1 Year Anniversary Student Showcase
May 7 | 2:00pm
Celebrate your pole journey and yourself by showcasing yourself at our 1 Year Anniversary 2023 Student Showcase! Want to focus on floorwork? Do it! Want to perform with a partner, awesome! Want to show off your latest trick? We'd love to see it! If you’ve ever envisioned yourself on stage, this is for you!
Perform is a supportive, safe environment with other students like yourself!
Receive prep materials and resources to guide the creative development of your piece.
Live your best life on stage doing what you love!
The Magic Starts Here
Yes! You’ve decided to step on stage, but now what? Take a look at our performer and show policies below as well as our tips for getting started.
Performer Policies
Each performer must be a current Essence student, no exceptions.
Each student will receive up to 3:30 minutes of performance time. This could be one piece, two medium sized pieces, or three mini pieces.
One, two, or group performances are welcome.
Props are welcome but must be approved. No boas, glitter, or liquid props.
There is no dress code but no nudity is allowed. Nipples must be covered for both men and women. Pasties are acceptable.
All performances must follow our studio culture.
All performers are required to complete a submission form detailing their concept, song, and performance details up to two weeks before the show.
Show Policies
This is a private, adult only show limited to Essence staff, students, and performer friends and family. All audience members must be 18+.
Two poles are available to perform on, set to your preference whether it be spin or static. Poles will be spaced 8ft apart.
Getting Started
Music: What song(s) do you dance to in your head? What song are you loving right now or really moves you?
Moods: Maybe you want to convey a mood whether it be sassy, snarky, sad, tragic, powerful, dramatic…. you get the point. You don’t have to know HOW you’re going to convey this mood just yet, but consider how you want it to feel.
Styles: Exotic, contemporary, dynamic, low flow… you get the point. Maybe you’re drawn to or want to work within a particular style.
Themes: Harry Potter, an evil witch, Disney just to name a few. Make your favorite halloween costume or theme a reality!
Content: Maybe you want to just dance to your favorite song or throw a trick you’re really proud of. List the material here.
Stories: Are you a vampire who captured your prey? Maybe you lost the love of your life. Consider telling a story through dance.
Step 1 | Inspiration
:et’s start with a little brainstorm. Grab a pen and a coffee and let’s day dream!. Inspiration can come from anywhere, so let’s throw them all on the board. Here are some ideas to get you started.
Performance Day: May 7
Practice Runs: 1-2 weeks before to allow time for adjustments, either the week of April 24-28 or May 1-4. Give yourself some space before your performance to let it marinade in your brain.
Step 2 | Scheduling
Let’s take a step back from our brainstorm and determine when we are going to bring this piece to life. Our weeks demand so much of us so we must carve out time for our art. Look at your schedule and work backwards from the performance date. Pencil in the following:
Tips & Guidelines
Run a practice performance in your costume! You may find that your grip isn’t right or the fabric may shift. Pasties are your friend.
If you are including tricks, stick to moves you can nail 90% of the time. During your performance, you’ll be in a different atmosphere. Humidity, temperature, and your skin’s moisture all play a role in the type of stick you’ll have. Don’t gamble.
Quality is better than quantity, always. A super clean transition, move, or flow will capture your audience better than a rushed or sloppy trick.
Build in moments of rest. This could be a body roll, a pole walk, or engaging with your audience. Pole work is hard work! You need moments to catch your breath AND your performance needs contrast in tempo to remain compelling.
If you mess up, don’t stop! You’re literally the only person that knows your routine. The classic pole circle pirouette is a classic fall back, as is any head whip or body roll.
The creative process is MESSY, meaning, be prepared for things to feel out of place or for a practice session to feel like a wash. This is NORMAL. You are creating. Creation isn’t linear. Take a step back when you’re frustrated and poke at it again later.
Additional Resources
In house stage rentals are available here.
Request a Private
ngaging with your audience. Pole work is hard work! You need moments to catch your breath AND your performance needs contrast in tempo to remain compelling.