Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Maryellen on October 11, 2012 at 9:14am

I totally agree! Definitely in the category of flow. I've never seriously tried it other than playing around, but I love watching vids on YouTube. It takes a great deal of skill=D

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StudentPermalink Reply by Rika on October 11, 2012 at 1:08pm

I agree.  When something is done for aesthetic reasons, it is art.  Poledance is a little complicated, because of the other purposes it may serve, but art is subjective and simple because an activity is used in ways that are not artistic does not mean that it can't be - hooping is the same way.  If you're just hooping for fitness, moving from move to move as you would in a work out, it loses what makes it an art in the first place.

Also, I would totally love to learn poledance.  It's amazing.

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Permalink Reply by Naomi on October 11, 2012 at 1:48pm

I had no idea! I literally just looked it up. Its wonderful! Although its unfortunate there is always a certian stigma behind it, its things like this that make it unique and and creative! Especially this video in particular.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOExZ7dFYpw

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StudentPermalink Reply by Jules* on October 12, 2012 at 11:35am

I saw extreme similarities between Pole Dancing and Aerial Silks. I consider pole dancing to be a very impressive art form. Mad respect! 

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Permalink Reply by Bearclaw Manufacturing - Tedward on October 12, 2012 at 12:23pm

While I agree that pole dancing (in fact many things in life) *can* be flow art, by the strict definition you laid out, no it wouldn't be.  The pole Isn't getting "manipulated" in any fashion. [looks up definition of manipulate]  on the other hand, I guess movement of the object being "handled" isn't necessary:

manipulate |məˈnipyəˌlāt|

verb [ trans. ]

1 handle or control (a tool, mechanism, etc.), typically in a skillful manner : he manipulated the dials of the set.

• alter, edit, or move (text or data) on a computer.

• examine or treat (a part of the body) by feeling or moving it with the hand : a system of healing based on manipulating the ligaments of the spine.

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StudentPermalink Reply by Rika on October 12, 2012 at 1:05pm

That's a good point.  But a lot of the aerial stuff doesn't really move the object being used, so if you count that flow art, I'd say simply manipulating the object is not what it's about.

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StudentPermalink Reply by Splynk on October 12, 2012 at 1:34pm

This is  a great discussion, my personal opinion is that I don't know if I  consider it a "flow art" I have always thought  that  you have to be manipulating a none stationary object to be considered a flow art, When people ask what flow arts I do, I say hoop or if they ask what I spin I say hoop, and then kinda mumble also do lyra and silks count? and most people seem to think no and consider it a form a dance, and I kinda agree. 

I agree that pretty awesome flow can be achieved on a pole/lyra/silks but flow can be achieved in any art for example painting, or brick laying,  once a certain level of knowledge has been achieved in any sport or hobby or work and the persons level of confidence matches that knowledge then flow can be found.  

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StudentPermalink Reply by Rika on October 12, 2012 at 2:00pm

This really is a super interesting discussion, so I started doing some more research on it.  A wiki search for "flow arts" redirects to here:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Physical_activity_and_dexteri...

It doesn't seem to list any stationary or mounted objects.

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Permalink Reply by SL on October 12, 2012 at 7:19pm

I agree that poledance is a is flow art. The definition of flow art is not carved in stone. Poledance is worthy of great respect and takes tremendous skill. An example that sticks in my mind was when I was invited to the annual Academy of Magical Arts award show in Hollywood. This is an award show for magicians around the world to be recognized for their contributions to magic. This is a big award show filled with magicians and a few celebrities who also perform magic. One of the shows put on for our entertainment was a muscular, heavily built German man who did pole dancing to slow music. The people in the audience gave a standing ovation equal to what they would give Pen and Teller had they put on a show for us. I thought it was awesome and I admired the great strength and stamina that this man obviously had to do what he did with such grace and beauty. You know what this thread needs? A funny youtube clip :)  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nMZT20sp3A

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Permalink Reply by Kimberly Marie of Spinity Hoops on October 13, 2012 at 10:40am

I think all those things can be considered flow arts, pole/aerial/lyra, but not object manipulation.  And I feel like typically people put object manipulation and flow art together.  But you can 'flow' with anything.  There is no static definition.  And for the record-I love pole!  It has all the beauty and grace of hooping that I love with the added strength factor that hooping lacked for me. I am totally in love *-*

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