Your pole or mine?

They say there is no rest for the wicked, so I must have been very bad at some point because I have been running around like a headless chook for weeks now.

But, as buggered as I have been, I have had experiences that will stay with me forever.

Many of you know that I was in full production for the new Sunday night show at the Midnight Shift, starring myself and the always gorgeous Verushka Darling. For the first time ever we rehearsed in different countries, with videos flying over the internet to make sure we were sort of on the same track -” Verushka in New Zealand and I myself in Sydney.

When opening night arrived we had only rehearsed together three or four times. And on top of rehearsing I had painted a backdrop on the Shift’s wall and glittered everything that didn’t move. All in all, we both have been like crazy dogs, and were happy to see opening night, and that our audience enjoyed the end product. (For those slow individuals, the show is about a cheating husband, and the two women he’s involved with.)

Included in all the craziness, I was lucky enough to be asked once again to host Miss Pole Dance Australia 2008 at the Enmore Theatre last Friday night. Last year was such a huge success that I went into the evening with very high expectations. How could it get any better than it was last year?

My co-host was a pole dance teacher/singer and burlesque dancer, Chilli. We were involved in all facets of the evening, from opening show extravaganza, the solo starring performances throughout the evening, to a live singing finale. Over 25 of the best pole dancers in Australia competed for the title of Miss Pole Dance Australia.

We were locked down in the Enmore around lunch time, with rehearsals and run-throughs back to back, with some girls arriving from the corners of the country just hours before show time.

It’s really hard to describe the feelings that I was experiencing just before we were all about to go on ­-” 1800 people, the theatre sold out, photographers flashing madly, and the roar of the crowd -” truly goosebump material.

As soon as the curtains swished apart and the opening show had been completed, it seemed that my work hat was securely fastened. Before long, I was centre stage with my solo pole dance, performing Defying Gravity to the cheers of the room.

The winner, Felix, was all the way from WA. I think it was the consensus of the whole room, that she was either rubber or superhuman, with her routine consisting of moves more at home in a Cirque du Soleil tent.

Such an amazing and inspirational night -” it left me exhausted and on the lounge. If you want to learn pole dancing, go to www.bobbispolestudio.com.au. Tell them Maxi sent you.