Koryn wrote:
I danced part-time, from 2009 through the end of 2012.

I found it was the only thing I could do during slow seasons (like summer), when modeling work was limited and I just needed something I could do sporadically for a few weeks at a time.

It worked well with my travel schedule, and I could pick up shifts as needed, during times I opted to stay home for extended periods.

People will say, "Oh, I never work with strippers, because they can't be good art models." That's bullshit; I've been an art model first and foremost for close to a decade now, and dancing just filled in the gaps, as needed.

I hear ya! No argument from me - I've had the privilege to work with several dancers over the years and they were EXCELLENT models! They have stage/camera presence and, of course, take care of their bodies and look BEAUTIFUL!

I will say, however, that just because one dances does not automatically mean they will also be great models - I've had that experience, as well, actually. There are definitely transferable skills but like anything else, you have to work at it a little bit.

Thanks for chiming in Koryn!

descending chain wrote:
Spam and modeling?  Spam and eggs?

Thank you for the shoot suggestion. I've been meaning to step out of my comfort zone and that idea sounds just about right! ^_^

Maybe I'll opt for a spam and egg musubi though


I've shot with a couple of dancers before. It depends on the person I think. One was really great while the other one was stiff (but in a way that wasn't flattering to the garment).

Top Gun Digital wrote:
I've found that dancers, particularly those that have been classically trained usually make very good models.  They are very aware of their bodies and are always conscious of how each part of their body is positioned.  If they still actively dance they also tend to be very flexible.

+1

Thank you!

Sandra Vixen wrote:
Exotic dancing is not dancing.

Lol okay. Be prepared.

AJScalzitti wrote:
In fact the standard body type for a model is not really the same as one would want in an exotic dancer IMO.

There is only one type of modeling therefore only one type of acceptable look. Fact.

Sandra Vixen wrote:
Exotic dancing is not dancing.

Exotic dancers may or may not (usually not) dancers.

If you want to see real dance photography at its best:

Lois Greenfield - Contemporary Dance
http://www.loisgreenfield.com/

Richard Calmes - Classical Dance
http://www.pbase.com/rcalmes

When I was working in strip clubs, I did things like inversions, walking on my hands, and jumping from a fully seated position to fully standing. I would lie on my back, pull my legs up behind my head and flip all the way over into a push up position. I also used to go into a full backbend and do plyometric clapping push-ups while still in the backbend. It was dancing, or at least gymnastics

Koryn wrote:

When I was working in strip clubs, I did things like inversions, walking on my hands, and jumping from a fully seated position to fully standing. I would lie on my back, pull my legs up behind my head and flip all the way over into a push up position. I also used to go into a full backbend and do plyometric clapping push-ups while still in the backbend. It was dancing, or at least gymnastics

And those are the very skills which are used for modeling, which is why dancers (exotic, classic, or rap) and gymnasts often do very well in photoshoots : )

Koryn wrote:
When I was working in strip clubs, I did things like inversions, walking on my hands, and jumping from a fully seated position to fully standing. I would lie on my back, pull my legs up behind my head and flip all the way over into a push up position. I also used to go into a full backbend and do plyometric clapping push-ups while still in the backbend. It was dancing, or at least gymnastics

Vids or it didn't happen.

But really, can you still do this? I need to capture this in some fashion. (And BELIEVE ME, I will capture you some day.)

descending chain wrote:
Do Spam and exotic dancing go together?  Spam and modeling?  Spam and eggs?

"Well, spam eggs sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it!" :-)))

Moodscapes wrote:
I've found dancers are the best models for my style. All the dancers I've worked with from exotic through to ballet have one thing in common - they can physicalise almost any concept or emotion you ask them to and they are tough. They are used to being told to hold difficult poses and positions over and over again and to make specific adjustments without complaining (or at least keeping it to a minimum).

I'll photograph any type of dancer before any other type of model.

+1,000

I feel the same way : )

Alabaster Crowley wrote:

Vids or it didn't happen.

But really, can you still do this? I need to capture this in some fashion. (And BELIEVE ME, I will capture you some day.)

I have no idea if I can still do most of that stuff. I cannot do pole tricks any longer, because it causes tendonitis flare-ups in my shoulders now. I was dealing with joint pain and stiffness, all along the right side of my upper body, for close to four months, before I actually figured out what was causing it.

I can still jump from fully seated, to upright, as that is a basic plyometric training exercise for building explosive power in the lower body. It just looks cool, and people aren't expecting stuff like that out of a small, relatively unremarkable-looking person.

Moodscapes wrote:
I've found dancers are the best models for my style. All the dancers I've worked with from exotic through to ballet have one thing in common - they can physicalise almost any concept or emotion you ask them to and they are tough. They are used to being told to hold difficult poses and positions over and over again and to make specific adjustments without complaining (or at least keeping it to a minimum).

I'll photograph any type of dancer before any other type of model.

Interesting commentary. I think a LOT of this has to do with style and what you, as a photographer or model, are trying to capture/portray. Certainly, ballet dancers are going to have a more artistic look and feel than say, exotic dancers - or at least one would expect that.

But, as I mentioned earlier, just because one dances does not always make them a good model - like anything else, these are RELATED skillsets but still require work and fine tuning. Kinda like models becoming actors - there are SOME related and transferable skill sets however, models still have to work with acting coaches to be truly successful actors...

Koryn wrote:

When I was working in strip clubs, I did things like inversions, walking on my hands, and jumping from a fully seated position to fully standing. I would lie on my back, pull my legs up behind my head and flip all the way over into a push up position. I also used to go into a full backbend and do plyometric clapping push-ups while still in the backbend. It was dancing, or at least gymnastics

Koryn...

You gotz skillz.... lol

Nice port, by the by - I just checked it out and commented.

Sandra Vixen wrote:
Exotic dancing is not dancing.

Complete nonsence.

Exotic dancers may or may not (usually not) dancers.

If you want to see real dance photography at its best:

Lois Greenfield - Contemporary Dance
http://www.loisgreenfield.com/

Richard Calmes - Classical Dance
http://www.pbase.com/rcalmes

What on earth makes you say that exotic dancing isn't dancing?

The vast majority of performance dance in human history has had an erotic component to it.



Exotic Dancer.



Exotic Dancer



Exotic Dancer



Exotic Dancer


Faults with the photos are mine - nothing at all wrong with those girls as models!

Sandra Vixen wrote:
The definition of performance dance is an uncontrolled spontaneous chaotic sequence of movements, it requires no meaningful effort, education, or training.

As one professor put it, "it is often confused with a seizure".

Performing dance (the opposite of performance dance) requires many years of training, education, and lots of pre-planning (choreographing) before it is displayed.

For me, as a real dancer, I can clearly tell that the above subjects are not dancers and have no training. They are ok as models though and there is nothing wrong with them. But they are not dancers.

They are far from passionate, sensual, or erotic.

Real dancers can take sensual and erotic to a higher level that exotic dancers will never reach (warning: some 18+):

http://www.classicalballet.ru/eng/ballets/lisistrata/

http://www.classicalballet.ru/eng/ballets/creation/

That's a very elitist attitude you have. I'll continue to think that dancers are those who dance, and that there are different levels and different genres.

Sandra Vixen wrote:
For me, as a real dancer

Sighing elaborately.

K I C K H A M wrote:
That's a very elitist attitude you have. I'll continue to think that dancers are those who dance, and that there are different levels and different genres.

Alabaster Crowley wrote:

Sighing elaborately.

+1

Sandra Vixen wrote:
But seriously, would you include rappers as PhD's?

What a logical comparison.

K I C K H A M wrote:

That's a very elitist attitude you have. I'll continue to think that dancers are those who dance, and that there are different levels and different genres.

I love working with classically trained dancers. Most strippers barely dance they walk around trying to get lap dances from patrons. There was a time even in the seventies where clubs had headliners doing wonderful acts much like the Crazy Horse in Paris.  Those almost never exist.

So until that type of dancing comes back I don't consider strippers as dancers.

But the kind of work I like to shoot I seek ballet dancers, yoga practitioners, acrobats and gymnasts, they have body awareness are very creative with athletic poses and have wonderful expression