Skin is much grippier on the chrome surface than fabric. Because of this, skin exposure of the upper thighs, shoulders, and belly of the dancer is necessary in order to stick to and safely climb the pole.

Nope! Honor your nervous system and your limits. We understand that social stigma can be extremely uncomfortable to overcome, especially when it has roots in culture, religion, or trauma. That said, we do encourage you to approach this with curiosity if you are able to do so and to please be respectful and discreet so as not to interrupt the performance.

Sometimes, yes! While pole dancing and stripping are two separate activities, modern pole dancing moves were invented by strippers and sex workers. Before that, acrobats from various regions of Asia practiced tricks on wooden poles for thousands of years, and continue to do so to this day. Many dancers today practice pole moves outside the context of stripping and sex work. In fact, you can find pole dancing featured in contemporary ballets and operas! However, it is still important to acknowledge the history of this art form and the communities in which it was developed.

Sex work is work and strippers are human beings who deserve as much respect as anyone else who works a physically demanding job. When we are unashamed of the association between this art form and its roots, it helps to break down this stigma that is rooted in sexism and racism.

Because it's fun! It's the jungle gym and the playground carousel rolled into one, but for grown-ups. It's also far and away the best way I've found for me to connect with my body, express myself creatively, build my strength and confidence, challenge myself physically and mentally, and find community.

Sometimes. There are two main types of pole dancing - static and spin. A static pole is exactly what it sounds like: the pole does not move. A spin pole is mounted on ball bearings and rotates with the dancer on it. The wedding choreo will likely be on spin because it looks cooler :)))

Context is key, both to consent and safety. When I perform and expose skin to be looked at, that is NOT the same as an invitation to touch me. (Similarly, when a man wears an expensive suit to look nice, that is NOT the same as an invitation to take his money.) Context is also important to safety. I do not dress like this when running errands around town. I dress like this to perform for communities and people that I trust. If you've been invited to our wedding, it means we trust you to behave appropriately and not harass the bride.

For most of us, we've been taught not to stare at people's bodies - and for good reason! Usually, it can feel really uncomfortable or even frightening to be stared at by someone when we didn't ask for it. So where do I look when there's a somewhat-exposed person in front of me and I want to be polite? Well, consent and context are key here. When a dancer gets onstage to perform for an audience, we are consenting for you to watch us for the duration of the performance. You can feel free to look wherever your eye is drawn.