intro to aerial pole

Begin your journey honing the basics at "First Flight"! This workshop focuses on refining and applying pole dance techniques on an aerial pole rigged 1.5 feet off the ground. Focuses include breaking down aerial pole mechanics, conditioning techniques, various types of mounts, climbs, ways to generate a consistent and powerful spin, and different types of beginner-intermediate foundational aerial skills. We recommend taking one of these classes before taking Aerial Pole INT+.

Pre-Requisites:  Foundation in pole or other aerial disciplines is strongly encouraged.

INTermediate+

Take your pole skills to the next level — literally! This workshop focuses on building aerial combinations and flows with a variety of pole dance techniques on an aerial pole rigged 1.5 feet off the ground. All flows will incorporate components of strength, flexibility, and various contact points to help students build awareness in their bodies and find a variety of ways to sequence technical skills in a fluid way. 

Pre-Requisites:  Take one “First Flight” class before taking Aerial Pole INT+

Must be comfortable with inverts, leg hangs, and being on a spinning pole.

*Aerial poles are silicone — shorts (recommended) or leggings can be worn.

meet the teacher

Donna Carnow is a Brooklyn-based pole dancer, aerial pole artist, national pole champion, and human pretzel-tornado. Donna was the 2022 US National Pole Art Champion where “she POLE the show” (New York Post). Her performative abilities have been described as the “production’s true showstopper” (NY Times) and celebrated in Variety, The New Yorker, Theatermania, and more. Recently in world-renown Circus Flic Flac Duisburg she “performs aerial contortions that look completely unreal — all with perfect ease” on aerial pole. Other notable performance credits include EUPHORIA at The Hard Rock Casino Atlantic City, and her Drama Desk award winning performance “LUST” in Seven Deadly Sins NYC (Off-Broadway) voiced by Cynthia Nixon. Donna is a resident performance artist at renowned NYC venues like The Box & The Slipper Room, and performs regularly in variety + circus productions worldwide. Donna teaches in NYC and around the world via workshops & teaching residencies. Her technique-focused classes are creatively activated by her fiery energy, anatomical knowledge, passion for her students’ growth, and her belief in the magic of movement. Originally from Chicago, Donna hails from an experimental modern dance background and holds a B.F.A in Dance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. There she discovered pole dancing 11+ years ago & fostered her love for experimentation.

donnacarnow.com

IG: @donkakong 

class description

This floor based dance class is geared specifically towards aerialists! Practice fundamental dance techniques and learn exciting floor tricks that will bring your performance skills to the next level. Class begins with a warm up focusing on improving your lines and movement quality that will help enhance your shapes in the air. Next we will focus on learning a few floor tricks (ex. shoulder rolls, ground calypso, kneeling cartwheel) that could be the unexpected wow factor in your next routine. Finally we will incorporate the skills we've practiced into a short combination. 

Pre-Requisites:  There is no dance or aerial experience required for this class, just a willingness to try new things and throw yourself around the floor! 

meet the teacher

Kelsey Krantz has been dancing as long as she can remember. Growing up she trained in ballet, jazz, and contemporary dance, and in her high school and college years focused on choreography and fusion styles of dance performance. When she took her first aerial yoga class in 2017 she found that her dance experience helped immensely and was instantly hooked. Kelsey has loved taking aerial dance classes at Om Factory, and seeing her classmates begin to enjoy the floor dance portion as much as she does. She wants to help other aerialists build on these skills and feel as confident on the ground as they do in the air! 

tktktktktk.com

IG: @TKTK