My very first pole dance DVD was by Fawnia. I had just gotten my pole installed and had no idea what to do. What I remember is Fawnia’s smiling encouragement and her ability to make me feel like, no problem, with a little work, I’d get there! So it was a huge thrill to meet her in person at the DC Pole Convention. She was gracious enough to do this interview – and I think you’ll find, as I did, that she is just as sweet as she seems – and even more amazing!
How did you get started pole dancing?
I began pole dancing in 1994 when I started working as an exotic dancer. I start teaching when I learned my first move (which I called the Fireman Spin). There were no other schools, so I created one.
You were one of the very first people to bring pole dancing into the mainstream. How did you get on that path, and how has it changed for you since then?
Being the first pole teacher as a whole (to exotic dancers and everyday women) has been amazing because I have met so many amazing people from around the world. I am so grateful to have my health and now, 16 years later I am still going strong and still learning! I am thankful for being alive and having been given the gift of learning the art of pole dancing.
In addition to pole, you are an international champion in body building and figure competitions. Tell us about that!
When I lost 30 pounds from pole dancing, people started saying that I should compete in physique shows. I began lifting weights and, in 1999, competed in my first show. Previous to fitness, I competed as an exotic dancer and swimsuit model. Below is my contest history:
Fawnia’s Competitive History
2nd Place 2009 Fitness America – Figure Short
2nd Place 2009 Canadian Fitness and Figure Nationals – Figure Medium
3rd Place 2008 Canadian Fitness and Figure Nationals – Figure Medium
1st Place 2007 Canadian Fitness and Figure Nationals – Figure Medium
1st Place 2006 Best Legs Las Vegas, Rainbow Bar & Grill
5th Place 2006 Emerald Cup Figure 5’3”- 5’4”
1st Place 2005 BC Championships – Figure Short
2005 NPC Pittsburgh Amateur & Pro Show – up to 5’4”
3rd Place 2005 Emerald Cup Figure 5’3” – 5’4”
9th place 2004 Canadian Nationals – Figure Medium
5th place 2003 Sophie’s Swimwear Pageant
2nd place 2003 BC Championships Figure – Figure Short
1st place 1999 Muscle & Fitness Mania Women’s Lightweight Bodybuilding
1st place Miss Nude Internet 1999
3rd Miss Hawaiian Topic – British Columbia, Canada 97and 99
1st Miss Nude B.C. 95/96 (Dancing)
1st Miss Nude Western Canada 95/96 (Dancing)
1st North American Exotic Dance Champion (Dancing)
1st Canada’s Rookie of the Year 95/96 (Dancing)
1st Canada’s Western Champion 95/96 (Dancing)
1st Canada’s Edmonton Champion 95/96 (Dancing)
1st Miss Nude Amateur World 95/96 (Dancing)
4th place 1994 BC Championships Freestyle Wrestling
I plan on competing again, but, for now, would like to start a family. I will keep you posted, PoleSkivvies!
How do you take care of yourself, given all you do?
My most important tips which I follow:
1. Drink lots of water
2. Eat foods in their most natural state possible and make sure I have a protein, carb, and fat in each meal.
3. Sleep eight hours each night.
Also, before I get too run down I take time for me and enjoy a pedicure or a massage.
Favorite makeup tip:
Moisturize morning and night and use mascara. Two important items to looking fresh and awake. To save time, people with a fair complexion may want to dye their lashes dark. Also make sure your eye brows are groomed with at least a clear brow gel or clear mascara. Eye brows do frame the face, so make sure they are shaped nicely.
Barefoot, sneakers, or platform heels?
When I teach, I prefer to wear sparkly running shoes and, if I forget my shoes, I’ll wear black socks.
For performing, you may see me in heels, but never platforms. Believe it or not, but platforms are a shoe that I am not used to wearing!
From my days as a dancer, I wore 4 – 6” heels, but with no platform in the front. I love the look of leg warmers and will be sporting those this fall in the studio (for the classes where my legs on the pole are not required).
For everyone else in my classes, anything goes! I want people to wear what makes them happy.
Favorite grip enhancer:
I love Mighty Grip, Firm Grip spray, Dry Hands, and itak2. These are the products currently in the studio, and, yes, we have Mighty Grip gloves, in black, pink and hot pink. The gloves have been a life saver for many of my students.
Pole dance move that made you proudest to learn:
Well, my handstands just came naturally to me, once I lost 30 pounds. So I am proud to have lost the weight and have kept it off through pole dancing. Reverse super girl, side climbs, and knee holds are ones I am very proud of, and took many tries to finally get. I am working on a few moves right now for upcoming performances; yes, I still perform and I am always learning. This is what makes pole dancing so interesting and fun!
Pole dance pet peeves:
From a teacher stand point, unless given permission, I find it very distracting when students who are at an advanced level come to a beginner class and start inverting.
Favorite treatment for bruises and sore muscles:
To prevent bruising, I eat a lot of spinach and I am a firm believer there is some sort of correlation with the vitamin K in spinach and bruise prevention. Needless to say, I rarely ever bruise, even when learning a new move. When I am sore, I will take two Advil, have a massage, and at least two days off from teaching, and sleep as much as I can.
Who would you most like to have in the audience when you pole dance?
Madonna! She has been my inspiration since I was just eight years old and I love what she has done for inspiring women. She has been an amazing role model for me and I hope she and I will meet face to face so I can teach her “The Madonna,” which she already does in her music videos, without a pole.
Who is your hero or role model?
My mother is my hero, because she had so many obstacles stacked against her growing up. At the age of six weeks old she had meningitis, which left her with blindness in her left eye, a deformed left hand, and her body stopped growing on her left side when she was 16. Also, at 16, she started experiencing seizures, which she takes medication for several times a day. On the bright side, I have seen her dancing and my mother can dance! She has great rhythm and has been a supporter in my career from day one.
What are your favorite words of encouragement?
I love this quote and have it on a plaque above my bedroom door. “Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.”
Favorite pizza toppings:
I love vegetarian, thin crust pizza.
Cupcakes or ice cream?
Ice cream with chunks of cookie dough inside. I love Dairy Queen Blizzards and enjoy one or two a year, such as after a fitness contest. We do have great cupcakes in Vegas, though. Visit Cupcakery, OMG!
What do you like to do when you’re not pole dancing?
I love weight training, which I do maybe only once a month. I used to live in the gym but now have little time or energy for conventional weight training. I also enjoy watching movies, writing, and napping.
Anything else you’d like to share:
Also, I want to thank all women and men who enjoy pole dancing and those that support them. I fell in love with the pole 16 years ago and still remember my first time on stage and my first successful fireman spin. It brings tears of happiness to my eyes to see how far we have come. Pole dancers worldwide are uniting to bring pole dancing to the Olympics at PoleSports.org and, thanks to the Pole Fitness Association, the pole dancing community is coming together and legitimizing pole dancing as a form of fitness and expression. Also, check out Vertical Pole Challenge, America’s hottest reality show, and enter in this amazing contest, to be aired on national television, and win $25,000! Thank you, PoleSkivvies, for this interview. Big Hugs!
If you are lucky enough to be in Las Vegas or any place Fawnia is giving a workshop, jump at the chance to take it! Find her online at PoleFitnessStudio.com and PoleDancingLasVegas.net.
Today, it’s all about the WHAT of communication, which means the things that tend to come up once you’ve established a good relationship with your instructor.
Recitals
Lots of studios have a class recital at the end of a session. Others do a seasonal or yearly studio showcase. Either way, few things are as nerve-wracking to a student as an upcoming performance. Bell curves aside, students tend to fall into one of two categories: either they are terrified of being in a recital and don’t want to do it, or they are natural performers who secretly dream of being the star of the show.
If you’re uncomfortable being in the recital
This really depends on whether you are willing to participate, or whether you don’t want to do it at all. If the latter, that’s fine, but this may help you change your mind.
If the former, take some time before or after class to voice your concerns. Maybe some things make you more uncomfortable than others, so let your teacher know. For instance, maybe you are okay dancing as part of a group, but you don’t want to be the only one poling at any point in the dance. Or, maybe you are comparing yourself too much to your classmates and need some reassurance that you are a wonderful dancer in your own right.
Whatever the situation, be honest with your teacher and let her know as early as possible. That way she can choreograph the routine to best meet everyone’s needs.
If you’re dying to be center stage
This is tricky, but more for the teacher than for the student. Let’s face it, being the focal point of a show is a responsibility – maybe you’re ready for it, maybe you aren’t. Maybe you realize that, maybe you don’t.
So, the thing for you to do is to ask. Tell your teacher what you’d love to do – be the main solo act, or do a dazzling drop in the finale – but be prepared to be told no. And feel free to ask why not – maybe she doesn’t like to emphasize any individual at all in her group choreographies. Maybe she worked out a very balanced routine and doesn’t want to mess with it. And maybe you’re just not ready.
For the teacher, warmth and tact are the best responses. If a student isn’t ready for the challenge, tell her so, but let her know how much progress you’ve already seen in her and that you know she’ll be there one day. If the student is ready, but you already gave that role to someone else, tell her so honestly, and let her know you’ll keep her in mind for the next one. You might even consider revamping your choreography, if possible, to let your student strut her stuff.
Health Conditions
Health conditions should always be mentioned to your instructor. If you have an injury or illness that could make poling difficult, she needs to know so she can give you the help you need and keep you safe. Chronic conditions like arthritis, multiple sclerosis, back problems, and so forth should all be mentioned when you sign up for class.
New or temporary conditions may also need to be mentioned.
If you’ve been out with a bad flu, it might affect your strength when you return, which is good to let her know about. Certainly pregnancy is something that needs to be mentioned early on, since your changing shape, stretching ligaments, and altered center of gravity all dictate the need for a shift to grounded moves and dancing.
Emotional Issues
Physical movement of any kind will stir up emotions, but there’s nothing like sexy pole dancing to trigger underlying issues relating to body image and sexuality, and discussing these issues with your instructor – even one you really like – can be very difficult.
Body image.
If you are embarrassed to be in shorts or have your tummy bare, don’t push yourself to dress in ways you aren’t yet comfortable. If you can let your teacher know of your fears, you may find a lot of students feel the exact same way, which can help you feel more at ease.
Shyness about dancing suggestively.
If you are cool about pole tricks but shy about dancing suggestively in front of your classmates, only do what feels right. There’s nothing wrong with learning all you can about the moves in class, and then rocking out only in the privacy of your home.
Post-traumatic stress.
More important, if you’ve been raped or sexually abused, you may find dancing triggers you deeply and that you may need to step out of the class at times. Be gentle with yourself – physical movement will bring up emotional pain that needs to be released; give yourself the permission to clear it out as you need to. If you can, let your teacher know what you’re dealing with. You may even find your classmates are dealing with similar issues.
Safety Concerns
There are lots of safety issues when it comes to pole. Aside from the obvious ones like falling, there are also subtler ones like shoulder positioning. What you want is a teacher that talks about all these concerns and gives you tools to address them.
Your teacher should talk about posture a lot. When moving on to inverting, she should begin on the ground and continuously reinforce emergency exits as you progress.
More likely, though, you will find that your teacher does address these issues, but that you have questions.
This is not the time to be shy. SPEAK UP. Safety is of number one importance in pole and if you are unsure, do not brazen through it. The odds are a bazillion to one that if you didn’t understand something, your classmates didn’t either. So, do all of you a favor and ask your teacher to clarify.
When It’s Time to Move On
If you have tried your best and you still don’t feel as comfortable as you’d like in your pole dance class, take a teaser class somewhere else and see what you think. Or try a class at your regular school, but one that is taught by a different teacher – see if that makes the difference.
Not every teacher is a good match for every student. Keep searching until you find the one that is right for you.
You may know her as Faerie9, but what you may not know is that Jenni Frost is now specializing in accounting for pole dancers! (Sorry, US readers, she’s in the UK!)
A pole dancing ACCOUNTANT??
Yes, I’m an accountant. No, this isn’t a confession! Because I love pole, and the pole community so much, I’ve launched Pole Dancing Accountant here in the UK. It’s an extension of my regular accountancy business, tailor-made for pole performers and instructors who maybe want an accountant who knows what they do and is genuinely interested in their business. No having to explain to a grey-suited man that it’s not about stripping, or that it is. It’s just a genuine service for pole dancers by a pole dancer. Watch this space.
Why did you decide to take to pole dancing lessons?
I saw a friend’s photos on Facebook. Something inside me just said, “I want to do that.” Out of character for me, I just did it. I googled for a school local to me and just booked a block of lessons. That was it, I was hooked. I bought my own X-pole after three months.
How do you learn (pole dancing classes, DVD, Youtube …)?
I have classes locally with Lisa at Pole-da-cise, which is where I began learning two years ago. I also do PoleJunkies online classes and workshops when I can, which are great, and attend workshops (booked on a Pantera one this year – SO excited!), and pole jams. I also used to do a lot of YouTubing to supplement my lessons, but I’ve got so much to practice now that I don’t use it as much for learning moves, but I still get help with technique from forums.
What do you like to do when you’re not pole dancing?
I live in rural Wiltshire and love walking my two dogs in the beautiful countryside. I also keep chickens – really lovely creatures! I like reading, watching Star Trek and CSI, and spending time with my boyfriend, who is moving in with me soon – can’t wait!
What is your dream for yourself in pole dancing?
I want to perform more! I entered the Pole Divas competition last year, got to the amateur final, and had an amazing time doing it. I also performed with my wonderful friend, Rosetta, in our school’s cabaret and utterly loved it. I want to be able to look back and be proud of my achievements.
Also, not strictly pole, but related, I want to be able to do the splits. It’s a recurring dream I’ve had since childhood so that’s an actual dream.
Oh, and an Aysha. Please? I can do a split grip one, but the forearm and elbow grip ones still elude me ….
Favourite makeup tip:
Remember you look beautiful without it!
The best tip I was given was for doing “big” eye make-up: if when you’re putting it on it looks wrong, add more. I don’t know why, but it works. Don’t be half-hearted about it!
Barefoot, sneakers, or platform heels?
I mostly pole barefoot, though I love dancing in platforms, too. I do have my old ballet shoes from when I was a kid (I stopped at age 14 so the last few pairs still fit!) and I love dancing in them; they make me feel more graceful.
Favourite grip enhancer:
Vodka!! A clean, warm pole is normally grippy enough on its own. I haven’t yet found a grip enhancer yet that I really like when I need a bit of help. I’ve tried Mighty Grip once and really liked it, so I plan on buying some to try.
Pole dance move that made you proudest to learn:
Cross knee release was my first self-taught achievement and I was delighted (it’s on YouTube somewhere). Shouldermount was a very big one, and the cartwheel mount straight edge was another biggie. Mostly I shriek very excitedly when I get a move I’ve been trying for awhile, which causes me to forget holding the move I’m in and I have to get down again without hurting myself! If “how much I do this” is the measure of how proud I am … then shoulder mount and cartwheel mount are the main ones. You’ll probably hear me from wherever you are in the world when I get that Aysha!
Pole dance pet peeves:
Men who make assorted “dance around my pole” jokes. Come on, we’ve heard them all before and they aren’t funny.
Favorite treatment for bruises and sore muscles:
A long soak in a hot bath. Mmm …
Who would you most like to have in the audience when you pole dance?
My boyfriend. He’s been to pretty much every pole event I’ve had since we got together (and even before that) and it makes all the difference. He’s so supportive and takes great photos too.
Who is your hero or role model?
Difficult one. I don’t really have “heroes” as such. Pole-wise, there are so many ladies who are so very inspiring, it’s hard to single any one of them out, from the major competition winners to some of the You Tubers who have amazing stories and achievements. If I had to name one, from back when I was on You Tube a lot, it would be Starrgrrrl. She’s got a very beautiful, fluid style.
What are your favorite words of encouragement?
I love all positive feedback, it spurs me on and helps me to push myself when I’m feeling down or negative about things.
Favorite pizza toppings:
It has to be any kind of veggie supreme: loads of mushrooms, red onion, peppers, goats cheese … I’m not vegetarian but love veggie food.
Cupcakes or ice cream?
Cupcakes! No, ice cream. Erm … both? Ok, ice cream: preferably Ben & Jerry’s or some kind of mint choc chip fudge sauce combo. Mmm …
Lately, I’ve been posting video updates on my stretching journey towards the splits. However, ever since I aggravated my hip injury, I’ve had to sideline my efforts to get into the splits and just try to heal and get comfortable again.
(Note: the stretching I was doing did NOT cause my hip injury. I had the injury already and it just flared up again. Doing stretching now, though, is definitely exacerbating it.)
So, I’ve been thinking, how I can use this time instead?
I still want to do progress reports, because, well, one, it motivates me, and, two, I think it can be helpful to hear the real ups and downs of our path towards flexibility and grace and strength and all the other things we strive for in our pole dancing.
So, what I’ve come up with is to continue to use these posts to show what I’m working on and where I’m stuck, but not confine them solely to progress on stretching. I also thought I’d toss in a bit of video of my dancing, so you can see how I’m getting on.
Assuming Youtube doesn’t block it.
Where I Am Now
Bizarrely, the more my hip bothers me and the less stretching – and sitting – I can do, the more I’m enjoying dancing. This could be due to the joy of having my uterus back, or maybe I’m just responding to all the sunshine. No matter, it feels like a rediscovery, and I’ve been loving it!
I’m taking a much easier workout schedule right now. I do my physical therapy stretches a few times a day – trying to balance out my hips, so working a lot on hamstrings and adductors, doing fiendish little exercises using musculature I lack entirely. But less stretching until I get over the flare-up.
Naturally, the less I aggravate the injury, the more fun it is to move – and the more fun it is to dance.
I’ve never been one of those insanely driven types of pole dancers, the ones who pole for hours and hours each day. I admire them and love their moves, but my body isn’t built for that. So, I do a nice workout once or twice a week, with lots of dog walking and my freakish hip exercises in between, and so far, so good.
I can see myself getting stronger and it’s fun to know how much longer I can hold certain moves and how many more spins I can do before I’m wiped out – especially how many more reps I can do of my ab exercises.
(Note: This is a lie. I can’t do any more ab reps than I ever could, although they are getting easier.)
This is where I would normally post a video of myself stretching and dancing and having a lot of pole dance fun.
But that’s not going to happen today.
And not for any good reason.
I mean, I can’t say it’s because my webcam broke or because I twisted my ankle. I can’t say that I’ve been called away by NASA to help with the space station or that I’m doing top-secret work for a group of philanthropic con artists.
No, it’s all far more prosaic than that.
I’m just tired. And I ate too many cherries. And had a fight with my dog. (We made up.)
I was reading one of my favorite blogs the other day and she was talking about communication. As in, with one’s spouse. Or with colleagues.
Not surprisingly, she didn’t make the leap to communication in pole dancing classes.
But I thought – this being a pole dancing blog and all – that that would be a really interesting topic. After all, talking with your teacher when you’re super-advanced is different than when you’re super new. And what if you’ve recently changed teachers – maybe you and your new teacher are still learning each other’s languages.
And what do you communicate about?
So, really, quite a lot of stuff in this topic. That’s why I’m dividing it into two parts. In this part, we explore the HOW of communication. In the next part, we’ll go into the WHAT.
How do you ask for help when you don’t know what you need help with? Heck, maybe you don’t even know you need help at all.
This one always reminds me of a recommendation I read years ago to women in labor. It said that a woman, when calling to tell her doctor that she is in labor, should not try to sound more relaxed or more at ease or in less pain than she actually felt. Because, you see, the doctor is listening to the sound of her voice and her breathing to interpret how far along she is.
It’s kind of the same with pole dancing. (And, no, not just because pole hurts like hell, too. Although I was tempted to title this post, “What Pole Dancing and Labor Have in Common.”)
What I mean is, trying to act full of bravado so you won’t feel like a moron in front of your fellow students can come back to bite you in the heinie. Because your teacher needs to see where you’re confused. She needs to see if you rub a sore arm after trying a new move. She needs to know if something isn’t coming together for you.
So a lot of pole dance communication comes from just being honest in showing your responses.
How much time can you take up for your questions?
This is a doozy – especially if you’re anything like me and have a tendency to talk on and on and on, ad infinitum.
You have to feel this one out. A class with three people in it is going to be able to handle questions differently than a class with 12 people in it. How I think of it is, any question you have that applies to everyone is definitely something you should ask and not worry about. For instance, questions like, “Could you show how you got into that move again, please?” Or, “How are you saying we should position our grip?”
Questions that apply only to your own progress, however, need to be handled a little differently.
Yes, questions about your own progress definitely can be asked in the middle of class – but only if they can be addressed in a brief amount of time. For instance, you could explain that you’re getting your legs confused when trying to maneuver into the new invert pose, and could she help you sort that out.
However, if, after a few attempts, you are still just as lost, then that is something you might want to bring up with your teacher after class, or before the next one. For really involved questions – like, when everyone else has moved far beyond you in class and you’re still really stuck – see if you can set up a private session. Private sessions are ideal because it’s all about you and your progress, and you can ask any question you have, and even determine whether you’re in the right class for your skill level.
How do you tell your pole dance teacher when you think you’ve outgrown her?
Ah, I can only surmise on this one, since I am a few lifetimes away from ever having to encounter this problem.
Nevertheless, this being my blog and all, I will tender a few opinions. The first of which is TACT. You will need some. After all, this can be a touchy subject. The best teachers will have been watching your progress for some time and will have seen this coming. They may even help you avoid the entire issue by inviting you to become an instructor at the school. Or by wishing you well and offering help in finding training resources at your advanced level.
Sometimes, though, you’re going to find your teacher is very threatened by your progress. After all, insecure people are everywhere. (And we’re all insecure sometimes.) If you think this is your situation, you can either be straightforward, thanking them all the while for their help as you learned. Or you can take the easy way out (why not? Sometimes it’s the best approach.) and just tell them your schedule has changed and you won’t be able to attend classes there anymore.
Shyness
Okay, this isn’t really a question, but shyness is a big issue in any dance class, and the sexiness of pole dancing can make it even more central.
I’m no expert in shyness, but it seems to me that shyness takes a lot of different forms. One person might feel too shy to do the choreography in front of everyone. Another might feel too embarrassed to ask the teacher a question in the middle of class. So, different types of shyness are going to require different responses.
But one thing that can be helpful is to just let the teacher know ahead of time that you’re shy about some things. That way you’ll have a sense before you even enter the classroom of what the rules are – whether you can opt out of dancing in front of others, or whether you can save your questions to ask the teacher privately immediately after class. Most of all, you’ll know if that instructor is going to be respectful of your needs long before you head into class. And, if you’re too shy to speak to the teacher on your own, see if you can enlist a friend to go with you for moral support!
What have your pole class communications been like?
What are the things you discuss with your pole dance teacher? What kinds of questions do your pole students bring to you? We’d love to hear!
