Three years ago, I worked as a dance teacher at a high school. For my students’ graduation party, I wore a two-piece outfit and a colleague made a remark about my tight-fitting pants, saying that they really accentuated my derrière – and perhaps even resembled those of a stripper! Someone else continued the joke saying that I’d probably convince our principal to have stripper poles installed in the classroom and teach the kids how to work the pole like so-called exotic dancers. Everybody laughed and the party continued – but it was also the first time I thought of pole dancing as something I might do myself.
Well, at home, I searched the internet to find dance classes in Denmark but found nothing but people likewise looking for regular lessons or workshops. I gave up and eventually forgot about it until a year later when I (or, in fact, my boyfriend – I really owe him thanks for this) accidentally stumbled across a fitness magazine featuring an article on this apparently brand new form of exercise. It turned out that the first pole dance studio in Denmark had opened four months earlier and, even better, it was situated five minutes by bike from where I lived at that time. I arranged to try it out and I’ve been there – the very same studio – ever since.
How did you make the leap to teaching pole dancing classes? What was that like?
My first year of pole dance was also my first year after graduating from Dance Studies at the university and my introduction to full time employment. In this year, I had desk jobs while still teaching – but the teaching had mainly been theoretical classes and I missed the immediate response and joy that is usually involved in teaching practical dance. I simply asked the studio’s “pole mama” (i.e. the boss and owner), if she would consider hiring me, if she at some point needed to expand her staff. And she did. It was a little like being adopted into the family I’d spent so much time with over the past year. I still really like the atmosphere there, people are kind and open to each other, and you will meet and make friends with people you’d otherwise never have met.
You live in Denmark. What is the attitude towards pole dancing there?
When I started, people would generally link pole dancing to stripping and sometimes people would look at me with either interest or slight disrespect, and ask me if I worked at one of those “exclusive gentlemen clubs.”
Now, two years after, new studios have opened and more fitness clubs offer pole dancing and everybody seems to have seen it on TV, tried it for a bachelor/ette party or for a longer period, or knows someone who has. However, on occasion I still meet people (especially if they’re coming from outside of Copenhagen) who ask if “normal” people that don’t aspire to become professional nightclub dancers can take these classes too. People who have tried it or know of it seem to agree that there’s more to it than hip rolls and a head toss performed for the pleasure of a man – that it is, or can be, aerial acrobatics and a pretty hard-core work-out, aesthetic dance art, or women celebrating their bodies and sensuality for their own enjoyment.
Are there pole dancing recitals, conventions, or competitions in Denmark?
The very short answer is: No. It’s still a very young sport with relatively few participants. However, we will (hopefully) have our first national competition – Miss Pole Dance Denmark following international rules – December 12, 2010, which I’m looking very much forward to.
What is the first thing you teach students just starting to take pole dancing classes?
One of the very basic things – I think – is trust and confidence. I tell my students that they need to “trust” the pole (that it won’t fall on them) and – even more importantly – that they really need to have confidence in themselves and find their inner child and let it fool around on the playground! Technically, we start with a walk around the pole and then move on to spins like Fireman. I usually try to encourage them by saying that practice gives you the strength (and, perhaps, grace) to make it look elegant and strong – and eventually it will be perfect(-ish).
How do you take care of yourself, given all the pole dancing classes you teach?
I try to listen to my body and give it time to relax in between classes. But I don’t always succeed and, every now and again, I go to see my acupuncturist who will make my buttocks look like giant pin cushions – luckily it works! I get enough sleep, try to eat healthy, and that’s kind of it.
Favorite makeup tip:
Don’t rub your eyes while wearing mascara! Really, with my (lack of) expertise, that’s the only advice I can give, beside the even more obvious: Ask a professional!
Barefoot, sneakers, or platform heels?
Definitely barefoot. I feel so much more secure when I can actually touch the surface (the floor or the pole) with my skin – and I like (and like to show off) my high arched “ballerina” feet, hehe.
Favorite grip enhancer:
“Tite Grip” is really good when learning new tricks where the handgrip is important and you don’t want your all-of-a-sudden sweaty hands to get in the way! Otherwise I try to see if I can make my body and hands stick naturally. (In the summer heat, it is really a problem!)
Pole dance move that made you proudest to learn:
I was so proud and completely amazed when I did my first push-up on straight legs. I simply hadn’t thought it possible since I’ve always had thin, spaghetti-like arms – and there I was, all of a sudden doing ten in a row just because I had taken pole classes for maybe half a year and my teacher insisted I try. Regarding moves on the pole, I seem to derive the most satisfaction from mastering the moves I’ve struggled to learn. Lately, I’ve overcome my fear of doing the hand spring (visualization is really the way to go!) and succeeded – but I was also quite happy when I figured out the trick to do the straddle without “pushing off” from the floor and the Superman without being in complete and utter pain.
Pole dance pet peeves:
I can’t help it – I’ll say “Point your toes!” whenever I see flexed feet in the dance studio. But it’s an automatic reflex action, I don’t even think about it. What does indeed get on my nerves is when a student doesn’t seem to understand the “seriousness” and the necessity of taking care of herself and others while in the class; screaming like your life depended on it when there is no danger and it’s just for “fun,” or contorting or throwing yourself out in positions when there is no body control really should be avoided!
Favorite treatment for bruises and sore muscles:
Bruises seem to be unavoidable when learning new tricks, so I wear them with as much pride as possible. (Admittedly, it does annoy me a bit being at the doctor’s, looking like I’ve been beaten up by my boyfriend.) A massage eases tense muscles and I’m lucky to have a boyfriend who has the skills and the mindset to loosen up my tensions – all I have to do is ask.
Who would you most like to have in the audience when you pole dance?
I’m not much of a performer! This might seem weird coming from a teacher who – let’s face it – has to “perform” in front of a lot of people all the time. But the role is different. As a dancer (not teacher) there’s a good chance I will transform into a pedantic perfectionist that I don’t like to be. I’ve come to realize though, that I’m my own biggest critic … so I’m working on it!
Who is your hero or role model?
I especially admire two of my pole teachers who each have qualities I strive to acquire or improve in myself. Ewa Otulak for her strength, flexibility, and superior technical skills that makes her dancing simply look elegant and Stine Kronborg, for her energy and showy stage appeal, which makes her a charismatic, eye-catching performer. Surely I also watch youtube and the incredible performances by some amazing pole dancers (like Jenyne Butterfly and JK), but my heroes are my real life “pole sisters.”
What are your favorite words of encouragement?
I think it’s important to stress that everybody learns things in a different tempo. Strength and flexibility usually don’t come overnight and you should focus on your own weekly achievements. When a student says, “I can’t do it,” I try to insist that, “Yes you can – you just haven’t learnt how to do it YET”.
Favorite pizza toppings:
I rarely eat pizza simply because I don’t like it! But if I “have to” – or it’s my annual test to see if I’ve come to like it – I have the best experiences with pineapple and fresh lettuce (or fresh basil).
Cupcakes or ice cream?
My preference would depend on available flavor, my mood, and the context (with whom, where, and when I’d eat it). My real addiction is chocolate, which I’d always choose over both cupcakes and ice cream!
What do you like to do when you’re not pole dancing?
I like listening to an audio book – nothing as good as a story of rape and murder and the catching of criminals to make you relax, right? (Audio books also make less interesting inside activities like cleaning and doing laundry a little more acceptable!)
These days I’m also taking my second correspondence course in labanotation, which is a system of recording any type of dance or movement on paper – kind of like the way notes are used to “write” music. It’s perhaps a bit nerdy interest, but I’m as much an academic as I am a dancer. Watching “Project Runway” (and even sometimes sewing myself) is also a favorite activity of mine.
Mie is also sweet enough to point out that she is wearing PoleSkivvies Tail Spin Shorts in all these photos – thank you, Mie!
US Pole Mat gives us the scoop on their pole dance mats. This is part of a continuing series on pole dance mats.
How did you go about designing your pole mats? What standards were used in the design?
We had a pole dance studio owner as well as a pole dancer design the pole mats. The standards we used for compression were from the foam industry – density vs. weight usage. We assumed a range of 120lb – 250lb women would be standing and falling on the mats.
What are the features of your pole mat? (Size, shape, type of foam, single vs. dual density foam, ability to use with carpet or bare floors, etc.)
Our US Pole Mats are round.
We manufacture several sizes – 4′ diameter x 4″ thickness, 5′ diameter x 4″ thickness (these two mats are designed for dancers of every skill level). We also make a 4′ diameter x 2″ thickness for “at home use only”, which is meant to be used only by beginners. All of our mats are offered in solid pink and solid black. Our mats are designed to fold, with handles for mobility.
The foam we use is anti-microbial, non-toxic open cell urethane, 1.8 density, 90lb compression. Basically, we chose a foam that allows a dancer to stand on the mat with very little give.
We chose a high tear-resistant anti-microbial, non-toxic aquamarine vinyl for our covers.
How were the mats tested?
The mats were tested with pneumatic weights. The machine had a shoe attached to the weighted plunger that ranged from sneakers to a medium height high heel. The plunger rotated around the mat until the material started to wear or tear.
We simulated two years of usage without failure (the two year usage was based on studio owners’ input regarding the amount of activity that a mat will experience). Now, of course, under some extremely pointed high heels, the material may tear. It would be cost-prohibitive to design and manufacture a mat that can sustain that type of heel with weights of 250lbs. The foam never failed – always keeping its shape.
Where can people go to buy your pole mats?
Dancers can buy our US Pole Mats at our website, www.polemats.com. Also, Joel at Mighty Grip sells our mats on his site.
Anything else you’d care to share.
We want everyone to know that we believe we designed a pole mat that takes into consideration all the important issues of a pole dancer. We researched and interviewed the USERS (most important) and the studio owners. We are also proud to be making our product 100% in the U.S.A.!
US Pole Mat is happy to answer any questions you have. For more information, email them.
KT Coates of Vertical Dance has been an inspiration to pole dancers around the world. Her dedication to pole, her forums, and her endless support have opened the world of pole to thousands. Now she’s working with the International Pole Sport Federation to bring pole to the Olympics.
How did you get started pole dancing?
I was a podium dancer in Ibiza for a long time and met a girl there who asked me if I could pole dance. I said no but that I would give anything a go and haven’t looked back since.
I had found my vocation in life and it was the best and most rewarding thing I have ever done (apart from having my baby). I found that I was actually good at some thing and that I could inspire people to get fit who would normally shy away from exercise. Not only that, I have made life long friends through pole dancing and I am eternally grateful of that, and pole dancing has taught me so many valuable lessons from a business and personal perspective.
You have been instrumental in getting pole dancing as fitness accepted in the UK. How has the perception of pole grown since you first started?
It has changed so much since I started, I just went to the post office and the woman behind the counter asked if I did private lessons. That would never have happened before. When I started out, it was seen as something girls only did in strip bars. When I went around the gyms in my area, they just laughed at me and said it wouldn’t be suitable for their customers. People were rude and even nasty to me; fast forward a few years and they are calling me back and asking for classes. I love how people’s perceptions have changed and I am so glad I persisted and never let people bother me.
You are Executive Vice-President of the International Pole Sports Federation, which is working to get pole dancing into the Olympics. Tell us about that.
When I first started teaching, I was scared that pole dancing would be a fad; six years on, I am now worried that it may be a trend and come and go with popularity and fashion and that is the last thing I want. I love pole dancing, fitness, gymnastics and so on and I want it to be around for everyone to enjoy, and I think the only way we can guarantee that is by putting pole into the biggest competition in the world. We can only do this if we create a completely new form of pole gymnastics to fall into line with what is acceptable for every one, no matter what age, sex or race. I know this has ruffled some feathers in the pole world, but I cannot see why. I never once said that all other styles of pole need to fall in line with us; we are here to create something that has never been done before, giving people another style option.
The International Pole Sport Federation was created specifically to work towards gaining entry to the Olympic Games. After a great deal of interest generated by the online petition and Facebook, PoleSport.org was created, using the Olympic Charter as a foundation for the federation. It is dedicated to uniting pole sport athletes of the world and their countries, creating a new, technically advanced form of athletic sport using a vertical apparatus, making it accessible to all ages, races, and genders.
The Federation is a non-profit organisation dedicated to developing education, judging criteria, and standards in Pole Sports. The IPSF is a collection of national federations working together to agree on how the federation should be run and is not any one person, giving everyone the opportunity to have their say on how things should progress.
The International Pole Sport Federation was created by Tim Trautman of Studio Soiree in March 2010. He did a huge amount of work with the constitution, committees, and website and contacted me with what he had done. I was incredibly impressed with what he had shown me in such a short space of time. He asked me to become the vice president and I was delighted to work with someone who was prepared to put in their time and effort for free.
The IPSF is in its early stages and we have just opened applications for chairs and committee member positions within the federation, so we are looking for people with experience to work together in creating something new and very exciting. But please remember that those who apply need to be prepared to work for free as the organisation is non-profit.
We are now looking for the following:
Secretary General
Eight Committee Chairs and three committee members for each committee – Technical, safety, accreditation, medical, ethics, marketing, athletics, finance and events
Six Regional Vice-President Chairs
Treasurer
Two elite athletes – Champions that represent the athletic experience
Those that can offer even the minimal amount of support but not commit to a position are also welcome. If you wish to have your say, you need to be part of the organisation. Help us create a new athletic sport and be part of pole sport history! Please go to PoleSports.org and apply for a position.
What is the relationship of IPSF to Pole Fitness Association and other pro-Olympic pole organizations?
We want to work closely with everyone, so we are in contact with all of the organisations that support and would like to get involved in what we do. The PFA is helping out like many others. We would like everyone to have their say in how the IPSF works, so, to everyone reading this, please go to the website and apply for a position on the committee.
How do you take care of yourself, given all the pole dancing classes you teach?
I exercise a lot! I am addicted to it; that is my relaxation I love it. I eat very healthily during the week and eat more or less what I like at the weekend. There really isn’t much time for me with Vertical Dance, Pole Unity, and the IPSF and I wouldn’t have it any other way!
Red Bull – the drink; pour it on your hand, then dab dry.
Pole dance move that made you proudest to learn:
I think it would be the handspring. At the time, there was no YouTube or anyone to show you it, so it was such a great moment. I ran around the room doing it on all of the poles, I was so happy!
Pole dance pet peeves:
Flexibility, in that I don’t have any and, although I am right-handed, I pole mostly left and it can be a nightmare when learning new moves as I never know which hand to use.
Favorite treatment for bruises and sore muscles:
I have never used anything for the bruising as it never bothered me, and the only way to get rid of sore muscles is to stretch them.
Who would you most like to have in the audience when you pole dance?
Can I say no one?, as I dance the best when no one is looking. If I can’t, then I would like to fast forward 10 years and have my daughter Blossom there.
Who is your hero or role model?
In pole dancing, it is definitely Mary Ellyn Weissman. She is an inspiration on the pole, but a fantastic ambassador off of it. She has taught me too many things about myself to bore you with and I believe I am a better person because of her … I know you want to puke, but if you know me, you know I only give credit where credit is due! LOL
Off the pole, I would say … and don’t frigging laugh … Madonna. She is a strong, powerful woman, who does exactly what she wants when she wants. Not only a singer and dancer, but a fantastic businesswoman, she pushes the boundaries and moves with the times and every pole dancer out there must respect what she has achieved with her body at the age of 50!
What are your favorite words of encouragement?
I give you the paper and paint and it’s up to you to create something wonderful!
Favorite pizza toppings:
Tabasco, hot beef, spicy sausage, and sweet corn.
Cupcakes or ice cream?
Cupcakes.
What do you like to do when you’re not pole dancing?
Since having my baby, it’s very difficult to juggle everything. So, when I am not teaching, I am doing paperwork, and when I am not doing paper work, I am playing with Blossom. At the moment, my down time consists of baby swimming, baby gym, and baby music lessons. LOL … however, I do love to rock climb and, of course, exercise. I am entering another body building comp this year, so that should be fun.
To move forward as pole dancers, we need to learn from the rich history of dance that precedes us. That’s why I’m introducing …
A new series analyzing exceptional dance performances!
In it, I’ll be breaking down dance videos to show the nuances and subtleties that set that performance apart. Think of it as helpful eye candy – you get to see beautiful performances from a variety of styles, while learning to spot the moments where something extraordinary is created.
What these reviews won’t do is point out the negative.
While that would be worthless in a personal coaching session, the goal here is to show what works, not what doesn’t. Luckily, we’ll be learning only from the best!
West Coast Swing – Tessa Cunningham and Ben Morris
To kick the series off, I’m beginning with one of my absolute favorite dance performances ever – a West Coast Swing by champions Tessa Cunningham and Ben Morris. Now, I know nothing about West Coast Swing (or any other type of swing), but I do know dance – and this one blows me away.
Watch it first all the way through, just for the thrill of seeing such beautiful dancing. Then watch it again, looking for the moments I’ve highlighted below, to see what you can apply to your own dancing.
Highlights
Going Slow. Ben and Tessa know better than to rush their movements – they feel into every beat and get the most out of even the slightest motion. You first see this in the way Tessa leans into the music at 0:16. Another gorgeous example of this is at 1:10. This is what feeling into the music should look like.
Flirtation. Flirting is a subtle art – one that I feel often gets lost in the stripper moves of pole dancing. Watch how the eye contact between Ben and Tessa, along with the coy way she cocks her head at 0:25, turn up the heat.
Smoothness. This entire performance exemplifies smoothness in dancing. Look at how they seem to glide across the floor – no jerking from one step to another. See how it creates a canvas upon which they can call your attention to other gestures – from a touch of the hair to a shake of the shoulders. Watch the few seconds around 1:15 to see this smoothness in action.
Play. Watch the series of pirouettes at around 2:00 and see how they are followed with both Ben and Tessa using hopping movements. This is unlike the rest of their dance – but the playfulness works perfectly with the music.
Staying in Performance Mode. Ben and Tessa keep their eyes on each other, which is what is wanted in this style of dance. Watch from 2:24 on and see how Ben and Tessa maintain this connection and stay in their performance mode until they are fully offstage. Granted, they don’t have a backstage in this example to exit into, but they definitely stay in character until the end.
I have been working for a year now to build strength and re-learn my technique without re-aggravating my shoulder and I am finally ready to start doing inverts again – and I want a pole dance mat when I do.
The thing is, that doesn’t mean I want just ANY pole mat. I want a good one.
You would think it would be easy to find a good pole mat – after all, wouldn’t all the pole dancers out there be talking about it?
Yea, you’d think. Like I thought. But that isn’t what I’ve found.
What I want to see on pole dance mat websites
Instead, I’ve found a whole bunch of vagueness. Truly, from a marketing standpoint, the pole mat companies couldn’t be doing it worse.
Which doesn’t mean their products aren’t any good.
It’s just, from their websites, I can’t tell. The people I’ve spoken to involved in manufacturing pole mats all seem very dedicated to the quality of their mats. This is fantastic and just as it should be, but something is getting lost between the manufacturer and the consumer.
So, to help out this burgeoning industry, here are some things I want to see on pole mat websites:
Videos. This is the best way to show me how your product performs. Show me dancers of different sizes falling onto your mats. Get footage of how much the mat compresses – or doesn’t – when the dancer lands on it. Show pole dancers falling from different grips and positions, plus just walking and dancing and doing floor moves. Video them telling you what the fall felt like and what their response is to the mat.
JPGs. Show me good close-ups of a dancer standing on the mat, a dancer falling on the mat, and be sure to let me see how much (or how little) the mat compresses under the pressure.
Specs. Tell me more than the size – tell me WHY you chose that size. Why 4″ but not 6″? What kinds of testing did you do?
Who are you? I want to know what your expertise is. I want to know how you got started making pole mats. Most of the sites out there indicate they’ve worked closely with pole dancers to design their mat, but I’d expect more knowledge from the manufacturer than just what the dancer can bring. We’ll know the size we want, but only an expert can tell us which foam is best suited to our needs and what thickness it will require. Tell me what you know so I can trust you – and your product.
Give your distributors all of the above information. When someone lists your mat on their site, be sure they have all of the above to speak for your product.
What I want to know about pole dance mats
But all that was just about the marketing; now it’s time for the nitty-gritty. I want to know more about the mats than just what size and color they are. A lot more. Here’s what I need to know:
What standards are the mats built to, if any? There may be no pole dance standards (yet) in the mat industry, but there are for gymnastics, for cheerleading, and for rock-climbing. I would expect the manufacturers to refer to that body of knowledge in designing their pole mats.
What kind of foam is being used? There are lots of different kinds of foam in the world. Why did they choose the foam they use? Do they use single-density or dual-density? Why?
What kind of testing has been done on the mat? Do they test it for the falling weight of different-sized people? Do they test it for durability – the foam and its covering, since it will be walked on, over and over, in circles?
Will it collapse under my weight when I fall on it? When I walk on it? This relates to the above question of testing. But it’s worth mentioning twice – can it handle my weight/size? My pole buddy’s weight/size? Both of us at once (maybe we’re doing a pole dance pas de deux)?
Will it stay in place on both carpet and bare floors? The last thing you want is a mat that slides all over a wooden floor.
Can it handle high heels? Preferably, platforms.
Is it easy to clean? Can it tolerate rubbing alcohol, since that’s what I use to clean my pole?
What sizes does it come in? What colors? What shapes? Are mats of different size or thickness intended for different purposes? Say, preventing scraped knees (a 2″ mat, perhaps) vs. cushioning a fall from an invert?
How do I store or transport it? Does it fold up? Is it easy to assemble? The last thing I want is a hassle when I want to go pole. My X-Pole never causes me grief; I don’t want my mat to, either.
Where can I buy it? Where do you ship? Shipping mats is apparently a big, huge pain in the heinie. Can you get it to where I live?
Pole Dance Mat Manufacturers
All that having been said, I thought it would be great to interview the different pole mat manufacturers out there on these very things. So far, I’ve found five manufacturers – but only two have gotten the interview back to me – hopefully, the rest will come in soon. Also, some places (like Lil Mynx) offer only slim mats (theirs is 2.5″ thick). I’m only interested here in pole dance mats that are meant to cushion a fall, so I have not contacted them.
Next week, I’m posting the response from US Pole Mats, and the week after that, the one from Pole Crash Mats. Hopefully, it will give you (and me!) some solid information – including contact info if you want more details. As the other manufacturers respond, I’ll post those, as well.
Ideally, we’ll all have a much better sense of what pole dance mats are available and what kinds of questions we should be asking about them. And if you have any other questions you’d like them to answer, please add them in the comments!
Really, with my (lack of) expertise, that’s the only advice I can give, beside the even more obvious: Ask a professional! 
Regarding moves on the pole, I seem to derive the most satisfaction from mastering the moves I’ve struggled to learn. Lately, I’ve overcome my fear of doing the hand spring (visualization is really the way to go!) and succeeded – but I was also quite happy when I figured out the trick to do the straddle without “pushing off” from the floor and the Superman without being in complete and utter pain.
