Pole Flow

I didn't even touch it.

I didn't even touch it.

It’s 2012, and I’m twenty-seven years old, high on iced coffee and coconut macaroons. I’m standing in the lobby of a building in the Flatiron district of New York City, reading over the email from my agent again. I can’t remember details in moments like these.

“Head to the second floor, follow the signs for ‘SoBe Adrenaline Rush.’ Your slot is at 3:15 pm. Be ON TIME.”

In the elevator, I breathe to calm my churning guts.

I’m about to audition for a commercial that is specifically looking for a pole dancer– and I’m the only person I know of with a commercial dance agent and high-level pole dance skills.

I could be wrong. But even if there are others, I’m planning to blow some casting directors’ minds.

How do I start a pole freestyle/improv session?

How do I start a pole freestyle/improv session?

No two days are ever the same, but one of my favorite ways to open is by settling into a posture, with the floor or pole, and staying there— sometimes for several minutes— as I explore weight shifts and joint articulations. I start SLOWLY, practicing patient play. 

The first song lays a trail for where I will go as the session progresses—this is why starting in a way that FEELS right is key.

I’ve found that the more time I give myself in these first moments, the more successful the session feels. (Most are so slow that they will never ever see the internet). For me, successful sessions are: