FLOORWORK
ELEMENTS
STRADDLE BANGS
Who doesn't love a straddle bang?! These are a seriously cool trick to add into any routine to add extra impact and you don't need to be super flexible to do them (say what?!).
LUNGE THREAD THROUGH
I adore this thread through from a lunge! It can be used as such a dramatic transition to get down to a seated position so have fun playing around with pace, stylising with your spare hand and musicality!
LOOPS & SWOOPS
These Loop & Swoops are such a mesmerising movement to add into your floorwork and a little trickier than they appear!
LYING HIP CIRCLES
A more advance progression of our classic Speed Bump Bounces for you to try! Can you make the biggest circle with your butt?!
EXTENDED PAINTBRUSH
Here's a progression from our Paintbrushes. Remember this fits in our illusion split family, so we're keeping the grounded leg straight and our elevated leg is opening up diagonally.
FIGURE OF 8 HEAD WHIPS
Here's a popular (and impressive!) trick you can use to add texture and attitude to your routines. They may take a bit of practice (so make sure you're comfortable with regular head circles!) and make sure you warm up your neck properly before doing these to avoid getting whip lash!
FACE UP ILLUSION SPLIT
Who doesn't love a split?? With this Face Up Split, a certain amount of flexibility is required, BUT a flat split definitely isn't!
COBRA LEG SWITCHES
If you're wanting to switch your legs in a tabletop leg extension, here is a really simple but effective way to do so. Or it can be used to add continuous flow.
OVER SHOULDER SPLIT
(AKA FLOOR MACHINE GUN)
It's another faux flexy shape (yay!) an this time we are working on the Over Shoulder Split (also known as the Floor Machine Gun). And nope, you don't need a flat full front split to do this one either. But it does require a bit of active flexibility!
COBRA DIPS
I absolutely love these Cobra Dips. Such a great filler move, or they can be used to get to a lying face down pose. You can circle your hips in any direction, but remember, if you're adding a hair whip in (recommended!) make sure you're circling your head in the same direction as your hips!
BOOTY POPS
You got the rhythm to make your booty go POP! This is one of my all time favourite transitions and travelling moves. I've given you three exit points for this, but there are so many more! Can you make up your own?
TRUCKER GIRL
Trucker Girl is an absolute essential of a pose and a really helpful transition to help you link together your floorwork effortlessly. For such a simple pose there's a lot going on so here's a detailed breakdown.
ASS ON A PLATTER
Who ordered ass, ass, ass? Serve it up the right way: on a platter of course! Don't forget to warm up your wrists!
BRIDGE RIPPLE
All that slinky, snakey body roll goodness lying down? YES PLEASE!
FLOOR RIPPLE
Not only is this a super slinky and cool trick, but it's a fun way of travelling. Can you do it forwards and backwards?
INNER CIRCLE
This is one of my favourite floorwork transitional moves. This move is all about getting your hips as high as you can to make space for your foot. I recommend knee pads!
SPEED BUMP BOUNCES
Is there anything more satisfying than a good ol' butt bounce? Give these Speed Bump Bounces a try and find out for yourself.
PIKE, FLICK & FLASH
If you know me, you'll know this move is one of my favourite tricks to perform on the floor. And, it doesn't have to be Gash Flash Friday to do it!
EXORCIST POSE
Another one of my favourite floor tricks; The Exorcist Pose! It's deadly! Use this to master engaging your shoulder and pressing it into the ground as a prerequisite for Shoulder Stands!
FLOOR JADE
Here's a details breakdown to help you master the Floor Jade, which is an intermediate floor trick. This can be used as a floor trick, and also as conditioning to help strengthen active leg and hip flexibility as well as your Jade on the pole.
SHOULDER STAND
By special request, here’s an in-depth look at shoulder stands for beginners as a standalone trick without the pole. Make sure to listen to the key pointers before giving them a go, and also make sure you’ve warmed up through your neck, shoulders and abdominals before training.
HIP ROLLS
Simple but sensual; these hip rolls are perfect for adding embellishment to your routine and providing a moment to pause between transitions.
RUSSIAN FLICK
This is a popular, intermediate floorwork trick and one that may take a little time to perfect. Also known as a Scorpion / Arabesque Kick Up and it can be a little confusing at first.
SCORPION FLOOR ROLLS
These Scorpion Floor Rolls are a beautiful way of adding something *extra* to your floorwork and travelling (because travelling across the stage with style can be such a challenge at times!)
PIKE TURN
Here's a simple and cute transition: The Pike Turn. This is a great way to change direction during your routine and looks good from any angle.
TRANSITIONS & TRAVELLING
SHOULDER STAND CARTWHEEL
I absolutely love this transition from a shoulder stand. It's a great way to travel from one side of your stage to the other and to add some flair.
LEG SWEEP RAINBOW
Here's a sweepy variation of the Knock Knee Rainbow and a great way to transition from any face down position to a seated one!
BUNNY HOP
This is a great place to start if kips and drops are new to you, and a really dynamic way to move from and elevated pose (such as standing or squatting as we are doing here) to the ground.!
TURNOVER
Want to get from a seated pose to lying face down? Try this slinky Turnover; an absolute staple of floorwork if done right!
KNOCK KNEE RAINBOW
Mastered your Double Knock Knee? Give this Knock Knee Rainbow a try. This is an intermediate floor transition and I recommend wearing kneepads.
KNEE SPINS
Here's a fun spinny floor transition which you can take to a range of different exits, so give them all a try! Kneepads highly recommended!
WATERFALL
Sometimes you should go chasing waterfalls. Here’s an alternative way to come down from a hips-up position (aka anything from a candlestick or plow position) to really wow your audience. There’s a more advance version and an idea of how you can include it in a combination here too.
FORWARD SHOULDER ROLL
Just like the backwards shoulder roll, this one is essential to master (on both sides!). Here’s a detailed breakdown to help you perfect your technique. We’ll start off simple and there’s a more advance version at the end for you to try.
BACKWARDS SHOULDER ROLL
By popular request, here's a detailed breakdown of the backwards shoulder roll. Got it? Give some of the exit variations a go! Make sure you're training on both sides and you've warmed up your neck and shoulders beforehand.
PIKE HUMP SPIN
Pike Hump is another Knee Spin variation which is a great way to get from a Reverse Crawl Position (or similar) to Kneeling. Try it slowly first and once it makes sense you can add some real momentum in to spin on the grounded knee!
SCISSOR SIT UP
Looking for a fun, powerful but simply way to sit up? Give this Scissor Sit Up a go. I personally like to take it to an Outside Illusion Split, but you can take it to any Seated position, so give them all a go!
THREADY GO ROUND
Here's a fun floorwork combination, using shoulder rolls, candlesticks, shoulder stands (you don't need to be able to lift your legs from the ground for this one) and waterfalls. Create endless loops by threading your leg!
SPLIT THREAD THROUGH
Who doesn't love a cool splitty floor combo? Here's a fun one to take you from a Face Down pose to a Face Up pose and guess what? You don't need a flat split. This is another illusion split so take it as far as you're comfortable and perfect those angles!
COMBOS & SEQUENCES
REVERSE KNEE SPIN TO FORWARD FLOP
Here's a dynamic floor combo for you! You'll need to be comfortable with a Knee Spin (we'll be spinning in the opposite direction!) and a Forward Flop (the beginner variation will serve as a slinky version, and the more advance "flop" will make your movements more dynamic).
PAINTBRUSH FLAIR TO LYING LEG ADMIRATION
I definitely think Paintbrush legs are up there (alongside Wavy Legs, of course) with my favourite leg movements. Here's a fun combination (and transition) from a lying face down position to a seated leg admiration.
HEEL GLIDE COMBOS
There's so many ace transitions from Heel Glides. Here's a couple of different transitions for you to try, taking Glides to a Crawl, a Lunge and Standing.
EXORCIST TO SHOULDER STAND
Here's another awesome Intermediate combo for you to try. It's really important you're comfortable performing both an Exorcist and a Shoulder Balance before trying this; you should understand how to engage your grounded shoulder as it'll be doing alot of the work for you to protect your neck and keep you grounded.
FORWARD FLOP TO COBRA
This is an advance floorwork trick that's super fun to master. It's not as scary as it initially looks but make sure you start with the prep work and the beginner variation before trying the full flop, so to protect your spine and save yourself from a bellyflop on the floor!
LEG MOVEMENTS
STAG WALKS
Give these unique leg movements a go. Perfect to use as filler, embellishment, or if you need to change direction during a routine!
WAVY LEGS
Here’s a detailed breakdown of how to master your wavy legs (with two variations for you to play with); an absolute staple of solid floorwork. Why not incorporate these into your conditioning as well as your dancing?
FOLLOW ONS
Follow Ons are a super mesmerising element you can add to your floorwork. How slow can you go?
DOUBLE KNOCK KNEES
Get ready for all that leg circle and straddle goodness with these Double Knock Knees! How fast can you go? Add in with your own combinations and floor sequences.
TICK TOCK LEGS
This tutorial is all about those leg circles! How fast can you go? Remember, the legs are moving like hands on a clock!
TICK TOCK FLAIR
Add some flair to your Tick Tock legs!
So, you'll probably pick these up much faster than I did but it is worth mastering your original Tick Tock legs before giving these a go!
PAINTBRUSHES
If there was ever a move where you had to pretend your foot was a paintbrush and your butthole was a paintpot you’d want to learn it, right? Well, here you are! Another circular leg movement for you to master. These can be a little challenging at first but once you get into a rhythm with them to a great song you can go for hours!
CRAZY LEGS
Let's go crazy for crazy legs! This is such a fun leg movement to add into your dancing. I recommend checking out Double Knock Knee before giving these a go!
FIGURE OF 8 LEGS
There’s something super mesmerising about figure of 8 legs. These can be done lying down (demonstrated here), as well as standing up! It’s all about that internal / external hip rotation. Give them a try!
PRANCES
Looking to enjoy a good old school floorwork trick? These mermaid prances will be right up your street! These aren't to be confused with the Leg Figure 8's we've done in the past, but can be linked together with them! These incorporate both our legs performing closed wavy legs (on our side) and a body roll.
HEEL GLIDES
Heel clacks are awesome, but have you ever heard the delicious sound of a heel spike gliding on the floor? Give these a try!
JELLY FISH LEGS
Get ready to make like the ocean and wave! These legs are a version of our Double Knock Knee, but remember not to heel clack! We want this to look smooth and flowy like water (or jellyfish legs!)!
FLOPPY ANKLES
Floppy ankles are super visually impactful and give the illusion of extended flow and a unique aesthetic. They add personalisation, confidence, musicality and unique patterns to your dancing whilst respecting the origins of pole dancing. !