Wendy's Whirled

 

Photograph by Don Curry

Wendy Traskos is not only one of the strongest and sexiest dancers I’ve met, she is also an entrepreneur whose ventures include New York Pole Dancing Studio, Climb and Spin, and United States Pole Dancing Federation.  Amazingly, Wendy did not qualify for the cheerleading team when she was in high school, despite already being a competitive gymnast and having sister Tracy in the team.  But perhaps this early challenge contributed to Wendy’s tendency to push the limits.  Maybe growing up with a father in the military helped too. Rules couldn't be broken, so she sought areas of life where the rules hadn't been defined yet.

From floor: Wendy Traskos, Tracy Traskos and NYPD instructor, Brynlyn Loomis

Sister, Tracy, went to college for Community Health Education, and became a respected bodybuilder and fitness educator. Wendy followed her own path, and—in her final year of high school—her parents told her if she didn’t go to college, she would have to start paying rent.

Photograph by Don Curry

“I left at 18 and never looked back,” said Wendy. “After that, I just figured I could do what I wanted because I did everything all on my own: my own decisions and my own failures and everything.“

“I needed a job when I came to NY.  So eventually I started stripping. My parents would be so proud,” Wendy laughed.

“I never felt uncomfortable about showing my body,” she said. “And I knew that no one could touch me so I was fine with that. I drew a clear line and never stepped over it."

Wendy saved enough money to start her business in 2005, and to employ some of the finest pole dancers in New York including sister, Tracy.  Although running NYPD hasn’t proved as lucrative as stripping, Wendy does it because of her passion for pole, and also because it empowers women, and creates a sense of community.  Pole dancing is a bonding experience for many women, as they push their limits of endurance and strength together.

Photograph by Don Curry

Wendy refined the moves in the Climb and Spin method so they are safe for beginners and for progression to advanced moves. Unlike other studios, New York Pole Dancing requires testing before students perform invert (upside down) moves.

“I am trying to protect the students’ safety,” says Wendy. “Some people see a rivalry between New York Pole Dancing and other studios, but I feel there’s room for everybody.”

Wendy performing at Schtick A Pole In It

New York Pole Dancing offers drop in classes for students of all levels.  Wendy frequently performs at events like the Northwest Championship, Schtick a Pole In It, and the Pulse Project’s Sirens 2.  Currently, Wendy is focusing more on the studio and on Climb and Spin, which she hopes will become a standard method.  Whatever branch of her business she chooses to focus on, Wendy Traskos is clearly a Pole Dancing Pioneer.

Aera's Covered Sky

Aera's Covered Sky is one of the most creative dance performances I've seen this year: entertaining, evocative, and with plenty of surprising moments. Covered Sky is like a poem; in fact the story started with a poem:

Let go, fall in, tear away.
The moonlight mouth speaks the babble of that calling.
Float down to the bottom.
Nothing else points here.
A fire burns.
Do you like what you see?

Artistic director, Kyle McBeth and choreographers, Kyra Johannesen and Jen James Martin collaborated to create their first NYC premiere of Covered Sky, which ran from July 24 to July 28 at New York Live Arts. 

"We always start with the story," said Kyra.  "Then we add the music, choreography and other elements."

"We prefer for the audience to have their own take on the story," said Kyle. "That makes it more of a personal experience."

For me, the piece was a moody exploration of the multiple relationships in our lives, expressing the exhiliration, the doubt, and the tension between people as their knowing of each other evolves. Each member of the cast had unique strenths, and I particularly enjoyed the interplay between the male and female dancers.

Aera's overview says they aim to "expand the performance environment by creating a unique shared experience with our audience." They use fabric, pole and rope to "create a multifaceted experience of performance art." I look forward to seeing what Aera comes up with next.

Dancers Lara Michaels, Rommel Pier O'Choa, Dalijah Franklin, Elaina Royter, Alison Wardell, Joshua Dean, Tatiana DePillo, Angel Reed, Josh Taylor and Airin Dalton