Look
good, feel better
Taboo dancing is the latest exercise craze
to sweep across the Emerald Coast
November 27, 2006
By Robbyn Brooks - Northwest Florida Daily
News
Moms, girlfriends, wine, cheese,
candlelight...and pole dancing.
"It's an empowering feeling," Angel
Carson said of the latest exercise craze to hit
the Emerald Coast.
Women of all ages and body types gather for the
class that incorporates sensual dancing and
alternative fitness.
With the lights dim and yoga mats on the floor,
the instructor smiled and shook her hair out.
"Pony tails out ladies! From here on, it's
sexy hair," Heather Forrester, the class
founder said as 10 ladies followed her lead.
Forrester had seen the class succeed in larger cities
and decided the thought behind the exercise
program was universal — teach women to enjoy
themselves and build confidence in their spirit
while strengthening the body.
"They're all normal women," Forrester
said. "And they are beautiful and they are
sexy and it's been so great to watch them
discover that."
"Tabu Dance" is currently offered
Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday nights from
6:30-8:30 p.m. The ladies learn simple movements
to stretch and tone their bodies. Eventually,
all the techniques will be combined into a full
dance routine.
"I've never been able to move like
that," laughed Carson, whose stage name for
the class is "Sweet Cheeks." "I'm
a mom and I've got three boys. This just helps
me feel like a woman. It makes me feel
sexy."
Deb "Daisy" Maurchie almost backed out
of the first class.
"I'm glad I came," Maurchie said.
"It was really a lot of fun. And it was
more difficult than I expected."
Maurchie enjoyed herself so much, she signed up
for a full six week session.
"I think every woman should do it,"
Maurchie added.
While Forrester focuses on teaching the ladies
floor moves, "Aurora Cherry" is the
pole dancing instructor.
"The pole doesn't have to be associated
with stripping," Aurora said. "It's
like being a kid again and playing."
Aurora has four years of experience working with
the pole and said it is through teaching herself
that she realized the exercise benefits and
began to work on repetitions.
"I learned how to break it down and teach
other women how to play and get the benefits of
building a stronger body," Aurora said.
Each woman is encouraged to work at her own pace
throughout the class. While most of the floor
exercises are something everyone can do, working
with the pole is definitely an individualized
experience.
"I can't even tell you how much fun it
is," Carson said.
While the name of the class is trendy, it also
represents an idea Forrester hopes to toss out
the window.
"Women showing their sexuality and being
confident has always been taboo," Forrester
said. "It doesn't have to be repressed
anymore. We want women to own their confidence
and feel empowered while getting a great
workout."
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