* This post is a reflection on my memories from two years ago, with help from my old journal and photos.
My first competition experience was bittersweet. I’m glad I did it, but I couldn’t perform the way I had hoped (Read more here: My First Competition Experience). Originally, my plan was “one and done”. Compete once and move on ;however, I just couldn’t stop there (Read more here: Clinging to ‘I wish I had done better’ thoughts). My mind was already set on the next competition: the USPSF Pole Art National Championship amateur division in August. This time (2023), the Nationals would be held in Savannah, Georgia.
More reason to compete
A few other factors made me want to compete again:
- ・I already knew I’d be moving to Florida in July, which meant I only had a couple of months left to train at my current studio.
- ・By the time of the competition, I would be living in Panama City Beach, Florida — much closer to Savannah than Tucson.
- ・My partner was (and always is) supportive of the idea. I probably would have competed even if he disagreed, but encouragement from my biggest supporter made a difference.
I set two goals for this competition:
・Perform in a way I could genuinely feel proud of
・Place in the top 3 to qualify for the POSA World Championships
I already knew placing in the top 3 would be a long shot. Honestly, I didn’t feel I was skilled enough to be on the world stage at that time. There are so many talented polers out there. I couldn’t even do a handspring back then. But still, I wanted to take the chance and see how it played out. I was ready to work as hard as possible so that, no matter the results, I could feel I had earned my spot on the world stage.
I also had a great training environment in Tucson. I didn’t know if I would have access to a good studio once I moved to Florida. This could be my last chance to train as often and as intensely as I wanted, and I wasn’t about to let that opportunity pass me by.
Preparing for the New routine
New Competition, New Possibilities
This time, I decided to compete in the Pole Art Championship. Pole Art is different from my first competition, Pole Classique. While Pole Classique focuses on sensual beauty, Pole Art emphasizes storytelling and artistic expression. There’s also Pole Sport, which is more technical— athletes must declare a set list of tricks in advance. Pole Art, on the other hand, allows for props, creative makeup, and more freedom in performance. I felt that Pole Art would give me more room to express what I wanted to share on stage.
My 2023 Routine Theme
Choosing the theme and song for a routine is exciting but can also be stressful. It’s an important decision since you don’t want to pick a song that’s been overused in competitions, because you risk boring the judges and audience. At the same time, you want something authentic, something that feels like you.
After weeks of brainstorming, I decided to portray one of Japan’s most beloved folk tales: The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, also known as Princess Kaguya. This 10th-century story, whose author is unknown, is one of the oldest surviving works of Japanese fiction and remains incredibly popular today.
The core of the story goes like this:
A bamboo cutter finds a tiny girl in a bamboo stalk. The girl grows up rapidly to be a beautiful lady and is called Princess Kaguya. The rumor of her beauty spread across the country and five noble men proposed to her, but she turned them away by setting impossible tasks to fulfill. The emperor also desired her, but she revealed that she is from the moon and must return to her people. Additionally, there is this robe from the moon that gives her amnesia once it’s worn, so all memories of the earth will be forgotten. Regardless of everyone’s effort to protect her, she was taken away to the moon.
The 2013 animated film The Tale of the Princess Kaguya by Isao Takahata (nominated for an Academy Award) provided much of my inspiration. Portraying such a rich, emotional story in just three and a half minutes would be challenging, but it felt unique, and more importantly, deeply personal. I’ve loved this story since childhood, and I was excited to bring it to life through the art form I love most: pole.
Training with a new coach
Because this was a completely different type of competition, I sought guidance from another instructor. I shared my theme and ideas with her, and she agreed the story could be told effectively on stage. She offered valuable advice on structuring the narrative and selecting the right music. I then edited and combined tracks to create my performance piece.
Knowing my time in Tucson was limited before my move to Florida, I wanted to begin training immediately. We started private lessons at the end of January almost every week. Private lessons can be expensive, but I knew I lacked experience and needed as much practice as possible. I worked extra hours to cover the cost, even while juggling preparations for my big move. It wasn’t easy, but I felt incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity, so the extra effort was worth it.
In my next post, I’ll share more about my training, injury, and relocation.
Thank you so much for reading！
