Can-Can Your Way to Fitness and Fun
31 January 2008
Polestar, the company that started by showing us the benefits of pole-dancing and burlesque lessons, has introduced a fantastic alternative to the usual gym routine. The can-can is great for toning legs, bums and tums and is also highly entertaining. I was sent along to see if these classes really were all that they claimed to be.
The first thing that’s great about this exciting new class is the skirt you got to wear. This skirt is provided for you and really gets you into the role of a can-can dancer; putting it on you feel like your ready to take your place at the stage of the Moulin Rouge. At first glance it appears quite plain, but when you lift it up the tri-coloured frilly tiers are revealed underneath. It makes for quite a sight when the skirts are lifted up simultaneously by all the girls involved. I certainly did not want to give it back when the lesson ended. We were also provided with a saucy pair of black frilly knickers, which help provide a modicum of modesty when performing the high kicks and also cover any embarrassing knickers you may have on at the time.
What’s Involved in the Class
The class began with a warm-up to ease us into the highly energetic routine we would be doing later; starting off with some aerobics moves, simple dance steps and leg stretches done to fairly slow-paced, but fun motivating music. This ensured that our bodies, particularly our legs, were well prepared for the demand that is placed on them during the routine.
The pace really picked up when we began the actual routine. The music eventually got faster until we were dancing to Offenbach’s famous ‘Infernal Galop’ in quick 2/4. Then things really began to heat up! We were shown the basic stance of the dance and taught things like how to sexily sashay across the floor, whipping our skirt about us and bringing out our inner divas.
Other moves that we performed included a very saucy ‘bum reveal’ where we bent over and lifted our skirts over our heads. This was performed in a line with a lot of giggling and letting go of modesty involved (no wonder the can-can was thought of as highly inappropriate in the early 20th century!). We were, of course, also taught the infamous high kicks, which is when you really start to realise that professional can-can dancers must have vast amounts of energy.
Another fun move we performed is one called the ‘rond de jambe’, this involves you holding your leg up at the knee and making circular movements with your lower leg. This was performed in a moving circle, and involved again a lot of giggling as we tried desperately to maintain our balance and posture. The ‘rond de jambe’ culminated in a jump-split, a move that looked impressive but was not all that hard to accomplish. For the finale our creativity was used to come up with moves in groups of three that finished off the routine.
The routine was performed four times more, allowing a growth in confidence and enjoyment each time; as well as, of course, getting heart rates suitably up. We were also encouraged to yell and cat-call as the routine went on, really getting our enthusiasm up; and I really started to feel like a can-can dancer. By the end we had collapsed onto the floor and lay there hot, sweaty and exhausted but uncontrollably laughing like a heap of giggling schoolgirls.
The Verdict
The can-can is a truly exhilarating dance one that is an equal measure of fun and exercise. The fact that it is done in a group makes it a form of exercise that is so much easier to be motivated by then a run on a treadmill. It does wonders for self-confidence too as inhibitions are lost and your coquettish, girly side is unleashed. Further, it is a great stress-reliever allowing you to forget the worries of the day as you busy yourself with this energetic dance. It is also a good way to quickly make friends as team spirit is high. Ultimately the can-can is a highly unique experience that you will leave you coming back for more.