Bendy Kate Czepulkowski takes GOLD for the United Kingdom in the World Pole Dance, World Pole Sport and Fitness Championships 2014

World Pole Dance Championships 2014 World Pole Sport & Fitness London UK
By Kay Penney
February 3rd 2014

Pole Passion, West Sussex, Pole Fitness Company, hosted the World Pole Dance championships at the Hawth Theatre of arts on 1st February and the female preliminary round on 31st January at Taylors Pole Retreat in Dorking.
Over 50 men and women competitors and 10 professional international pole fitness and dance judges descended on Crawley, West Sussex over the Friday and Saturday of last week from countries as far as China, New Zealand, Belarus, Cyprus, Brazil, Japan, all of Europe, Ireland, Russia and Ukraine.
Joining the contestants, many respected and previous world champion winners;- Alesia Vazmitsel – Belarus, World females champion  of 2011 and males World Champion, Keem Martinez, World champion 2012, represented the professional judging panel.

The closed, semi finals for the females, the most attended and popular category, was hosted on Friday 31st at a luxurious pole studio with 2 x 3.8metre tall poles in a converted and bespoke barn -Taylor's Pole Studio, offering aerial skills and pole dancing opportunities and the competition venue for the annual National Miss Pole Dance UK Amateur and Semi pro championships, which was established in 2005 by Pole Passion
From the 26 female contestants, who travelled the length of the world, battled and flexed it out for the 14 finalist positions held on Saturday 1st at the Hawth Theatre.

Each contestant for the finals, from the three categories Men's (7 competitors), synchronised doubles (6 pairs) and females (14 competitors) had to compete a demanding series of pole tricks, spins, poses transitions between 5-6 minutes on two stainless steel poles, one static and one spinning, both creating different dynamics and techniques on and around the pole.

The areas of judging that was taken into consideration for each contestant consisted of maximum 10 marks in their presentation of their routine, including costumes and props enhancing their performance element and storytelling, many contestants bringing in their ancient art and countries history to their presentations, the dance and fitness performance section consisted of 10 marks per judge which includes their variety of choreography music interpretation control and demonstration of strength and power, elegance and grace, throughout their gruelling  routine also including the use of both poles, creating height and depth to their dance and acrobatic performances and finally the tricks section awarding 15 marks per judge, demonstrating the tricks and combination of tricks including fluidity and effortless transitions to their performance  including, but not limited to, floor work, acro balance and circus skills


RESULTS For the MEN’S DIVISION
Additional Awards -
Best COSTUME - Egor Churakov
Best TRICKS - Kristian Lebedev
Best ENTERTAINER - Sun Yingzhi

WINNER FOR GOLD - Kristian Lebedev – RUSSIA
SECOND PLACE - Monika Ell – USA
THIRD PLACE - Egor Churakov - RUSSIA

Sun Yingzhi – CHINA
Yan Xu – CHINA
Ian Matthews - UNITED KINGDOM
Liu Yan - CHINA

RESULTS For the Synchronised DOUBLE’S DIVISION

Additional Awards -
Best COSTUME - Meng Yifan & Zhong Qianie
Best TRICKS - Lisette Krol & Terri Walsh
Best ENTERTAINER - Nora Berthold & Zsuzsanna Toronyi

WINNER FOR GOLD - Lisette Krol & Terri Walsh – IRELAND
SECOND PLACE - Manuela Badessi & Erika Lombardelli – ITALY
THIRD PLACE - Viktoria Nikolaenko & Tatiana Mitina - RUSSIA

Meng Yifan & Zhong Qianie – CHINA
Keiko Takemoto & Satoshi Murakami – JAPAN
Nora Berthold & Zsuzsanna Toronyi - HUNGARY

For the FEMALE’S DIVISION
Additional Awards -
Best COSTUME Fang Chunyan
Best TRICKS – ‘Bendy’ Kate Czepulkowski
Best ENTERTAINER – Polina Volchek

WINNER FOR GOLD - Kate Czepulkowski - UNITED Kingdom
SECOND PLACE - Polina Volchek – RUSSIA
THIRD PLACE - Tatyana V Gordiyenko - UKRAINE

Galina Musina – RUSSIA
Hanna Antonova – UKRAINE
Valeria Bonalume – ITALY
Alessandra Rancan – BRAZIL
Fang Chunyan – CHINA
Elena Kravchenko – UKRAINE
Felicity Logan - UNITED KINGDOM
Lorna Thomas - UNITED KINGDOM
Ekaterina Guseva – RUSSIA
Margit Deak – HUNGARY
Mona Arbinger - AUSTRIA

For the synchronised doubles -
Lisette Krol & Terri Walsh this dynamic double from Ireland took gold
And for the prestigious title of World Champion our very own ‘Bendy’ Kate Czepulowski from the UK

Ambassadors of Pole Award
Additional Award – also created for the pole fitness and dance industry. The first time in History ‘Ambassadors to Pole Award,’ whereby contributors to the health and safety and development of professional Pole throughout the world are awarded and officially recognised by their piers and the World Pole Dance Organisation.

More information is expected to be released in the fourth coming months, as the head of China Pole Dance championships, Mr Fing Yung Biao, a qualified Lawyer who now dedicates his time in supporting and professionalising the sport and the national competition in China, has shown considerable attention to our championships for the last three years and is posing a serious bid to host the next World Pole Dance Championships in Taishun, a town half an hour away from Beijing.

Mr Yung Biao has been studying English to prove better communications between Pole Passion and the head of World Pole Dance and originator Kay Penney, to make this a reality in 2015.

For more information and pictures please visit www.worldpoledance.com
And www.polepassion.com

Contact

To learn more about this competition, please contact
Kay Penney, Media Relations
Pole Passion Ltd
Crawley
West Sussex
RH10 7QE
Office: 01293 888200 / mobile 07921948606 or 07753585054
Email: events@passion-fitness.com or kay@polepassion.com

RPole Elite Range of Poles have been launched Official sponsors of World Pole Dance 2014

RPole - The Official Pole sponsors of Miss Pole Dance and World Pole Dance has today launched their Elite Range on facebook today
Creating yet further diversity in the Pole fitness and dance, home and gym market with this exciting and dynamic range of new poles, looks like it is set to empower more people to try pole techniques for fun and fitness.
The RPole Elite Range, enabling you to chose your colour to match your mood (or event) or even your decor
Visit the website now to see the exciting range of choices www.r-polefitness.com

We dare to be different

https://www.facebook.com/RPOLE ELITE RANGE

Directed by Kay Penney & Sue Thompson
Makeup and costume by Megan Burley
RPole Models Josh Head & Andi Active Cherry

www.polepassion.com

For floor to ceiling poles and free standing poles

proud sponsors of World Pole Dance

www.worldpoledance.com

Front Line Kosovo Royal Marines Commando to Pole Dancing Flat Line Scorpio

Front Line Kosovo to Flat Line Scorpio

As an instructor, assessor and trainer for Pole Passion, I’m forever intrigued as to who and why people choose pole dance for fitness.
My journey and intrigue has lead me to Pole Affinity, a South West pole school run by Miranda Goldring, who I met many years ago through the Miss Pole Dance UK National Pole Dance Championships.
I had the privileged of catching up with Harry Jones, one of Miranda’s new students,  who was until recently, on the front line in the Royal Marines.

Harry lovely to meet you –
-Hello Kay lovely to meet you too


How long have you now been attending pole dancing fitness classes with Miranda?
-I have been attending Miranda’s pole class for about three maybe four months now as a student


What attracted you to train in pole fitness?
-initially I approached Pole Affinity for the Photography, I wanted to expand my portfolio and work in an environment that would test my photography skills in a different way.


I love of the human body and form and to capture this on film was my focus. I agreed that Miranda would get the images for her own use.


I knew nothing about pole fitness and at this point and my only limited and somewhat naive, knowledge of pole was from my own experiences in gentleman’s clubs.
I presumed of course that this would be a training class for such clubs but had no idea what to expect so after a short chat with Miranda I realised that of course, I was totally wrong. Miranda welcomed me in to the studio, as did the female students and it’s here where my journey began.
After a number of visits taking photographs and eventually learning the techniques of when the girls were in position for the photo, I started to get the pictures that Miranda and I were looking for. I was amazed at what the girls were doing and how hard they were trying to accomplish the things that I had seen to be “effortless” on the stage, the support from the whole class and praise once the goal was achieved was lovely to see too.
I will admit that it sparked an interest in me, after 14 years as a Royal Marines Commando my body has taken a beating; ankles, knees, back and shoulders are fairly worn out!! They say that Commando training adds 10 years of wear and tear to your body.
I spoke to Miranda and asked for advice could pole help strengthen my shoulders?
I tried some moves and decided to give this challenge a go.


How different is the training on the pole to the training you are used to
-You have to understand that these are very different but some of the principals are remarkably similar. Royal Marines fitness training is based around being able to carry all the kit we need (8 stone back pack and fighting order) over large distances and everywhere we go. We are also required to carry less weight more quickly; these are just a few examples. But there are similarities, to climb the pole and to climb the ropes are almost identical except the pole doesn’t bend and you need to be generally fit and be very disciplined for both.


On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being maximum – how nervous were you attending your first lesson?
-ha ha this is a tricky one as I really don’t get nervous, but I will admit to a little apprehension, at this point I knew the girls but they hadn’t seen me face plant in all my “flailing limbs glory” yet ….. ha ha.


As a male in a predominantly female activity how do the ladies make you feel?
-I was made to feel very welcome in the class as a photographer and a student; I think as I entered their world with respect, I was treated with the same.  I have been told I am quite strong with the moves I can already perform (still working on the elegant part though... ha ha) but I do still struggle with some of the more basic moves due to the nature of my shoulder injury and feel very supported by the girls.  Regardless of this injury I will try most moves and often find myself the wrong way up wishing I had another limb to grip with!


What is your biggest challenge during pole?
-Personally my biggest challenge (forgetting injury) would be my flexibility, although I am quite flexible for normal male standards, this is nowhere near where it needs to be for the moves I want to achieve in pole, but that being said there are many I can do as I am right now, so don’t be deterred if you are as stiff as a board,  there are plenty you can still do.


What is your favourite move?
-My favourite move may shock as it’s not the hardest, or the most flamboyant by any means but it catches my eye every single time I see it, it has to be Jade and this is also my goal for this year .


What is your least favourite move?
Remi Seat


Do you have any other hobbies?
-I have not been able to participate in these for two years due to personal circumstances but my passions are, sub aqua diving (PADI rescue diver), parachute jumping, cross country driving (rep RM) snowboarding etc and of course now pole


What do your friends and family make of you doing pole?
-My friends didn’t know until I uploaded my iron cross pic (Iron X) to Facebook ha ha then I was bombarded by messages asking if it was me, am I now a stripper etc etc I must admit I expected worse, I explained what I was doing and they have been very supportive, some of my male friends have said they want to give it a go but none have stepped up to the plate yet !
One of my Royal Marine friends told me I was “gay” (banter of course) for attending these classes, I explained that I was attending a class full of lycra clad fit ladies who are training in the art of pole dance and they actually want me there, this ended the banter ha ha


Do you have any ambitions within the pole industry?
-I don’t do things by half measures Kay I will push forward to be the best I can be in anything I do, I may never achieve “Mr Pole Fitness UK” but that won’t stop me aiming for it, also I want to be a “Pole household” name in photography,,,,,,,, watch this space J


Would you like to enter a competition one day? Do you have a competitive streak in you?
-I would love to enter a competition one day but right now it’s all about the flexibility, moves and fixing the broken body just for me, it is in my nature to be competitive that’s why I joined the Corps J


Do you have any children and if so would you approve of them taking up pole dance for fitness?
-Yes I have two beautiful little girls, they are 6 and 10, they attended one of my shoots at Pole Affinity when I was making the transition to student, they were so excited when they saw what the girls were doing I could not keep them sat down, I spoke to Miranda and asked if the girls could have a quick “play” after class and she said yes, the girls then started attending a few classes, they were doing so well and I loved watching them achieving their goals.

To progress in pole you need to have a certain amount of body flexibility is there anything you are working on to improve your flexibility or would you say you are very flexible already?
-when I was younger I attended gymnastics and was fairly flexible, although a lot of this has been lost I am sure I will get it back, I have been speaking to some very helpful people in the pole / contortion world and the advice they have kindly given will get me there


Is there anything you would like to add that would encourage other males to come into the pole world?
-ooooph that’s a tough one, I would recommend this to any male who will enter with respect for other polers, this could be the best workout you ever have using your own body weight, big or small, old or young there is a good workout for you, I guarantee you will gain from attending just one class, you will either gain by finding a new way to exercise and have fun or if you find its not for you but you  will have changed your view on pole dancing, vertical dance, pole fitness.
Please feel free to add any other points of interest
-The last 4 years have not been the best for me, with my Fathers untimely death, break down of my marriage, deployments to Afghanistan, my career in the Royal Marines cut short by injury, battling against an unfair system through my divorce and finally a child custody battle. All this having happened I am now in a good place and much stronger with my girls by my side.
On a personal note, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Miranda and the girls of Pole Affinity for welcoming me and allowing me to start this journey, supporting me and my girls along the way and looking forward to a great 2014
So from a Royal Marines Commando patrolling the streets of Kosovo to a full time father of two, photographer doing a flat line scorpio!!

Many thanks Harry and we look forward to you joining Mr Pole Fitness UK on 4th October 2014 :)

Kay Penney - Pole Passion Blog - http://polepassion.blogspot.co.uk/

10 things a professional pole competition judge wants to tell you but can't

1. Please smile as if you are enjoying your performance - If your 'story' or indeed costume ! doesn't warrant a smile then please add one in at the end of your performance  - when you bow and say your 'thank you for watching'
So many performers show their nerves and not their passion for dance and the pole

2. POSTURE & ALIGNMENT This one you will know !!
But please if this is a problem of yours say it over and over again in your head during your performance
'POINT YOUR TOES Extend your limbs'

3. MUSIC - Feel your music from within
It certainly shows if you don't - if in any doubt don't use a song - It's not the right choice if you have doubts - and never let someone else pick your music

4. CLOTHING -  Costumes costumes costumes ! Yes it takes time, effort AND money
An important part of competition preparation
Understand and read the rules then go for maximum effect possible, according to each competition criteria
EVERY point counts these days
Find out about the stage and stage backing too

5. ROUTINE-  Good routines are made up of many different elements
It's not just about tricks tricks tricks
You are better off doing intermediate tricks exceptionally well than advance tricks poorly!

6. FLEXIBILITY & STRETCH  Focus on your flexibility  - This is such an important part of modern pole routines
This means correct preparation warm ups and cool downs not only on the day of the completion but the weeks before and weeks after!
Refer to no. 2

7. EMOTION & EYE CONTACT - Engage with your audience and judges
This is simple and can be done with eye contact, facial expressions and hands reaching towards them, pulling them back into your body and your performance and emotion

8. CONTROL YOUR BREATHING -  Breathe!
An excellent performance not only leaves  the performer breathless but the judges AND audience too
Give all the power and energy you have got

9. ATTENTION TO DETAIL - It's the little details that matter too
Practice and get someone truthful to critique your performance - get them to find 10 things for you to improve on !

10.  TRANSITIONS -    Transitions in, out, around, up, down and from pole to pole
Just as important as your tricks !

Most importantly remember the qualities of an excellent performer are very different to that of an excellent instructor
The skills and mindset are very different

Good luck
Be safe
And remember every challenge is a growth in an upward step

Kay Penney POLE PASSION BLOGGER
www.worldpoledance.com

World Pole Dance 2014 World Pole Sport - tickets

On 1st February 2014 Pole Passion will be hosting the World Pole Fitness and Dance championships

Come and support the UK GB Team
Lorna Thomas
Dan Rosen
Charlotte Robertson
Steph K Foster

Tickets now on sale at Hawth Box office

Address: Hawth Ave, Crawley, West Sussex RH10 6YZ
Phone:01293 553636tickets

FREE Pole Fitness Apprentice schemes with Pole Passion

To gym members, managers and gym CEO’s who don’t quite appreciate or ‘get’ what pole fitness and dance is all about!
As leaders and pioneers in the Pole fitness Industry we are proud to organise and operate a teacher training apprentice scheme

Why do we have a pole instructor apprentice scheme?

The skills required to be the best pole instructor don't happen overnight for the majority, so we at Pole Passion are dedicated to share our wealth of national and international knowledge to those also passionate about supporting people in the pole fitness industry. Already coupled with our comprehensive REP’s Accredited, international teacher training programmes and exam and assessments we now have had in operation our apprentice scheme for over three years.

The reason why the apprentice scheme was set up by Kay Penney, the founder  and CEO of Pole Passion, was to support and educate the challenges that each instructor would face, socially and morally and it's a way of passing on this knowledge to make each person become the best they can be.
The scheme is predominately about providing opportunity for all and offering practical experiences in the class environment.  It’s about education and offering elite and professional training and support for free!

Who can apply?

We at Pole Passion, as founders of pole techniques feel we have an obligation to the industry as a whole. We only want the best to be leading pole techniques, focusing not only each participant who enters the world of pole, but equally on the health and safety elements, as paramount to those students and potential students we are introduced too, around the world.

Unfortunately there are, luckily, only a few, who aren't representing pole as we would like, so our scheme, which is available to all, is now running out as a national programme, with a view to running it internationally soon.



How does it work?

We have very simple guidelines and rules all accompanied by the Code of Pole Practice also written by Pole Passion in 2008  (add link)
We will issue you a training manual, uniform and set of guidelines and an instructor who, weekly will work closely with you, supporting your strengths and weaknesses.
You will be working towards the REP’s accredited teacher training two and a half day courses offering hands on experience and training every other week to the classes.

How much will it cost me?

This scheme is FREE to the right person – you will need to show commitment in your time and ability but your comprehensive training manual and uniform are given to you for free

How do I find out more?

If you would like to be considered as a Pole Passion trainer and or a Pole Passion teacher trainer apprentice and have been attending the Pole Passion pole classes for more than 12 consecutive weeks, then please contact us

 at email: kay@passion-fitness.com
www.polepassion.com
www.worldpoledance.com
www.misspoledance-uk.com
www.mrpolefitness.com
www.r-polefitness.com

Pole Passion fitness gym bag and holdall for instructors and students

BRAND NEW 2014 Pole Passion holdall and travel bags are now in stock, suitable for weekends and overnight travel

Great for the Pole Studio, Gym, Pole Sports and Competitions
Ideal to store your grips, water bottle, book of tricks, heels and trainers!
This travel bag is a professional look for Instructors and Students alike

Details
Professional Looking and organised
Compact size makes it suitable for locker storage in the gym or pole studio
Detachable adjustable shoulder strap with pad
Two end Zip pockets - one with mesh ventilated panel
Protective Base Feet

Bag dimensions:  47 x 30 x 27cms
Logo size (front only): 13 x 7cms
Capacity 30 litres
Made from wipe clean and durable 600D polyester

Student Cost: including Pole Passion stitched logo - £25.00 RRP

 (£2.99 for UK postage and packaging)

Place your order now in time for Christmas collection :)

www.polepassion.com

email:  theteam@passion-fitness.com