that they offered beginner classes, I had to give it a try.
That’s not to say I didn’t have any trepidation. Anytime you get a group of girls together in a room and instruct them to act sexy, it can range from awkward to hostile. But Miss Natasha and Sarah from Brass Ovaries put everyone at ease immediately, thanks in part to Miss Natasha’s social butterfly service dog, Amigo. (Dogs always just make everyone feel better.) They were also quick to dispel the myth that pole dancing is just for strippers and that anyone could do it. Then they demonstrated some of their awesome skills on the pole. I was seriously impressed. They also delved more into the history of pole dancing, which began in Southeast Asia long ago as a form of recreation for men! Women didn’t take up pole dancing until 20th century, when strip clubs became more popular. Today, many pole dancers are actually lobbying for the sport to be included in the Olympics, and after spending some time on the pole, I can say firsthand that those ladies are awesome athletes.
The class size was limited to 15, and some of the girls came with friends and some came alone, but everyone was very supportive and friendly from the beginning to the end, cheering each other on when it was her turn on the pole or even during the introductions. It also helped that everyone, including Miss Natasha and Sarah, wore basic workout clothes and either tennis shoes or bare feet. There were no five-inch lucite heels to be seen.
The 90-minute class was broken down into moves that in the end were assembled to create a routine. Miss Natasha and Sarah would demonstrate the move, and then each participant in the class got a chance to do it. I won’t lie, the first time I stepped up on the platform next to the pole, I’m sure I turned every shade of red in the Pantone color wheel and felt so self-conscious I wanted to laugh. But eventually, you almost can tune out everyone else around you and focus on what you’re doing. We started with a simple walk around the pole, then progressed to pirouettes, assisted backbends and even an ankle spin. Put it all together, and you’ve got a fun little routine that could totally earn you some crisp bills.
The best part about the class is just how fun and different it is compared to your standard workout. I was definitely sore the next day, especially in my shoulders. The worst part about the class is that you don’t get too terribly much pole time. I’d love to have had more time to practice each move. When you’re up there, you do almost feel like with a little practice, you would feel pretty confident and powerful. Brass Ovaries offers open studio time at their studio on South Congress and additional classes in pole dancing, or even the circus-inspired aerial hoop, which looks pretty damn cool. Miss Natasha and Sarah also discussed the best options for investing in a pole of your own. Who knew they made portable poles specifically for renters? And is it wrong that I kind of want one now? Sadly, the price of a good pole is shocking—around $350.
By the end of the class, I had a newfound appreciation for strippers who are able to do all those moves and even more, all while wearing five-inch lucite heels and little else. And about one thing Miss Natasha was definitely right—after you take a pole dancing class, you’ll never look at a stop sign the same way again.