I've always been obsessed with extreme sports, but never really had the balls or gumption to get into any one, at least not one hundred percent. Until Pole. Dance had always been my ‘’sport’’ of preference, as it combines artistry with athleticism. But an extreme sport that incorporates dance, and originated from the circus? Sign me up. And from that point on, I was completely hooked. 

I knew that this type of dance and performance would be a challenge for me. I mean, I wasn’t out of shape. I was definitely fit, but I was ballet fit. This type of dancing not only requires upper body strength (which I didn’t have a whole lot of, being a former ballet dancer), but it also requires having the ability to alternate between floor work, lifting, maintaining meticulous musicality and choreography, while holding the audience’s attention all at once. It would be a challenge I was definitely up for. You see, I was never very fond (or good at) performing with others, in a group. I would often go onto stage with my own timing, flourish off of the choreography, and mess up the chores shapes, lines, etc. It wasn’t that I was a diva by any means, or that I was clumsy. Analyzing now, I guess just wasn’t a natural team player. I'd see my own timing, my own movement and choreography. 

Quite socially awkward from childhood until college, even now I still find myself having difficulties making friends and fitting in. But this was something about myself that I actually enjoyed. My take on seclusion and alone time: healthy. People don’t typically get enough of it. Don’t get me wrong, as human beings, we do need each other. And as of the past six months to a year, I've come to treasure and love the time I spend with others like myself--my Pole Sisters and family, if you will. But I feel I’ll still always just be one of these individuals, passionate as I am, wanting, nay, needing to do my own thing. 

Holding a ‘’normal’’ 9-5 job was excruciating for me. I hated every minute of it. I adore being a dancer, though. As well as dabbling in other areas in the performing arts. But back then, I had been convinced for some time that artists don’t typically make money from their craft, and rarely become employed. Only the ''best of the best'' survived off of their craft. And while that will always ring true to some extent, it’s an ever-changing, growing world out there. And while this may have been the norm 20 years ago, I do believe it is changing and has changed. Society wants artists to inspire, to entertain, and to teach them. Comedians, actors, writers, musicians, painters, and yes, even dancers. Whether it be in the club, burlesque, doing competitive pole, or teaching others their art, we want to be captivated by performers, pole dancers and entertainers. However, I didn’t actually know this at the time, and Pole has evolved quite a bit even from over 5 years ago when I started. At this time, I was unsure if poling would be socially frowned upon, the way stripping has been for so long. 

And it was.