Silver medal for Lisa van Malssen. Private photo Pole dance instructor and recent Plant Sciences graduate Lisa van Malssen achieved second place in the Dutch Championships in Aerial and Pole. Van Malssen obtained silver in the Artistic Pole category.
‘Artistic Pole is a discipline in which conveying a story is key,’ Van Malssen clarifies. ‘It is not just about the tricks, but also about expression. It is the combination of dance, theatre and performance that counts.’ The score in pole dance is determined by a jury, much like, for example, gymnastics. The jury considers the difficulty, level of artistry and energy in a performance, as well as errors such as falls and slips.
Van Malssen’s act held a supporting role for her partner, Rick. The performance focused on dementia and the fear of forgetting those you love. ‘The topic was addressed in a series, and it really spoke to me. What if I were to forget who Rick is one day? It is not a light topic, but I believe that emotion is part of the reason it went so well. I was very focused.’
Headstrong choices
Did winning the medal come as a surprise? ‘To be honest, I expected to make it to the podium. I did not expect a first place, as I knew that multiple Dutch champion Demi Brama would also compete, and I am no match for her. I achieved a score of 51.8, which is quite high, and I am very satisfied. Particularly as I made some really headstrong choices. I chode less big and spectacular moves to convey my story.’
Van Malssen began pole dancing with the student sports association Allegra five years ago. She graduated in February and teaches classes at de Bongerd as well as in her own dance studio in Wageningen. Training for the national championships had to be done in addition to teaching 12 hours a week. Van Malssen: ‘There were many late nights, and I did most of my training after classes. Having the championships behind me is nice, as I can now direct my focus entirely to teaching. That is the most fun.’
