Urban Fertility Dancer - Pole Dance, Exotic Dance, Licensing and Certification FAQ's

About Licensing And Certification

> GENERAL INFORMATION: LICENSING / CERTIFICATION and FAQ’S

• General Information about “Certified” and “Licensed”
• Urban Fertility Dancer - PCP/SCP Method “Licensed” and “Certified”
• Urban Fertility Dancer frequently asked questions – FAQ’s

General Information about “Certified” and “Licensed”

The difference between “Certified” and “Licensed” - Defined

Students and aspiring instructors frequently email with questions about becoming “certified” or regarding “certification” and becoming a “certified” instructor. They also ask me what it means to be a “licensed” instructor. Before we can truly discuss this, the difference between the two must be defined. The following word definitions come from the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary: http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/.

• CERTIFIED: Function: adjective. 1: having earned certification <a certified gemologist> 2: GENUINE, AUTHENTIC <a certified big shot> <certified intellectuals>

• CERTIFICATION: cer·ti·fi·ca·tion. Function: noun. 1: the act of certifying: the state of being certified. 2: a certified statement.

• CERTIFY: cer·ti·fy. Function: transitive verb. Inflected Form(s): -fied; -fy·ing. Etymology: Middle English certifien, from Anglo-French certefier, from Late Latin certificare, from Latin certus certain—more at CERTAIN. 1: to attest authoritatively: as a: CONFIRM b: to present in formal communication. c: to attest as being true or as represented or as meeting a standard. d: to attest officially to the insanity of. 2: to inform with certainty: ASSURE. 3: to guarantee (a personal check) as to signature and amount by so indicating on the face. 4: to recognize as having met special qualifications (as of a governmental agency or professional board) within a field <agencies that certify teachers>. cer·ti·fi·er /-“fI(-&)r/ noun. Synonyms CERTIFY, ATTEST, WITNESS, VOUCH mean to testify to the truth or genuineness of something. CERTIFY usually applies to a written statement, especially one carrying a signature or seal <certified that the candidate had met all requirements>. ATTEST applies to oral or written testimony usually from experts or witnesses <attested to the authenticity of the document>. WITNESS applies to the subscribing of one’s own name to a document as evidence of its genuineness <witnessed the signing of the will>. VOUCH applies to one who testifies as a competent authority or a reliable person <willing to vouch for her integrity>. Synonym see in addition APPROVE.

• LICENSE: 1li·cense Function: noun. Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French licence, from Latin licentia, from licent-, licens, present participle of licEre to be permitted. 1 a: permission to act, b: freedom of action. 2 a: a permission granted by competent authority to engage in a business or occupation or in an activity otherwise unlawful, b: a document, plate, or tag evidencing a license granted, c: a grant by the holder of a copyright or patent to another of any of the rights embodied in the copyright or patent short of an assignment of all rights. 3 a: freedom that allows or is used with irresponsibility, b: disregard for standards of personal conduct: LICENTIOUSNESS. 4: deviation from fact, form, or rule by an artist or writer for the sake of the effect gained. Synonym see FREEDOM. – Licensed - adjective.

*The bold text in the definitions above indicates the aspects of the definitions that apply to this particular discussion.

So what is it that we get from these definitions? The answer.

Certification is usually a voluntary process instituted by a nongovernmental agency in which individuals are recognized for acquired knowledge and skill. It requires assessment, including testing, and an evaluation of education and/or experience.

Licensing is usually one of two things; A) Licensure refers to a mandatory governmental requirement that restricts the practice in a particular profession. It also requires assessment, including testing, and an evaluation of education and/or experience. Licensure implies both practice protection and title protection, in that only individuals who hold a license are permitted to practice and to use a particular title. Or, B) it is the permissible use of material that is the intellectual property, copyright, trademark, or patent of another person or business.

So what the hell does all that mean? Well it means that anyone can certify anyone for anything! It means that the person offering the “certification” is attesting to the fact that you have met their personal qualifications in regards to competence and skill. Nothing more. If “Cindy Lookatme” takes a few classes in chocolate licking and then decides to offer a “certification” course, she can. And believe me, she can, she will, and she does. Therefore, the “certification” that is offered by any program in anything is only worth the quality of the actual content of the program and/or the person or group offering the “certification”. If the program is poor quality, then so is the “certification”. It is meaningless and a waste of time and money if the program is substandard in content. The problem then becomes determining the quality of the content in the program. This problem isn't merely exclusive to the ever-booming “pole dance for fitness” business, but the fitness industry as a whole. In business as a whole, actually.

In regards to Pole Dancing and the Fitness Industry

In the fitness industry, there are only a select few associations that offer “certifications” which gyms recognize as meeting certain standards. These associations have certification testing programs that are generally required for instructors/trainers prior to working at gyms. Other associations that have testified to the competence of these programs have in turn accredited and recognized these associations. That is why these particular programs are accepted as standard. Unfortunately for the consumer, there is no way to monitor the actual competency of the instructors that pass these exams.

Memorizing lingo, and passing an exam, have nothing to do with real life application. These accreditations look good on a resume, but sadly, have no actual reflection on the true competency of the instructor or quality of the content in the program.

As of yet, pole dancing is not recognized and accredited by any national or international fitness standard. And, even if it were, there is no real way to monitor it. This lack of standard can lead to dangerous programs that in turn can injure students and the instructors. Just watch YouTube.

PoleCat Power Method has been at the forefront of creating a standard, and is in the process of hopefully changing this dilemma. Having four (4) instructor training workshops already recognized by AFAA for continuing education units, and continuing to create a standard for this new form of fitness, PoleCat Power is the safest, and most progressive pole dance instructor program currently available.

Notice I said that the PoleCat Power Method has INSTRUCTOR WORKSHOPS recognized by AFAA for continuing education units. I did not state that my program as a whole is recognized by the fitness industry. It is not. AND, neither is any other program! If they make this claim, they are lying.

Other programs aside from mine are now receiving recognition from various fitness associations (AFAA/ACE, etc). I knew this would happen. Honestly, I have discovered, that anyone who is capable of passing a general Group Fitness Certification, and knows what to say on the paperwork, they too can offer CEU's.

Herein lies the newest problem in regards to the Fitness Industry and Pole Dancing. The fitness industry specializes in programs that are offered in gyms and by private trainers. These programs are not aerial in content; they take place on the ground. The fitness industry has no knowledge, or education in the area of AERIAL dance or acrobatics. They have no way to discriminate between a good program and a bad one, due to this new element (aerial dance) being introduced. Pole Dance is an AERIAL dance form, like gymnastics or aerial circus acrobatics. Therefore, this is where the PoleCat Power Method is different from other programs out there.

I spent over four years, and thousands of dollars training with aerial circus professionals from Cirque du Solei, and Ringling Brothers with the expressed intent of understanding the safety and injury prevention that is necessary to aerial and suspended movement. I trained with professionals who specialize in this area of expertise, with the intention of applying it to my instructor-training program. They knew what I was doing, and they were supportive and encouraging of it. NO ONE ELSE IN THIS BUSINESS HAS DONE THIS. (Although now, it seems a plethora of pole dance instructors out there recently have taken a mere handful of circus classes, and have now decided to teach that too... Scary.)

I have also paid and worked closely with a sports specific kinesiologist to break down the movement, to pin point the now common potential injuries that can occur in pole dancing, and with his guidance, created a training program to support this. He is the one I have come and lecture for my Biomechanics day in the Fundamentals training. He is also on the board at AFAA.

Can other programs explain in detail what they mean by Safety and Injury Prevention? Can they tell you in detail what you will be learning, and why? Can they explain to you the biomechanics of the shoulder joint? Or, more importantly, can they tell you the biomechanics of the human body specific to the art of aerial or suspended movement? If not, then they will also not know, or even begin to comprehend, the true definition of “safety” in regards to teaching aerial dance or pole dancing. I am hard pressed to think they can. Go ahead and ask them. I'd like to hear their answer.

If none of this is important to you, then feel free to take the quick and cheap “certifications” rampantly offered out there now. Feel free to continue to wonder why your shoulder, elbow, wrist, lower back, and neck hurt. And, you can continue to be baffled when you ask your instructor about it, they get a glazed look on their face and blankly reply “I don't know. Just use the other side”.

In a nutshell, I am not saying that you should only take my program, and no-one else's. I am only stating that if you are going to spend money on a training program, then do your research and homework, and make sure you get what you pay for.

PoleCat/SlinkyCat Power Method “Licensed” and “Certified”

PoleCat Power or SlinkyCat Power Method “Fundamentals” Instructor

This level of training is very general, but the most important of all. The requirements for becoming a PoleCat Power “Fundamentals” Instructor is the following:

• Attendance and Completion of BOTH the one (1) day workshops of EITHER PCP or SCP

PoleCat Power or SlinkyCat Power “Licensed” Instructor - Level I

• Attendance/Completion of the PCP Method – Level I - Licensed Instructor Workshop*
• Attendance/Completion of the SCP Method – Level I - Licensed Instructor Workshop*

PoleCat Power or SlinkyCat Power “Licensed” Instructor - Level II

• Attendance/Completion of the PCP Method – Level II – Licensed Instructor Workshop*
• Attendance/Completion of the SCP Method – Level II – Licensed Instructor Workshop*

Urban Fertility Dancer “MASTER” Instructor

• Completion and Certification of all PCP Method or SCP Method Licensed Workshops
• Minimum of six months teaching EACH level of all Methods
• Master Instructors will be qualified to sub-license and train PCP/SCP Instructors

*Written and Practical Exams are currently being created for “licensed” instructors in this level to be tested and “certified” in this material.

Frequently Asked Questions “FAQ's”:

The MOST frequently asked question recently...

Q: I teach in [city, country]. I am going to be in town for a few days, and would like to take a private with you to to learn some more Intermediate/Advanced tricks, transitions, and material for my own program.
A:Okay. I am getting about 10 emails a week asking this question. I appreciate the fact that you are interested in my program, and I take it as a compliment that you want to train with me. However, we will need to define "int/adv", since my definition is drastically different from others. My program has changed tremendously over the past three years, due to my own training with other sports specific professionals (aerial circus, sports specific physiologists). My intermediate levelnow tends to be relative to other program's advanced. The majority of transferring students from SFactor and other program's levels 5/6 are about my level 3/4, due to the specificity of my progressions. My progressions teach the tricks in a certain order, for muscle memory, strength development, and injury prevention. Transfer students, 9 times out of 10, have to be retrained in my basics for injury prevention reasons. No offense, but I don't like to randomly teach instructors crazy tricks that they in turn plan on teaching to students without really understanding them and perfecting them themselves just so they can add to their curriculum. This isn't because I am not willing to teach you, or that I am hoarding my material for some unkown reason, it is because I don't know your level and abilities. It is for your own safety and the safety of your students. If this bothers you, I am sorry. You can blame MY instructors in aerial circus training for my anal-retentiveness in this area. They literally beat this into me!

My teacher training requires the first three progressions in training, then being invited back for the next three progressions. There are 9 progressions total now (so far!), taught in 3 sections, at 40+ hours each. Each section is generally giving instructors 4-6 levels of classes. My main concern is safety of the students. I hope you understand this. It has just never made sense to me to teach someone tricks that are insane, require all sorts of prerequisites, knowing that they will just regurgitate them to their students without the progressions and potentially causing stress and overuse injuries in themselves and their students.

I am willing to train instructors in privates, there just has to be an assessment of abilities in the first lesson, so I can determine your level gauged by my progressions. Therefore, it makes it difficult for me to just teach you Int/Adv tricks out of the gate. My privates for Instructors are $350.00 for 1.5 hours, or or $600.00 for a 3-hour session. These rates are based on the fact that you are instructors, and are planning on teaching the material. If all of this is okay with you, then feel free to contact me about privates.

Okay, back to the rest of the Frequently Asked Questions...

Q: Why did you begin your instructor program?
A: When I began teaching this movement four years ago to students, I had no idea the market would soon become saturated internationally with instructors. There is a large amount of instructors out there now who took a mere handful of classes as a student, or taught themselves from DVD's, then decided they were qualified to go out and start a business not only teaching students, but are now “certifying” instructors with their limited knowledge of this movement. This is why I have chosen to train instructors, and spent my time enhancing my program with other professionals including sports specific physiologists, and training with aerial circus professionals.

Q: What do you recommend I look for in a Pole Dance Instructor training program?
A: Safety. Number one. Your students deserve it. Like I already stated, am not saying you have to take my program, just make sure you do in-depth research and choose the right program for you and your business prior to investing in any particular program.

Due to my own experiences teaching this movement, I am the first person internationally to create a "safety and injury prevention" program specifically for Pole Dancing. If any other program mentions "safety", can they explain in detail what they mean by that? Can they tell you in detail what you will be learning, and why? Can they explain to you the biomechanics of the shoulder joint? Or, more importantly, can they tell you the biomechanics of the human body specific to the art of aerial or suspended movement? If not, then they will also not know, or even understand, the true definition of “safety” in regards to teaching aerial dance or pole dancing.

Spotting is more than just standing by and watching a student do a trick, and learning to TEACH pole dancing is much different than merely learning to pole dance. These things and learning to teach pole dancing in general CANNOT be taught in a one-day workshop, no matter what "they" may claim. These one-day “certification” programs are laughable and are an insult to anyone serious about learning to teach aerial movement.

My one-day workshops are about sharing with you important information, not certification. They include all of the necessary basics and fundamental education needed to create a solid foundation for your classes and program, adding more advanced material to your curriculum should be secondary. From what I have been told, my one-day fundamentals workshops contain more technically pertinent and applicable information than other more well-known, or advertised “certifications” or “franchises”.

Q: Why is your program so exclusive? Is it more than just a workshop?
A: Yes. Much more. It is an opportunity to utilize what I have spent the last 3 years creating specifically for instructors, to start a pole dance business of your own. It's not just a kit with a pole, a DVD, and some advertising, or a one-day workshop offering multitudes of false merits, nor a costly celebrity endorsed program that limits you to teaching for them only. It’s an opportunity to come and learn what I have researched over four years, and how to teach this movement in the safest and most effective way possible. Thereby giving you a pre-choreographed program and learning progression from which to start your own pole/exotic dancing business, as well as being affiliated with the most exclusive pole dancing curriculum offered internationally.

Q: What is included with the Instructor Training Workshop?
A: After acceptance into the six-day program, the workshop includes approximately 50 hours training over the course of six days. These six days include a daily warm up, followed by learning the material in the learning progressions, teaching and spotting techniques, and other specialized material created specifically for this program. Upon completion, you will then be licensed to then teach and use my method of instruction and choreography, wherever you choose to teach it, and start your own business. You will be listed on the website as a “licensed” or “fundamentals” instructor, and have access to the instructor forum (in progress) where you can communicate with other PCP/SCP Method™ Instructors, including myself.

Q: What is the content of the PCP/SCP Methods that I will be licensed to teach?
A: All of the fundamentals, pole dance tricks, spins, transitions, choreography and material from these learning progressions. They cover from the ultimate beginner through intermediate climbing and inverting. The material also includes how to instruct and spot this material safely and proficiently, as well as the correct order in which to teach the material most effectively. Business organization, business related issues, and other material will be covered as well.

Q: What do you mean by learning “progressions”, don't you mean “levels”?
A: No. When I began teaching in various areas and cities, I came to realize that a strict adherence to “levels” in a program isn’t always going to work. The ability to conquer the content of a level in one city was not the same as another based on the students. So therefore, I created “progressions”. This is a system in which the transitions, tricks, and other material are taught in a specific order during each progression. Each progression prepares the student for the material in the next progression, creating muscle memory, and increasing strength and flexibility, while also learning dance transitions which allow the students to “perform” routines within their level. Each progression can thereby create anywhere from 2-5 levels in a program, that is what makes this process unique. There are 3 progressions in each level of instructor training, potentially allowing the instructor nearly 10 levels of classes!

Q: How many students are in each training workshop?
A: The Instructor Training Workshops are limited to six (6) or eight (8) women per workshop. This allows you the most quality and personalized experience in your instructor training. Every instructor listed on the website will have been trained by me personally, and not by other instructors. My local PCP/SCP Licensed instructors will be teacher assisting as a part of their continuing education. It is also highly recommended, and I welcome, non-local licensed instructors to come back and teacher assist with me for continuing education.

Q: Why are your workshops limited in size?
A: I believe in quality over quantity. I began teaching due to demand, and have survived among growing competition all these years due to having a quality product. My business was created out of my own pocket. I have had no celebrity nepotism, family money, or investors assisting me financially in my endeavors. I began to expand into larger classes and larger studios, even considering a franchise due to the popularity of the classes. I soon realized that I would rather teach a handful of women well, than train a large room full of women incompletely.

Q: Where will I stay during the Workshop?
A: There are numerous motels and hotels within walking distance of The Studio in Hollywood, as is Hollywood & Highland and the Kodak Theater (the venue for the Academy Awards). As a matter of fact, there is a hotel directly across the street from the studio. You may also split a room. After acceptance or enrollment and payment for the program; you may contact me and I will connect you together so you can contact each other to work this out.

Q: I have been already been teaching Pole Dancing and have my own program and business. Can I just take the training without the licensing of your class material?
A: No. And, besides, if you have your own stuff already, what the hell do you need me for?

Q: I consider myself an advanced pole dancer and instructor. Can I just enroll in the PoleCat Power Method Level II?
A: No. Sorry. The learning progression I have created is too important and specific. The techniques taught in the lower levels are crucial to the safety in the higher levels. You must complete the Level I training, and then be accepted to return for Level II. No exceptions .If you choose not to take the six-day training, you may enroll in the weekend training workshops.