“Strong, sexy, glorious!” – Exotic Pole 101 with the experts!

It’s no secret that my absolute favourite pole dance style is exotic. Holy shit I absolutely adore everything about it. The great big heels and banging them full pelt on the floor, sexy costumes, its glamour and confidence, ah mate it’s just lush.

One of the things I find most exciting about exotic pole dance is how rapidly the style is expanding, and as a result of this it’s popularity is sky rocketing too. The awesome Peach Lee Ray wrote a very useful blog  explaining all the different exotic styles, which I thoroughly recommend you read. Anyway, as a result of the huge surge in exotic’s popularity, I interviewed five experts in the field; Jamie Taylor, Jordan Kensley, Kitty Velour, Peach Lee Ray and Diana Ljung, to talk all about the history of exotic, it’s founders and their own journeys into the best damn style of dance there is.

Warning! You may feel hugely inspired to strap on your Pleasers and get dancing by the end of this blog!

Firsts things first, who personally do you class as the initial founders of Exotic Pole Dance? Obviously strippers are, but can you name anyone in particular that you think is a pioneer?

Jordan – “Right, super simplified theatre history lesson. Vaudeville is the original ‘grandmother’ (if you will) of sexy shows and circus in the US, and when the prohibition happened that’s when the acts split into different categories due to the morality reasoning behind the execution for prohibition in the first place. Acts that were deemed publicly appropriate went to the circus (contortion, silks, trapeze etc) and the sexier side of vaudeville went underground in the Speakeasies- primarily burlesque and striptease shows. Because space was limited, many performers would have to perform on a bar or a raised platform and the pole was added as a safety precaution so the performers would have something to hold onto while they stripped. Once prohibition was over, some performers went on to hold shows more similar to the vaudeville life before they were forced underground (now known as burlesque). Enough people enjoyed the sexy table dance so much that bar and restaurant owners converted their interiors to host girls to perform strip dances in their bar, these conversions were made both with and without a pole. Since then, we’ve seen crossover in all three mediums- burlesque, circus and striptease to create what is now the pole industry. The original pioneers for pole as we know it are Becca Butcher, Leighann Reilly, Tammy Morris, Fawnia Monday, Felix Cane/Jenyne Butterfly, Sheila Kelly, Pantera BLacksmith, Marlo Fisken, Wendy Traskos.”

Jamie – “Oh this is weird, because back in the early club days, it was called exotic dancing. In Pole studio circles, because of Pole Fitness, it was called “SexyPole”, then stripper style (thank moi), and what came from Russia was only called exotic, now all sexy pole is called exotic again? I have always loved that word! The first generation teachers were Fawnia, Tammy, Bobbi , Jenyne,and Pantera. Then Anne Marie Davies, Wendy Traskos, Felix Cane and Leanne Reilly. I know I have forgot a couple of important names because I can feel it niggling at me. Anyway, all these did great work and paved the way for cool pole to emerge, from the likes of Alethea and (Michelle) Shimmy.”

Diana – “Pole dance has always been Exotic. I think it would be more correct to put this question another way: who were founders of everything that came from initial, exotic pole dance, like all that “fitness”, “sport”, “art.”

Peach – “Think everyone else has answered this splendidly in terms of the original founders. For me, the additional pioneers I would name are those who helped bring it back to sexy for me after the pole fitness phase. In the UK you had dancers such as Jamie, who never abandoned the heels from what I hear, and Tiff Finney who were representing the weird, erotic and sexy, with Tiff being one of the first faces of the Bringing Sexy Back campaign too if I remember rightly (after Anne Marie Davies was it?). Additionally, we had a two-three year period where we had a lot of then ‘amateur’ dancers such as Sarah Blackmilk, Kitty Velour, Anna Frost and Rhiannon White coming onto the now sexy competition scene in the UK – who weren’t afraid to dance in a sexy, erotic or heels style. These dancers, at least for me as a student who had only been pole dancing a year at the time, were instrumental in bringing stripper style and exotic to my overall consciousness. We had those new competitions surfacing such as Dance Filthy and Pole Theatre Classique from Shimmy and (Maddie) Sparkle that started just before I started competing myself and it’s gone from strength to strength since.”

Jamie – “The very first Pole Theatre Classique was me, Tiff and Felicity. The dancer who won, Cid Sailor, did mermaid polesque.”

Peach – “For me I knew about the pioneers when I started pole, but what got me into ‘the revival’ period were performers like Kitty who I saw posting dirty sexy pole videos from her dorm room and dancing like no one else I had seen. In the UK there was a two year or so period where the same dancers were in loads of the Stripper Style comps like Anna Frost, Rhiannon White etc and I always think of them as pioneers during the revival phase cause they helped bring the super sexy back to pole for me as a student.”

Jamie – “Peach, I remember only polers from the US and Australia were named in threads when anyone asked who the fave sexy polers were, mostly. Then when I judged Dance Filthy and saw Anna (Frost), and Rhiannon and Maureen I was like “YESS! UK is in the game now!” That generation truly made a difference.”

Peach – “Oh my god yes I think that whole two year period or so where we had that group smashing Dance Filthy, Pole Theatre etc made a HUGE difference to the whole UK and beyond scene and need credit where it is due. Some might not had 30k Instagram followers but I think they need to know that they helped shape the pole scene.”

Kitty – “I’m a second generation Exotic dancer in the UK. It was me, Anna Frost, Rhiannon White, Sarah Blackmilk, Lauren Elise and we all started competing around the same time and we are all now teaching workshops which is super cool. For me when I started it was Jamie & Tiff (Finney) who were my two biggest exotic idols.”

Jamie – “I flippin LOVE your generation Kitty! Although, I was saying a few weeks back. I’m quite envious you have all these fun comps now. While I had to pad about with no shoes in bloomers!”

Peach – “Yeah I think a mention to Kara Marie, Michelle Shimmy, Maddie Sparkle, and Stacey Snedden is worth it for their contributions of Pole Theatre, Dance Filthy and Authentics for bringing sexy style back. Also United Pole Artists (UPA) for their Sexy Back campaign.”

Jamie – “Yeah, I guess it got easier to then do sexy comps once more. Sexy Back helped a lot. I really do think the comps came after the work was already done. It was Shimmy’s “We Go Hard” video that turned most barefoot trickers to the shoe side, I remember. Shimmy made it cool enough.”

Kitty – Slight tangent to British strip history hehe!
“1930s – The Windmill Theatre in London started hosting nude shows. The law was that naked girls weren’t allowed to move (because that made it too raunchy). So to get around this girls would wrap themselves around rotating ropes, so their bodies were moving but they weren’t moving themselves! This venue has a rich history in striptease shows and famously stayed open even during the Blitz! But in the modern day, the venue fell into the hands of very exploitative owners and we all heard terrible stories and warned girls not to work there. It has now had its license revoked and has closed down.

1950s – Paul Raymond opened a private members club in Soho (London) called the Raymond Revue. This was the first of the private striptease clubs in Britain. It’s now called The Box (it’s sister club being in New York). The Box is famous for its debauchery and extreme cabaret shows!

1960s – The law allowed fully nude dances, and Soho was overflowing with nude clubs, peeps shows and erotic liberation.

1970s/80s – Strip Pubs! The East End of London was full of these pubs that featured stage shows. Girls would go around before their show with a pint glass and collect tips for their nude stage show, this tradition still holds today! Originally the girls would only perform stage shows, and they would be very theatrical with props, crazy outfits and wedding dresses! If you want to ask me anything about strip pubs I could talk about them all day! I love them so much and am so sad they’ve almost died out.

1990s- I believe Madame Jojo opened the first pole/burlesque school in Europe. She also worked the strip pub circuit and told stories of pint glasses overflowing with pound coins in the glory days! She also used to have a club in Soho called Madame Jojos which was the epicentre of burlesque back in the day which has also closed.

Later privates dances were introduced in the pubs but only short dances, so the emphasis was still on your stage shows. The White Horse was known to have the best dancers and stage shows! Millie Robson, Felicity Logan and myself all previously worked there. The East London Strippers Collective (ELSC) originated there. Although we romanticise the strip pubs, they did have their issues with the management sacking girls for trivial reasons. Most of the girls in ELSC have worked and been sacked from the White Horse (including myself).

I think the first lap dances began in Montreal in the 90s and spread throughout the US & the UK. British girls who had worked in the US brought back twerking to the stripper stage.

I think a lot of the names of pioneer strippers who opened their own studios and bought pole to the mainstream may have been lost, as they were forced to sanitise themselves and eradicate their ties with the strip club. And/or they are living more private lives now and were not part of the social media generation. There is a lack of communication between strippers of the previous generation and this one and so a lot of stories are lost! Older members of the ELSC have a wealth of stripper history. I was the baby of the ELSC, and the last of the Showclub generation (thank god I got to dance in those venues before it completely deteriorated)

For me, the pioneers are Madame Jojo, Fawnia Monday, Bobbi, Felix Cane, Leighann Reiley, Jamie Taylor, and Tiff Finney.

I for one am loving all the many branches, both old school and emerging, of exotic Pole that we have. If you had to describe your style, which one would you choose?

Jordan – “I personally identify as stripper style, but I’m not the slow slinky type of dancer usually associated with that style, I would consider myself more ballistic and aggressive movement wise, and a bit more theatrical with my performances too.”

Jamie – “It’s so exciting isn’t it? I love how its evolving SO MUCH on the sexy side of things, its so vibrant and colourful, there is so much choice. I’m glad its all come full circle, as it should. I’m pure stripper style so I’ve been told. I do teach as many different styles as I can at my studio so my students get to do everything, but I know my level.”

Diana – “I dance the so-called “old school exotic”, close to stripper style, burlesque on pole (polesque), cabaret style and also the so-called “exotic flow”.”

Peach – “FUCK KNOWS! I feel like personally I don’t have a distinctive style compared to Anna (Frost), Rhiannon (White) , Kitty etc. I just like to entertain. I love taking elements from all styles and fusing them together, finding what works via freestyle. I think we are so spoilt for choice and it all depends how I’m feeling that day whether I want to be more Exotic, more Stripper, or more Classique. I’m the greedy bottom of pole lol!”

Kitty – “Ooooh I’m definitely stripper style (SS). SS until I die haha! But my style is also quite heavily inspired by urban exotic, I spent a lot of time watching Instagram clips of strippers in King of Diamonds in Miami & Atlanta and trying to imitate their twerking and drops. That’s why sometimes my style looks a little bit “American.” So because of that mix, and because I am second generation exotic it comes under “new wave” or “new school.” I think of pure SS as coming from OG dancers, who’s styles are solely from the club and have not been influenced by more contemporary exotic styles. But that’s just if you want to be pedantic, labels schambels haha. Anyway, we’ll have to think of a better name for my style as it’s not gonna be “new” forever! Exotic Bounce? (Does that sound like a sexy Lindy Hop!) Nasty exotic? Urban SS? We’ll put a pin in that.”

In keeping with the theme of the many branches of exotic, why do you think the style is multiplying at such a rapid rate?

Jordan – “People are starting to mix different movement stylisation to ‘create’ their own personal style. In my opinion, pole is great because we don’t have any set rules yet, as long as you’re not hurting yourself, you’re doing it right. With that in mind, we have more dancers coming with and learning from so many different backgrounds, dance/gymnastics/theatre/etc that have set rules for what defines them as such— what’s the difference between ballet and modern and hip hop? Each style has set steps that are considered ‘basics’ to their style. With pole, our basics don’t have a stylisation or ‘one right way’ to look during execution so our dancers have more freedom to stylise themselves within the same movement. This idea of wanting to have freedom to create and be unique but to also be able to define “why and how” the stylisation is different from someone else (other than ego) is what affects how our community defines different styles, and why so many are coming up now in exotic, more so than in the championship/artistic categories. Sexy doesn’t have just one look, so exotic can cover anything as long as the dancer feels &/or wants to be seen as sexy. This overall idea that anything can be sexy is in my opinion about finding the right audience, an audience that thinks what your doing is sexy will be more likely to find you sexy. But an audience that finds the performer sexy when the dancers aren’t trying to be sexy and just trying to have fun and be fit or emotional what have you are being labelled in a way that they’re not comfortable with. This is an issue we have, as a community, and one of the reasons why we have such a dichotomy— no one wants to be misunderstood or mislabeled.”

Jamie – “Good question. And of course I am going to be very biased, but I think its simply because this is what should of happened ten years ago. Most of what we are seeing now is not new. Its just new to the industry, and unfortunately there was no room for it about ten years ago, we were still raging and complaining that we had to perform in huge bum covering shorts and no shoes! The Facebook statuses you see now about sexuality and pole are having a VERY different feedback than they would have a decade ago. A lot of time was wasted dumbing down pole dance, but thankfully its getting back on track now. And everyone is getting involved, even those who stalled this progress years ago.”

Diana – “Because many other different dancers (strip, cabaret, vogue, Tango, ballroom, ballet, contemporary, frame up, jazz, breakdance etc.) are trying pole dancing too, so all of them bring something of their own into it.”

Peach – “I think because we are in a stage in empowerment in general where issues of sensuality, sexual expression and body confidence are more on our minds that ever before. Women (and men, and non-binary individuals etc) want to explore that side of themselves – want to explore feminine movements, or badass dominating sensuality, or whatever side to themselves they otherwise feel is repressed. People want to take a class with an instructor who gives them an excuse to be a bit slutty, love their body and feel sexy in a way they’ve always been told is shameful or wrong. We are the gatekeepers of self-love as instructors, and the scapegoat they can use to overcome social conditioning. Plus, the shoes are pretty as fuck and people want an excuse to buy them.”

Kitty – “Being sexy is multi-faceted, and it’s a truly glorious thing to witness so many variations on the erotic! I think we’re just finding as dancers that there are so many ways to be sexy, and as we grow in confidence – all this femme power, self love, body positivity, sex positivity – we’re allowing ourselves to be unique, be who we really are and move differently from one another and not just try and duplicate and copy. It’s not just about being a dancer, it’s about being a unique sexy woman in your everyday life too. So I think the self-love revolution goes hand in hand with the exotic evolution.”

Who do you recommend baby Exotic pole dancers have a good old Youtube Stalk of if they want to get a solid grasp of the different styles of Exotic?

Jordan – “For Youtube— everyone that I mentioned as a pioneer. For Instagram (much easier to access) still everyone above, Plus myself (shameless plug),Kitty Velour, Melissa Schrader, Mel Hyde, Simona Royal, Carlie Hunter, Samuel Pauli’s, Booboo Brian, Bentley Rebel, Miles Yung (IG: yungpolemaster), Adam Lin, Miss Philly, Jazzy K, Rachel’s Ribera, Daria Che, Olga Koda, Michelle Shimmy, Maddie Sparkle, Arlene Caffrey and Shae Sin (IG: spinninshae__). Basically just google exotic pole and you’ll find something.”

Jamie – “OK, my Instagram is for my studio (@dgafandpole), so is great for seeing my stripper style vids, and those from my Instructor Erin, who I also say is more filthy classique. Also look for Heather Williams, Felicia Drake, Rhiannan Nicole, Rhiannon White. I would suggest those, as Instagram is saturated with a lot of Russian Exotic influenced dance, so that wont be hard to find.”

Diana – “I’ll talk about Russian exotic, as I am from Russia. The exotic pole dance competition system in our country is divided into “exotic hard” (check Olga Koda or Alena Kuzmina here), “exotic old school” (Anna Holse, or Anna Serikova for example), “exotic flow” (Eva Bembo is the most famous) and nowadays we also have competitions and festivals with “Erotic” category, where stripping is not just allowed, but a must! Performers need to stay in pasties and g-strings though. Also in Russia at many ordinary, regular gyms (not only at dance studios) we have such a group training as “Strip Plastique”. At some gyms it is called “erotic dance”, or “lady dance” or “lady style”, or “strip dance” – but the essence is the same: erotic dance without pole. It is a training in the group schedule along with body pump, pilates, fitball, abs+flex, zumba and other group trainings. Because strip dance IS a workout. Groups are always full. It has been a very ordinary thing in Russia for many years.”

Kitty – “Yes! Strip plastique & frame up? I didn’t know about this style until I went to Germany and one of the studio owners explained it to me. It’s has some amazing floorwork in it!”

Diana – “Frame up is a different direction that came out of jazz dance. It’s a very usual thing at ordinary gyms, not just at dance studios. Strip plastique = strip dance. Frame up is a totally different thing with roots from jazz, not striptease. Doesn’t look sexy at all, in my humble opinion. They wear heels and sometimes get inspired from strippers, but frame up is VERY FAR away from strip dance, it is totally “jazzy”. “High heels” style is not strip plastique either. It is a mix of go-go, vogue and something else but they also like to be inspired by striptease from time to time. But all those “high heels”, “frame ups”, etc are not sexy, because they are very far away from original striptease. Classical strip plastique (or “erotic dance”, “strip dance”) is taught even at regular gyms.”

Jordan – “Living for this Russian view! I wish more people realised that Russian dancers could have also been strippers. The view in US is that a “Russian exotic dancer would never be a stripper” and that’s one of the many reasons that Russian exotic is so popular here (other than it’s obviously a preference to style). But I love love love that you are so honest about strip exotic and really loving the dynamics and breakdown of Russian exotic style.”

Diana – “How interesting! if I tell my pole sisters what they think about us in the US – they will not believe it!”

Peach – “I would recommend Instagram over Youtube, although the latter is great for full routines. I’m loving the work of Rhiannon Nichole, Natalya Nightshade, Elizabeth Carmine Black is a wonderful mover. I love dancers such as Beanie the Jet and Ela Aur who are reppin’ the UK plus size exotic and body confidence scene. I have a list of about 50 dancers I give to my exotic babies, I could go on all day.”

Kitty – “Rhiannon Nichole, Anne Marie Davies, Tiff Finney, Jordan Kensley, Felix Cane, Shimmy & Sparkle, Gigi, Olga Koda, Nadia Sharif, Rhiannon White.”

Did you start pole with the intention of learning exotic? For example, when I first started pole I shamefully wasn’t aware of Exotic really and wanted to do straight fitness and gymnastics – now it’s my absolute favourite! If so what were your reasons for trying exotic?

Jordan – “Yes and no. I started stripping in order to learn how to pole. So for me, when I first started I separated pole and stripping. Even when I started pole dance classes at BeSpun (a studio known for exotic style), for me classes were about fitness/art/fun etc, but it was different than work which was about exotic/seduction/flirting/work. And even though I was dancing the same way in each atmosphere, I didn’t feel they were the same, because I didn’t want them to be seen as the same — my audience was different between work/class so my intention was different. If that makes sense?”

Jamie – “I started pole at the strip clubs before studios were a thing. Stage work was faster then, the heels were seven inches maximum but mostly six. I noticed that as pole dance got slower the heels got higher got over time. As for my studio’s beginner students, every beginner class has simple classique included. Sometimes with Russian exotic moves included too. I have one Stripper Style class which is no holds barred, super deep dance only. So our students don’t stand a chance if they only want to do just fitness based pole at our studio.”

Diana – “I was an exotic dancer before I started pole. I did burlesque – that includes stripping and can be categorized as exotic. For me pole dancing has always been exotic, and I have never danced barefoot or did a “pole fitness” class since my first pole lesson 9 years ago. My first pole teacher was wearing strings and quite a revealing bra at the studio! She had a long loose ginger hair that hung below her bottom and she was always in heels. At the student’s concerts at that studio and studio events we did stripping even without pasties. Many teachers of Russian first wave of pole studios were strippers or one way or another had a club background. The reason for me starting pole dancing was that I just wanted to look more cool and have more fun, and it also was challenging – I wanted also to make my shows more interesting.”

Peach – “I wasn’t aware of it either! To be honest, I wasn’t even aware of pole as a hobby full stop! My boyfriend said I should give it a go cause he thought I would be good at it, and here we are haha. I wanted to compete and my coach at the time, Rosalisa in Chester, encouraged me to enter a heels based category, and I fell in love. But I remember my first pole buddy telling me I looked like a porno when I danced, so I think it was just in my bones lol!”

Kitty – “I started pole because I saw a YouTube video of Leighann Riley, and I wasn’t old enough to watch it so had to make a new Youtube account just so I could access this video haha! So I always had eyes for the exotic! I remember trying to do a cat pounce at home, and thinking how does she do that hot thing where she sticks her butt in the air? But we didn’t have exotic classes at our studio. Then my friend Issy bought a pair of Pleasers into the studio, and my mind exploded. Are normal people allowed to own these?! How do I get some?? And then I never looked back! I was already interested in cabaret & burlesque. I think I always knew that’s who I was hehe!”

What advice would you give anyone wanting to try Exotic or are on their first steps of the journey?

Jordan – “DO IT! And do it in a way that makes you feel sexy. Whatever that means to you. Recognize and accept that what you find sexy about others may not be what others find sexy about you, and it may not be what you find sexy about you…and that’s okay! It doesn’t make anyone sexier than anyone else, it just makes your audiences different. We wouldn’t have so many types of fetishes on the internet if there wasn’t an audience for it, hey? Overall just fucking do it…. AND FOR FUCKS SAKE PLEASE CONDITION YOUR GOD DAMN FEET AND ANKLES!”

Jamie – “I would say search out a studio that takes it seriously. Stay away from any that teach in a hen party kind of way. Female sexuality is no joke, and not to be giggled at. Have fun of course, but any instructor who teaches any kind of sensual movement should have 100% respect for the responsibility that holds. Also, do search out a studio. A good teacher will let you know all the positives about how YOU move, whereas you may be more critical in the mirror by yourself, so may never make the most of your own style.”

Diana – “Not to be stuck just to one teacher or one studio. Try to dance with different people. It will bring you more fun, more friends and more opportunities for developing as a dancer.”

Peach – “Find an instructor who knows their shit! And personally, I would always go with an instructor who offers a wide variety of skills – including talking about performance, mindset, confidence, as well as technical skill, but that’s cause that’s the kind of instructor I always strive to be in my exotic classes. Watch a LOT of videos from lots of different dancers. It’s important to be inspired and find what speaks to you. Don’t try and replicate anyone, including your instructor. Your teacher shouldn’t be trying to clone themselves in you, but celebrate your unique differences and ability to infuse yourself into the dance.”

Kitty – “Have fun, don’t take yourself too seriously. It’s okay to laugh and feel silly at first. It’s a skill learning to flow and be sexy, some polers don’t like having to start from the beginning again when they’re already quite advanced at pole. So be humble, and prepare to start from the beginning again. But mostly just enjoy yourself!”

What do you love most about Exotic Pole dance and what does the style mean to you?

Jordan – “I feel powerful in my exotic dance performance style. To me, being exotic is whatever the fuck I want it to be, because I feel sexy in that movement. If my intention is to be sexy in some way, than I am.”

Jamie – “The answer to this is too huge to be answered here. It’s my everything.”

Peach – “The ability to make it your own and express yourself within the movement style. With a good instructor, exotic isn’t just about learning a style of dance, but about learning to love who you are and celebrate who you are. It’s for this reason I don’t want the exotic / sexy style comp scene to get too entrenched in trick culture, because I feel it takes away a bit of that magic. There’s a beautiful self-actualisation process to your flow and floor work journey that I never got from tricks training, and I don’t want the saturation of competitions to impact this.”

Kitty – “Oh my god everything! The outfits, the shoes, the filthy faces, the bendilicious moves, the wigs (okay that’s just me!), the sluttiness of it all! I always felt more myself when I was doing exotic. Exotic is just what being a woman should be about – strong, sexy, glorious!”

I saw a tweet a few weeks ago that said “if you’re not a stripper or ex-stripper then you shouldn’t teach Exotic classes.” What are your thoughts on that?

Jordan – “As a stripper/exotic dancer, during a time when it wasn’t acceptable in our community to be one, I can say that it rubs me the wrong way to watch other instructors who have specifically distanced themselves from exotic (even those who have an exotic background) in the past, now use it as a marketing tool and follow a trend. It’s a smart business tactic, but it feels like an insult for someone who just added heels to the same workshops they’re already teaching, to say they teach exotic. But in my heart of hearts I want everyone to be comfortable being sexy, so I remind myself, that we’re all teaching the same damn step around, and heels doesn’t make something sexy, intention does. Plus again, there are so many stylisations within exotic (see above answer) that it really doesn’t matter what your background is. Just maybe, don’t use the term [[stripper]] in your title if you weren’t one, or if you weren’t pro-stripper since the beginning. Also, as a stripper who does tricks, I’ve received a ton of backlash from other strippers because they don’t think stripping is “sexy when [I] do tricks”, so frankly fuck anyone who says you cant be exotic just because they have a different idea of what that means. Stop putting expectations on someone else’s dance, and understand that because pole is an art form, people will always put their story onto your art (that’s the point of art isn’t it?).So just do it for you, and whatever audience you find worthy.”

Jamie – “I think now there are so many different styles that line is going to be hard to hold onto as the years go on. It used to have something to it, as there was an obvious difference at the beginning between those who came from the club and those who came into it from a gym background. And then when sexy pole became cool and everyone wanted in, and few of us thought “that don’t look good.” And yeah back then it counted! Maybe not so much any more.”

Diana – “It all depends. For example, Olga Koda or Daria Che have never been strippers. But Olga studied choreography at college and Daria did rhythmic gymnastics since she was four, and both of them have incredible charisma and talent. But in general, former strippers have a better feeling, attitude and knowledge of what and how to do it, that’s a fact. All in all – everything is relative nowadays, and very individual.”

Peach – “I’ve never been a stripper, but I’m a fucking good instructor, and I teach everything with respect to the roots of pole. The pole scene is evolving and changing, as is the strip club scene, and unfortunately it’s unrealistic to assert that as a rule.”

Kitty – “I don’t think you necessarily have to be a stripper/ex-stripper to teach stripper style. But I think to do it justice you should a) know a little about stripper history and it’s origins. b) make an effort to learn from someone who was/is a stripper, visit a club or at least follow some online and observe their movement. But less strippers teach stripper style now so we need non-strippers to carry it on.”

One last one – Does someone need to be good at pole tricks to do exotic class?

Jordan – “Not even a little lol!”

Jamie – “HELL NO!”

Diana – “No, it is not necessary to be a cool trickster to teach exotic pole dance. There are many examples.”

Peach- “Depends on the instructor, but no.”

Kitty – “Nope!”