Remember: all syllabuses are just a guide. Try in order but don't panic if you can't do something or don't feel ready for it yet. Move forward - you can always come back to it. We all have different strengths and weaknesses and that's what makes us awesome.
It's also a great time to jump into the beginner and all level content on the dance page! A good mix of tricks and dance is important to being a well rounded poler and will keep you from getting too bored until you learn to invert!
Warm Up: No Pole
Foundational Skills:
- Level up your climb
- Climb to Seat
- Spinning Climb
- Flying Step Around
- Split Grip Side Spin
- Jasmine
- Genie
- V Shaped Wrist Seat (a.k.a hello boys)
- L Shaped Wrist Seat (neither V or L is better, try both, you might prefer one over the other)
- Cross Knee Release
- Cross Knee Release to Headstand
- Sequence: Climb to Seat to Layout to Hello Boys to Cross Knee to Headstand
- Upright Thigh Hold
STOP AND READ THIS BEFORE PROGRESSING!
You may have seen some people claiming inverts are not beginner and that really depends on the system used by the instructor. At my studio we start working towards inverting at the end of beginner but it is not EXPECTED that anyone invert within any arbitrary time frame, It can take months or years. I have decided online to put inverting in within improver level but please realise that you invert when you are ready - whether that's in weeks or months or years.
If you try the invert tutorial below...
And can't invert - please continue working on and refining your beginner and improver skills, plus check out beginner/all levels/improvers tutorials on the dance page. Really ensure you're doing regular strength training to keep building strength, with particular focus on your pull up and knee raises.
If you can invert - you can do the above PLUS start working on intermediate skills. You do not need to wait until you can do all of the improver tricks to start working on your inverted skills. Do a mixture, but intermediate skills require either an invert or a climb/side climb into inverted position.
Spins:
- Heron Hook to Arrow Spin
- Switcheroo Spin
- Secretary Spin
- Seated Secretary
- Cradle Spin
- Angel Spin
- Dragonfly Spin
- Sequence: Angel to Dragonfly
- Tinkerbell Spin
- Attitude Spin Up
- Sunwheel Wrist Seat
- D Spin
- Juliet Spin
- Sequence: Carousel to Knee Spin to D Spin
Dynamic:
- Kneeling Fan Kick
- Fan Kick Kip
- Beats (to superhero landing)
- Sequence: Bum Spin to Fan Kick Kip
Leg Grips/Hangs:
- Sad Girl Seat
- Split Grip Layout
- Peter Pan Seat
- Vomitron (spinny seat)
- Genie Plank
- Knotted Genie
- Bunny Sit
Upright:
Floor:
Sequences:
- Fan Kick Kip to Swoopy Doo to Genie Plank
- Genie to Genevieve
- Carousel to Floor Sweeper to Swoopy Doo
- Longer Low Flow Sequence: Step Around to Dip Pirouette, Roll to Russian Stand up, Back Hook to Squat, Roll up to Back to Pole Body Roll.
More challenging improver tricks and sequences
Some of these tricks could be considered intermediate but it depends on your skillset! The most important thing is that we are learning them close to the ground and that they are upright - making them far more accessible than other intermediate tricks. They are safe to give a try but as with anything listen to your body and don't beat yourself up if you can't do it! I am a decade in and struggle with dart, as an example, but have had students achieve it easily at improver.
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