Well, where to start? It has to be said that this was the most amazing opportunity. Before California I don’t really remember having any role models but I certainly do now. Cat is an incredible person and so inspirational: she’s a beautiful dancer, an amazing mum and a great friend. Her knowledge is astounding, whether it’s about pole dancing, animal welfare, the human body or life in general. Her passion and dedication to her sport is phenomenal and it shines in each and every one of her performances, classes and students. I feel honoured that I was able to have this opportunity, however it was far from easy. Even after my first warm-up my weaknesses were obvious. Everything was so different to anything I knew – or thought I knew: the positioning, precision, the balance, flow and execution of every move and transition. There was so much to learn. Even the walk seemed so alien in the beginning.
To say I found it hard is quite an understatement. I found myself sometimes at breaking point, but I was driven to carry on by the determination to not let myself or my trainer down, by the fact that I was so desperate to succeed and improve, and also by Cat’s words of encouragement.
I pushed and trained with everything I could give. I bruised and cried, ached and sweated. But in the end, I did it. I succeeded and I improved. By the end of the two weeks I could get through the warm-up; it was still hard but it was so much better. I could do spins and poses with a control and grace that I didn’t have before. I could even make up and perform a routine that flowed.
There’s still so much more for me to learn but I’m so excited to learn it. It’s still going to be a long and hard journey to get to where I dream to be but intend to tackle it head on with full force and give it everything I have! I learnt so much in my 2 weeks and met so many lovely people. All the girls at Poleates are so friendly and encouraging and all such wonderful dancers. Those that attend the Poleates Studio aren’t just clients, they’re family, and you can see and feel that whenever you’re at the studio.
It has to be said that training with Cat is not for the faint-hearted, but if you want to be the best, you must learn from the best. Will I go back? Hell yes! I will be back with a vengeance as soon as I can fly my ass over there!
I’m trying very hard to keep up my training whilst back in the UK. You know how sometimes you have that little voice in your head? Well I’ve got Cat in my head now. I can always hear her voice saying “point your toes”, “straighten your legs” and “every move should flow and work on the circle”. And do you know what? I wouldn’t have it any other way. I hope that one day I will make myself proud and hopefully make Cat proud too. Hey, at the end of the day, I’m just a crazy little British chick with a big dream, but now I’m ready to fight for it!
