One of the most illustrious names in the pole world, StarrGrrrl, at long last, graces us all with an interview! We love you, StarrGrrrl!

You got into pole when you were dancing in the clubs. What was the pole scene like then?

When I was an industry dancer, the “pole scene” or community as we know it now was non-existent. We didn’t have access to the internet knowledge base, YouTube videos, forums, or even studios and teachers, for that matter. You pretty much learned on stage in front of a bunch of people, and it was all trial and error. If I wanted to practice, I had to go in early, stay late, or wait until it was slow. When it was slow, we used to all get on stage and practice, and teach each other and try out our new moves.

How do you feel the pole community has changed since you first opened the Bombshell Ballroom?

I opened Bombshell in the beginning of 2007, when studios were just starting to really pop up around the US. The forums were just starting up and there weren’t many dancers posting to youtube yet. For the most part, the competitions were held outside of the US, as well. Now we have competitions on both coasts regularly, showcases all the time, all over the country, and dancers doing teacher tours all over the world! We have pole dancers on TV, and in Cirque Du Soleil, as well as pole conventions – how awesome is that for progress in the last three years. Not to mention how many more people are starting to take our art seriously. It’s great!

You now teach at the Brassy Butterfly. What’s it like teaching there after having had your own studio?

Easy cheezy lemon squeezy! I love it. I miss my studio space, true enough, but it is so much less complicated to work for someone else! I teach. I dance. I go about the rest of my life (which is anything but mellow); the work stays at work. When you run your own company, the work follows you home. It’s pretty intense. It’s also not fair sometimes to those around you craving your love and attention. So in the end, I had to choose, and I chose my family. Besides, I work with a powerhouse of AMAZING women at Brassy. It’s a sisterhood, and it’s way more gratifying than working solo.

In addition to teaching, you are studying nursing and taking care of your young son. How do you take care of yourself with all that going on?

Oh boy, well it’s definitely a delicate balance. School and my kiddo are top priority right now. I figure if I can make it through the next few years of school, life will be pretty sweet. So I just keep my eyes on the prize. Do I end up neglecting myself sometimes? Oh yeah… and everyone else, too, when I get behind piles of books and hours of school time. I just know that I can keep us all alive and well, and have a little fun here and there until I’m done with school, and we’ll be in a totally different place. That’s my goal! I can’t wait to be a nurse, for so many reasons … one of them being … more time for my dancing!

How would you describe your personal pole style?

I would describe myself as a very dancey pole dancer. I do what feels good to my body, and I don’t really think too much, I just kinda tune into the music. I like for all of my movements to feel real fluid and sequential in a natural kind of way. I like to do what seems like it would naturally come next. I used to have a tendency away from a lot of complex combos that I have to really work to get from one move to another, but now I enjoy learning new ones, just to kind of freak my body out and challenge myself. I love to move my hips, and legs a lot, and I love floorwork and transitions. Sometimes that’s all I want to do. I don’t use lot of movements or tricks that stop the flow of my movement in my dance, but I like doing them, and I like teaching them, too. I don’t hold things for long, I try to “dance” through all of my tricks. I don’t think of myself as a trickster in my own personal dance style, although I like to do tricks and learn new tricks and I love to teach them. I have a few favorite tricks and combos, and I use them a lot, and then I try to throw in whatever my new fascination might be.

Favorite makeup tip:

Play up your natural beauties! When you elaborate on your natural features, rather than alter them completely it seems that it is so much less obvious even if you have a ton of makeup on …. For me, personally, I can’t bring myself to wear lipstick most of the time, and it’s mostly because I hate the feel of it. I lightly use a pencil on the lines of my lips for consistency, and then I just use gloss … which I blot until it’s matte. For performance, I love to keep everything mellow and really play up my eyes. I’m really into plummy shades of eye shadow, complemented by greys and earthtones right now.

Barefoot, sneakers, or platform heels?

I love my platforms. I used to swear I couldn’t dance without them. Now I’m so used to barefoot when I teach that I can do either, but the way I dance changes depending what’s on my feet. I’m really short, 5′ nothing … so my lines always look so much longer with the heels on, and that I love!

Favorite grip enhancer:

I don’t use much in the way of grip when I’m dancing because it doesn’t allow me to slide much. I’ve been turned onto a peppermint foot sloughing lotion by the ladies of Brassy. It’s by Head to Toe and you can snag it from Sally’s Beauty Supply. It gives you a decent amount of stickiness and you can put it on all your contact areas, but it will also allow you to slide if you want. It’s my favorite because it will allow me to hold if I want, but it doesn’t restrict my movement much. I’m lucky, though, in that if I’m dancing for a few minutes, my skin will become just dewy enough to hold me where I want to be without needing any grip, and generally my hands don’t sweat too much. For that I feel blessed!

Pole dance move that made you proudest to learn:

I think I was proudest of learning Knee Hold, as beat up as my legs were over it. I still think it’s one of the coolest moves flying around out there. It’s definitely one of my favorites.

Pole dance pet peeves:

One that I’m confident that I share with many other dancers and teachers is pointed toes. We’re all guilty of slacking on that sometimes so I’ll include myself into the category of annoyance when I catch myself flexing.

Favorite treatment for bruises and sore muscles:

Arnica and a hot bath. Or a really good massage therapist!

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

My pole dancing sistas! Nothing makes me feel as great as the support of the beautiful women who I dance with.

Who is your hero or role model?

My hero has nothing to do with dance, but was definitely my dad. He told me once a long time ago that he was proud of me … because I don’t take any shit from anyone. I think that he kinda gave me permission, and the strength, to protect myself, which is definitely what allowed me to survive and thrive in the industry, as well as business … and pretty much life, in general… and be able to turn around and say that, even in the worst situations or experiences, I learned something valuable.

What are your favorite words of encouragement?

Do NOT give up. You can achieve ANYTHING you are dead set on achieving.

Favorite pizza toppings:

None! Everyone loves to eat pizza with me because I peel all the cheese and toppings off and give them away. I love bread and sauce. Not so much meat and cheese.

Cupcakes or ice cream?

Cupcakes!

What do you like to do when you’re not pole dancing?

I’m a big tomboy. I ride ATVs, dirt bikes, street bikes, jet skis … anything with an engine and wheels or a prop, I’ll ride it. I’ve even flown planes since my dad was a pilot when I was growing up – it was his hobby; he loved to fly. I’m thinking some of this has definitely rubbed off on me. Aside from that I love to read, I draw and paint, play video games, I love to swim, I pretty much enjoy anything I can do outside. I also really enjoy playing on the aerial hoop. It’s my favorite aerial toy aside from the pole.

Anything else you’d like to share:

Every now and then someone will ask me why I don’t do competitions, and there are a couple of reasons that I have not thus far competed. I guess the first reason is that performance makes me really nervous, and I hate it. I am so uncomfortable before a performance, that I am virtually miserable, which is why I do it so rarely. You would think that after almost seven years in the industry that it wouldn’t bother me, but somehow it bothers me more to dance outside of the club scene. I guess maybe because in actual performance I can’t just impress the crowd with my cute butt. I also don’t really like the idea of competition; I’d rather just showcase, although I can see that there seems to be a lot of love and support between pole dancing sistas who compete within our community. I think the only other reason is pretty much just because I don’t have time right now to train how I’d like. Who knows, maybe one day I’ll try it out.

To take classes with StarrGrrrl, visit Brassy Butterfly. And to see more of her GORGEOUS dancing, find her on Youtube/Starrgrrrl.