Gay Pride PoleRide With Dykes-On-Bike-Cycles

All photo's by Color and Light Photo unless noted otherwise.
We made all three papers on the same day! Thanks to the New York Times, the New York Post (not posted online) and The Daily News for the coverage!

Photo Piotr Redlinski for the New York Times!

Photo Helayne Seidman, NY Post

Photo Handschuh, Daily News

Photo by Reuters

Roland is our first male PoleRider making his debut at Gay Pride. Welcome to the team!

Gay Pride '10 stars on the pole (in alphabetical order) are Austin Lee Dylan, Kyra, Lian, Marlo and Roland. Kyra Lian and Roland are from Body & Pole. Special guest PoleRider Lee Dylan is also a pedicab driver and she pedaled the PoleRider trike along with me. We had pedicabs for the dancers "on deck" provided by Waterfront Bike Shop on Christopher Street. Thanks Christian from all of the dancers!

Austin Lee

Lian
Kyra

Roland

Marlo

One lucky paintbrush!


Lian demonstrating why Marlo needs two bras.

Lian and Marcello from Waterfront Bike Shop cruising in the side-by-side tandem trike.

PoleRiders gets rolling with Austin lee in the saddle... (you might want to flip that mirror around)


...and Marlo on the pole!



Quote from Amy H.K.: "Marlo looks like a sexy ass piece of watermelon and her rind is looking pretty juicy!"

Marlo-On-A-Stick




Marlo with flag. (I thought this looked funny)

I am supervising.



Austin Lee Dylan takes the stage on 8th street. The crowd goes wild!









Austin Lee performing the one handed back handspring stage dismount for the first time! Remember folks you saw it here first and don't try this at home!

Kyra turned the trike into a sexy rolling flagpole!















Roland shows his moves!










Sham-Wow!















Group shot at the end with Dykes-On-Bike-Cycles who invited us to join them in the parade! A huge thanks to Candice and DOB-C for letting us join them again this year. We all had a great time!

See Color and Light Photo for more pictures.

Mermaid Parade 2010

Photo Prof. Jas. Mundie
Pirate Booty!

Photo by one of my favorite photographers Tod Seelie aka Sucka Pants




Brookelyn, Christianne and I did the Mermaid Parade on Saturday. I used a different route to get there and back which bypassed Park Slope. The hill on the trip home last year was really hard and the new route on 4th ave added a few miles but was totally worth it. The whole day was over 35 miles and the trike weighs at least 500 lbs without a dancer. After you finish up here, check out more fantastic shots of the parade at Color and Light Photography.





I cant't have the PoleRiders sporting ink with car wheels. Christianne is going to have to get that garbage removed and replaced with a proper PoleRider tattoo if she is gonna roll with us.










That's our trusted booty guard Shane following in the pirate hat. We got swarmed at the end of the Parade and were very glad to have him along even if he did beat up a few paparazzi.

We were # 306

The swarming happened a few minutes after this shot and we had to call in the cops to get us out before a fight broke out or someone got hurt. It could have been much worse. Thanks to the NYPD for crowd control minus the sound cannons this time! :)

Photo's by Color and Light Photography unless noted otherwise.

Bicycle Film Festival Part 1

This is the first set of pictures. The Thursday ride began at Revolution Rickshaws . As the sun set we rode along the river bike path down to the Bicycle Film Festival's Joyride Bicycle Art Show.

We were greeted by a large crowd already hanging out outside and more people poured out to watch Kelly and Christianne dance.

All photos in the post are by Marina Galperina and first appeared in Animal New York



The cops showed up with their anti-riot sound cannons to break up the crowd and end all the fun. I'm not exactly sure why. They claimed that they had several noise complaints but my guess is the complaints began when they showed up. More on this story here: BikeBlogNYC. and more pictures coming in the second installment.

Kyra Johannesen and Lian Tal of Body and Pole

This interview is reprinted with kind permission from the always adorable Jennifer at Pole Skivies

Meet Kyra and Lian of Body and Pole!
How did you get started pole dancing?

KYRA:
I met some dancers that worked at a local strip club in New York City that asked me to choreograph some of their pole routines. The next day I bought my first pole.

(photo of Kyra by AM New York)

LIAN:
I went to my gym, Crunch, to take my first hot yoga class. I hated every minute of it. When the sweat was dripping into my eyeballs, I had enough and walked out of class right in the middle of it. As I was heading back into the dressing room, I walked by the other fitness room and saw a pole dance class going on. I was very intrigued and told myself I HAD to come back the following week to give it a try. I had no upper body strength, so it was really hard, but I had so much fun and was immediately hooked.

(photo of Lian by AM New York)

How did you decide to join together and start your own studio? What’s that been like?

KYRA:
Lian was a super-talented and passionate student of mine at Crunch, and started teaching pole out of her home. As my popularity grew, Lian’s did also. We decided to join forces and create the ultimate pole dance fitness program, Body and Pole.

LIAN:
Kyra has always been an inspiration to me. She is the main reason why I started pole dancing, and she was the one who kept pushing me to become who I am today. It was a no-brainer to me when I decided to open a studio, to bring Kyra in as my partner. I would never do this without her. We make a great team and compliment each other on so many levels. Kyra has become so much more to me than just a business partner. She is my best friend.

Kyra, you started the pole dance classes at Crunch Fitness. How will your own studio be different from those classes? Will you continue working with Crunch?

KYRA:
Crunch Gym has a fantastic group fitness program, and pole dancing is one of its many that rock. I developed the program for Crunch that works wonderfully for its members that want to have their Yoga, Pilates, Hip Hop, and Pole Dance all located at one gym. I look forward to continuing to grow the pole program at Crunch and to be involved in its future.

Body and Pole is the ultimate pole studio. We designed classes for all levels that are small and very hands-on. All our classes are an hour and a half. They have a focus on dance technique, flexibility, and strength training. It’s a place that pole dancers have been waiting for!

What is the first thing you teach students just starting to take pole dancing classes?

KYRA:
The first thing I teach students when they start pole dancing is that they need to leave all their preconceived notions at the door. Soon as the music starts, it’s all about having fun with dance and fitness. Then we move on to a basic walk around the pole with pirouette.

LIAN:
I let the new students know that we all had to start somewhere, even I was really bad and weak when I started. Then I start with some basic strength training on the pole, and continue with some basic walks and spins to become familiar with the pole and their bodies.

How do you take care of yourself, given all the pole dancing you do?

KYRA:
To keep my body happy and pole dancing, I make sure I’m cross training with ballet, pilates, and yoga. I visit my chiropractor every other week, and take a hot bath every night.

LIAN:
I stretch every day. I take long, hot baths almost every night with Epsom salts to soothe the muscles. I eat healthy foods and listen to my body. I have my boyfriend rub my feet and back, too … he is great when it comes to pampering me and making me feel better.



Favorite makeup tip:

KYRA:
Glitter. I don’t think you could ever use too much glitter.

LIAN:
When I go out on the town (which is rare these days …), I love putting on red lipstick and black eye liner. Kind of like the pinup girl look.

Barefoot, sneakers, or platform heels?

KYRA:
I love pole dancing barefoot. It makes me feel connected to the floor and my movement, but I do love my silver 6-inch heels on days that I just need to be fabulous.

LIAN:
Depending on the mood. When I teach, I am always barefoot. Sometimes I feel like putting on my high heels. These days, it is much more barefoot, though, than heels. I say, to each their own, whatever makes you happy is ok with me.

Pole dance move that made you proudest to learn:

KYRA:
Every day I’m working towards my pole technique, but, I have to say, when I completed my first Phoenix “one handed body spiral into the twisted grip handspring,” I was so out-of-my-mind excited, I never thought my body could do that!

LIAN:
Every new move I learn, I am really proud of; it is always an achievement. I was particularly proud when I finally got the Aysha correctly, with my body away from the pole. It took me a really long time to feel safe to pull my body away from the pole.
Pole dance pet peeves:

KYRA:
I really only have one pet peeve when it comes to pole dancing, and that is when people say that they can’t. Half the battle to achieving goals is believing in yourself, and only you can do that.

LIAN:
I have a really hard time with people who don’t point their toes. I also don’t like when people hang on the pole, without engaging their shoulder/back muscles.
Favorite treatment for bruises and sore muscles:

KYRA:
For sore muscles, I take a bath. As for my bruises, they are my battle scars; I embrace them.

LIAN:
Arnica gel works great for bruises, but, honestly, I don’t really care if I bruise; it just shows me that I conquered a new move and my body is learning how to position itself. For sore muscles, I usually take a long, hot Epsom salt bath and drink a lot of water. Advil helps, too, if you are REALLY sore.

Who would you most like to have in the audience when you pole dance?

KYRA:
I love having my husband in the audience when I perform. He is one of my biggest fans. He gets more nervous than I do.

LIAN:
Having my boyfriend in the audience makes me feel safe. I know how much he loves what I do and is so supportive of me.
Who is your hero or role model?

KYRA:
I have had many role models that have guided me through, from teachers, to family, and friends.

LIAN:
My role model is my mom. No doubt about that one. My pole hero? I would say there are so many who inspired me to do what I do. Leigh Ann Reily was one of the first I found on Youtube. I was completely obsessed with her … she and I are friends now and laugh about it all the time. She is still one of my favorites; she is so sexy and creative.
What are your favorite words of encouragement?

KYRA:
Apparently, my students tell me I use many different phrases and words of encouragement, but my most used is Work Diva.

LIAN:
You can do it! Never say I can’t!

What do you like to do when you’re not pole dancing?

KYRA:
I have really been getting into bowling these days. Lian and I are thinking of starting a team Body and Bowl ….

LIAN:
I love having time with my man or my girlfriends to just go have a nice dinner and go to bed early. I’m kind of boring these days … lol.
Anything else you’d like to share:

KYRA & LIAN:
We are super excited about joining the PFA (Pole Fitness Association). We believe this is the perfect group of people who are really there for our community and we are honored to be a part of such an amazing group. Lian is now the East Coast Event Ambassador and we have some exciting things coming up in the future!

B&P student Tracee (photo: AM New York)

To get more information on classes with Kyra and Lian, go to Body and Pole!

P.S. Join the PoleSkivvies group on Facebook! :)

The Hog Pit

Ariel and I went to Madison Square Park for the BBQ festival yesterday... Too many meat jokes to know where to begin. We got hassled a bit, first by park security and then by the cops but still managed to put on a good show, rolling around the outside of the park.

We also managed to jump into the Hare Krishna Parade for few blocks! I couldn't stop thinking about this.

If you like BBQ, check out The Hog Pit at 37 west 26th street. I will be out again on Tuesday night with new dancer Kelly starting on the west side bike path and again on Thursday with Christianne who danced in the Halloween Parade. Look for us at the Coney Island Mermaid Parade on Saturday with Christianne and Brooklyn! If anyone wants to do the ride out there with me, please let me know.