In episode 22 of Strip Journey, I talk to Maria, the official Frame Up representative in Switzerland. Maria shares her unique journey from growing up in a conservative family to finding her passion for dance after graduating as a medical doctor. She delves into her experiences with dance forms like pole dance, jazz funk, and her love for Frame Up. Maria discusses the challenges of introducing Frame Up in Switzerland, her approach to teaching, and how her medical and musical background complements her dance instruction. She reflects on her competitive experiences, future plans, and the supportive nature of the European dance community.

Maria’s instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_walking_muse/

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:19 Meet Maria: Frame Up Representative

01:00 Maria's Dance Journey

02:39 Teaching Frame Up in Switzerland

06:25 Medical Background and Teaching Approach

09:03 Competitions and Future Plans

17:06 Teaching Beginners

19:16 Frame Up Icons and Inspirations

21:19 Favorite Choreographies and Classes

23:41 Memorable Moments as a Dance Teacher

26:06 Messages for Listeners

27:02 Comparing Dance Conventions

28:59 Conclusion and Farewell

In this special episode, I talk about my experience at the 5th Frame Up Strip CZ convention and the first Stage 18+ competition. I talk about the classes we had at the convention with our amazing teachers Ira Podshivalova, Baina Basanova, Aleksandra Demianova and Eve, and then I give a quick round up of the amazing competition we had in Prague. And of course, there are statements from Eve, our organiser and participants in the Stage 18+ competition, including pro winner Liza Makarova, team Shafran and pro polers Christiana and Amie.

As usual, I had a great time and learned a lot and I hope to see you at one of the upcoming events!

Frame Up Strip CZ’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frameupstrip_cz/

Stage 18+ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stage__18/

00:00 Welcome to Strip Journey

00:31 Convention Highlights: Day One

04:54 Convention Highlights: Day Two

08:50 Organizer's Insights: short interview with Eve

13:00 Stage 18+ competition begins

13:30 Frame Up Solo Beginners category

14:20 Frame Up Solo Pro category

15:09 Interview with the Solo Pro Champion Liza Makarova

16:59 Pole dance champions hooked on Frame Up

17:24 Pro competitor Christiana Koulouma

18:55 Pro competitor Amie Alma

20:37 Small Groups category

21:25 Team Shafran interview

26:59 Big Groups category

28:15 Thank you to the organiser

29:55 Conclusion and see you next time

In episode 21 of Strip Journey, I welcome Mariia from Belgrade, Serbia, who shares her dance journey and experience. Mariia talks about starting dance at a young age, focusing on cheerleading and ending up in Frame Up strip. She discusses her experience of moving to Belgrade, introducing Frame Up strip to the local community, forming a dedicated dance team, and participating in international and local competitions. Mariia emphasizes the importance of persistence, community building, and continuous learning in achieving success in dance. This episode portraits the growing Frame Up community and creating a new dance niche in Serbia.

Mariia’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/masha_mahich/

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:15 Guest Introduction: Mariia from Serbia

00:49 Mariia's Dance Journey

03:31 Joining Frame Up and Teaching in Belgrade

06:22 Challenges and Growth in Teaching

09:02 Convention Experiences and Certifications

13:18 Competitions and Performances

17:49 Building and Leading a Dance Team

21:02 Future Plans and Community Building

27:05 Personal Insights and Advice

33:53 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In episode 20 of the 'Strip Journey' podcast, I re-visit Prague with an insightful conversation with Yana. Yana, an IT project manager and Frame Up dancer originally from Kazakhstan, shares her journey into the world of dance. She discusses her initial foray into various dance styles and her switch to frame-up dancing inspired by teachers in Prague and Russia. Yana delves into her experience with team dancing, including her involvement with Poison team in Prague, and the challenges she faced due to a knee injury. She introduces her project 'Ultima Thule' aimed at creating a collaborative dance space for artistic expressions. Sharing her creative process, the support structure of her team, and her aspirations for upcoming projects, Yana offers practical advice and inspiration for dancers interested in creative projects.

Yana’s instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasha_vasha

Ultima Thule instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ultima.thule.art

Ultima Thule website: https://www.ultimathuleart.com/

Ultima Thule YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ultimathuleart

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:35 Guest Introduction: Meet Yana

01:21 Yana's Dance Journey

04:32 Joining Frame Up Team Poison

06:12 The Birth of Project Ultima Thule

07:44 Ultima Thule's First Dance Case

09:02 The Academy Format

10:55 Building a Creative Team

13:46 Future Plans for Ultima

17:19 Teaching and Personal Development

18:34 Creative Process and Inspirations

19:55 Advice for Aspiring Dancers

21:43 Frame Up Icons and Preferences

23:14 Favorite Projects and Choreos

26:34 Memorable Moments

30:08 The Growth of Frame Up in Europe

33:29 Final Thoughts and Messages

In episode 19 of Strip Journey, we go back to Germany by inviting Anna from Frankfurt. Anna shares her inspiring journey from starting her dance career at 18 in Moscow to becoming a dance teacher. Despite facing challenges, such as a lack of initial support and starting late, Anna pursued her passion. She details her transition to Frankfurt, the struggle to find dance communities and suitable studios, and her efforts to introduce Frame Up style in a new environment. Anna's story highlights the importance of perseverance, self-belief, and adapting to new circumstances while chasing one's dreams.

Anna’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annaslide/

00:00 Introduction to Episode 19

00:18 Anna's Dance Start

00:54 First Dance Experiences and Challenges

04:02 Teaching and Expanding Skills

09:03 Frame Up

21:07 Transition to Frankfurt

28:44 Dance Competitions in Europe

29:32 Challenges of Teaching Dance in Frankfurt

30:26 Comparing Dance Levels Across Cities

31:12 Struggles with Dance Studios in Frankfurt

32:49 The Importance of Musicality in Dance

34:20 Observations on Dance Teachers and Techniques

37:43 Experiences in Dance Competitions

38:01 Differences in Competition Structures

41:13 Growing Dance Community in Europe

50:11 Advice for Aspiring Dancers

In episode 18 of Strip Journey, Morana welcomes Tatiana Pawlak, a strip dance teacher from Poznań, Poland. Originally from Russia, Tatiana shares her journey into dance, starting from ballroom dance at six years old to cheerleading and then a decade-long break. She rekindled her love for dance at 25 after discovering high heels dance videos on Instagram during the COVID-19 lockdown. Despite a lack of local strip dance teachers, Tatiana pursued online courses and eventually began teaching. Tatiana discusses her transition into teaching, her approach to dance as an art form, and her experience in competitions like StripLab. She also shares insights into her teaching methods, emphasizing improvisation, self-acceptance, and the importance of creating meaningful performances. Tune in to hear about Tatiana's ongoing dance journey and her plans for the future.

Tatiana’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tatiana_pawlak/

00:00 Introduction

01:13 Tatiana's Dance Journey

02:53 Discovering Strip Dance

06:24 Teaching and Building a Dance Community

09:09 Dance as Art and Competitions

24:44 Improvisation and Personal Growth

28:38 Future Plans and Final Thoughts

In this episode of Strip Journey, I get to talk to a friend and fellow dancer Tara. We talk about differences on starting dance from a young age and later, as well as our experiences from classes and how we percieve ourselves. Tara is a Finnish dancer, dance teacher, and certified dance judge currently residing in Tallinn, Estonia. Tara also shares her extensive dance journey, starting from her childhood in Finland where her mother set up a dance studio, to her current passion for high heels and frame up dancing. Tara talks about the challenges of transitioning between various dance styles, the influences of her performance background on her work in reality TV, and her educational path in communication management and international business. She offers insights on the importance of exploring different dance styles, overcoming self-doubt, and the value of recording and reviewing dance performances. Tara also emphasizes the need to have fun and push personal boundaries for growth in dance.

Tara’s instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tara_who/

Tara’s blog: https://www.tarawho.fi/

00:00 Introduction

01:45 Tara's Dance Journey

05:26 From Miss Globe to High Heels

08:24 The Transition to Frame Up

10:47 Balancing Dance and Career

13:48 Challenges and Opportunities in Dance

17:31 Teaching and Learning Dance

22:34 The Impact of the Podcast

24:51 Exploring Dance Workshops and Making Friends

27:24 The Impact of Performance Background on Reality TV

30:47 The Importance of Filming and Self-Review in Dance

33:50 Overcoming Self-Doubt and Embracing Challenges

41:01 Advice for Aspiring Dancers

In Episode 16 of Strip Journey, Alina Boshchenko, a dancer from Amsterdam, shares her inspiring story on dancing and getting into dance battles. She discusses her introduction to FrameUp during the pandemic, her dynamic dance style, and her experience with improvisation and battles. Alina highlights the importance of foundational dance moves, musicality, and a supportive community. She also reflects on her participation in World of Dance and local dance battles, emphasizing the value of authenticity and continuous growth. The episode offers practical advice for dancers on improving improvisation skills and maintaining a healthy competitive spirit.

Alina’s instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lesslyrics_

00:00 Welcome to StripJourney

00:21 Meet Alina: A Software Engineer and Dancer

00:53 Alina's Dance Journey: From Ballroom to FrameUp

01:38 Discovering FrameUp During the Pandemic

02:42 The Art of Improvisation and Battles

04:22 First Battle Experience and Feedback

09:08 Developing a Structured Freestyle Plan

11:47 The Importance of Community in Battles

15:42 Training for Freestyle and Musicality

21:45 Balancing Inspiration and Authenticity

23:22 The Challenges of Freestyle Dance

24:29 Creating a Comfortable Atmosphere for Students

24:57 Innovative Exercises and Techniques

27:44 Personal Dance Style and Preferences

30:00 Choreography Process and Challenges

32:47 Experiences on the World of Dance Stage

41:36 Memorable Battle Moments