Estee Zakar

Here’s an extra special treat for all you lovers of X-Pole! Kick back and enjoy getting to know the incredible Estee Zakar.

How did you get started pole dancing?

I was introduced to pole dancing a year and a half ago when I found a flyer for a free pole dance class. My best friend and I love trying different dance classes, and pole dancing was next on our list. I was extremely nervous my first class, but was excited to try something new. I was immediately hooked on this new form of fitness and artistic dance expression. Pole dancing allowed me to combine my love for dance, as well as my strength from gymnastics.

How did you make the leap to teaching and competing in pole dance?

Being a teacher is a passion of mine, since my other profession is a child behavior therapist, where I teach children with autism how to socialize, as well as give academic tutoring. After being asked to perform at different events, I then decided to go out for the Pole Position Fitness Competition 2009 and took 1st place. I started teaching, training, and choreographing dances for students so that they, too, could master pole tricks, have routines to work on, and feel sexy, and get in great shape!! It is such an amazing feeling to watch a student conquer a goal and feel great. It is so rewarding to be a pole fitness instructor! I also became a certified pole fitness instructor with the Pole Position Fitness program.

As a rep for X-Pole, what questions do you get asked the most?

X-Pole U.S. has chosen me to be their model, pole fitness demonstrator, and pole acrobatic performer. I travel with X-Pole extensively, teaching and demonstrating pole fitness at fitness conventions and shows. The most frequent question I get it, “How in the world do you do that?” which always brings a smile to my face. I then invite them to come up to the pole and teach them a trick or two. My favorite part about working with X-Pole is that I am able to show the fitness industry that pole dancing can be a form of fitness. When demonstrating at these conventions, fitness professionals are speechless when they see how much strength, control, and flexibility pole dancing requires.

What is the first thing you teach students just starting to take pole dancing classes?

After a good warm up and stretch, the first thing I teach a new student is how to walk around the pole. It might look easy, but there are many things involved. Hand placement, understanding hand grip, slow exaggerated movements, foot placement, and, most importantly, feeling sexy and expressing themselves.

You can visit Estee’s new website to learn more about her background and her special approach to teaching pole dance.

How do you take care of yourself, given all the pole dancing you do?

Due to all the pole exercise, teaching, training and performing, I make sure to stretch to prevent injury as well as train in other fitness activities to strengthen all the muscles and joints used for pole acrobatics. I teach spinning classes and take fitness classes such as kickboxing, boot camp, yoga, and aerial arts. I am also a big fan of outdoor fun. I enjoy snowboarding, running, and rock climbing, and, my favorite, taking my dogs on a long hike. In spite of all the exercise, I make sure to take days off, eat plenty of food, and rest my body.

Estee Zakar of X-Pole

Barefoot, sneakers, or platform heels?

Like every girl, I have a shoe obsession and heels are at the top of the list. Even though I am in heels most of the time, I love dancing barefoot or in leg warmers. There are things that are just impossible to do in 7” heels. I think being barefoot while dancing is stunning and classic dance!

Favorite grip enhancer:

Dry Hands is my grip of choice. The liquid grips work best for me. However, of the powder grips, I recommend X-Grip because it helps most of my students who deal with sweaty hands.

Pole dance move that made you proudest to learn:

I love slow, controlled tricks because they require so much more strength than using momentum. The trick that made me most proud was the twisted grip handspring without momentum. When I mastered this trick from the top of the pole, I felt a true sense of accomplishment. I then treated myself with a new pair of shoes.

Pole dance pet peeves:

My biggest pet peeve is un-pointed toes. To me, it is the most important detail. It can make or break a performance.

Favorite treatment for bruises and sore muscles:

Rest and eating nutritious foods.

Who would you most like to have in the audience when you pole dance?

I would like to have my boyfriend in the audience when I perform because he has still never seen me perform, since we have been doing long distance for a few years now. I hope one day he will be able to see me perform in my greatest passion.

Who is your hero or role model?

My role model is my mother. Not just because she is my mother, but because I believe she is a super mom and a super human. I hope that I am able to accomplish half the things she has and still be an exceptional parent and friend. I feel so fortunate to be a part of such a loving, caring family and to have such a wonderful role model to look up to.

What are your favorite words of encouragement?

Be strong, be sexy, be YOU! Every woman should feel empowerment by physical strength, feel sexy by being feminine and beautiful and being themselves, as unique individuals.

If meeting Estee has given you a taste for an X-Pole of your own, you can get one here. And if you want to read about another great member of the X-Pole team, you should check out the interview with Stacey Pope.