Interview With a Pole Dancer: RicaVeeka de Ocampo

Rica is the winner of Polesque 2010. Here is a clip of her performance.



Where are you from originally?
I was born and raised in Northern Virginia and went to high school in DC. :D

What is your pre-pole dance background?
I took Tae Kwon Do as a kid and I got my black belt when I was 12. I grew up in a family obsessed with martial arts. We competed in Sport Karate and Olympic TKD. In high school, I was in a show choir that had an emphasis on modern dance. And I don't know if this counts but I'm a singer. I sing everything from pop to opera. :D

It all counts! What inspired you to start pole dancing?
I was in a long term relationship with this guy, who broke up with me for the dumbest reason. So instead of crying, whining and obsessing about it I told myself, "F*ck him. I'm gonna be sexy as hell." 2 days later I took my first pole class at crunch.

I like how you turned the situation around and I bet he is seriously kicking himself now; way to go! How would you describe your style?
Sensual and silky. A bunch of body rolls with a lot of hair tossing. :D

What other kind of dancing or exercise do you do besides pole?
I'm not doing as much as I used to. Right now I'm just taking flexibility classes at Body and Pole. But normally I run 3 miles a day. I take as many group fitness classes at my gym that I can. And I love training in mixed martial arts especially Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.


OK we got it, dont mess with Rica! Do you ride a bike? If not, why not?
Hahaha. No, I don't ride a bike. In fact, it's been a long time since I've even been on one. When I was 12, I fell off my mom's bike while going down this huge hill in front of my house and skid down the rest of the hill on my chin. I got 9 stitches and joke that now I'm afraid of bi-wheel contraptions. ;D

As long as you're ok with tricycles... As a pole dancer what did you think when you first heard about PoleRiders?
I honestly thought it was genius. A great way to advertise/get attention and so much fun. I wanted to get up there too!

(Did everybody catch that she said "genius"?) Please describe your experience competing in Polesque.
Oh my goodness it was so much fun! And it was really nice cause all of us competitors are friends and basically one big pole family. We're all really supportive and loving of each other. I was pretty nervous (and excited) the day of mainly because this was my first real, solo pole performance. But i loved it!


Would you like to see an Olympic pole team?
I think getting pole into the olympics would be ground breaking and really change a lot of peoples misconceptions about the pole world and our sport. But in all honestly, I do have a slight fear that it could be seen as just another gymnastic apparatus. Pole is so much more than simply that.

Tell us about pole classes you take and/or teach.
I work-study at Body and Pole so I take ALL the classes there! I LOVE it! All the instructors are enthusiastic, knowledgeable, fun and they really push you to grow and get stronger. And all the other students are really hard core and addicted to pole as well so it's a really productive environment. I haven't started teaching, YET. But I'm planning on starting soon. I've been asked to do privates before but scheduling just hasn't been working. But I'd LOVE to do privates and i'd love to start teaching. :D

It was great seeing all that hard work pay off with your outstanding performance at Polesque. What are 3 or more cool websites you would like to share with readers?
richndelicious.tumblr.com (that's my tumblr :D )
leloveimage.blogspot.com
CagePotato.com
and just one more: http://www.stockholmblogholm.com/ this is Michelle Stanek's (the last polesque winner) blog from stockholm :D

What is your ideal vacation activity and destination?
Oooo my fantasy vacation is to go to New Zealand and do the LOTR tour. (yes i am a BIG geek) My other ideal destination is Fiji. I dream about it often. And of course Costa Rica....cause it's my coast. :D As far as activity, my favorite thing to do is to find a pole dance studio where ever i am and take a bunch of classes and/or privates. Other than that I like experience the city I'm in. I love to eat and drink and just have fun with friends.

What are your current favorite songs to dance to?
I'm really into playing with songs from broadway musicals. I find that I'm really drawn to dance to them. But right now my pole playlist consists of this: E.T. - Katy Perry Sexy Silk - Jessica Cornish Breathe Again - Sara Bareilles Lil Freak - Usher and a bunch of Dubstep stuff :D basically anything with a hard hitting bass, some sass and soul.

If you could spend 24 hrs with any person from past or present history who would it be and what would you do with them?
Stephen Colbert. I love him. He's hilarious and is musical. Plus I bet he radiates this positive energy that I'd love to be around. :D but 24 hours? Gosh that's such a tease. I wanna be friends. :D

What do you do for fun when you're not working?
Wow i don't know when that is? Haha. I basically have 5 jobs. But yea when i'm not working, I pole a lot. I sing all the time. But other than that I watch a lot of movies. I like to drink beer and wine. I really like to clean my apartment. And i steal people's change. D ♥ ♥ ♥