I fucking adore pole dancing in my heels. Yes I’m a fan of all styles of pole dance, but proper sensual, Old School Stripper Style is where my heart lies. Oddly enough however I hadn’t always felt this way, in fact I felt more like a wobbly pisshead after 10 cans of Special Brew when I attempted to dance with my Pleasers on. Learning to embrace my feminine and sensual sides were (and still very much are) an ongoing journey, one which both floorwork and heels choreo classes have been instrumental in.
Baring the above in mind, I know exactly how nerve wracking it feels to take the plunge and sign up to a heels class. Prior to taking up pole dancing I existed in Nike Air Maxs or Air Force 1s, so the very idea of putting heels on had me fighting for my life. I speak to many hobbyist Polers who also have a bit of a fear of embarking on their heels journey, so I thought I’d whip up this blog to put your mind nicely at ease, encourage you to step into the dark side and strap on your seven inchers (that’s what she said).
Respect the origins of pole dance
It’s a categoric fact that every style of pole dance originated in the strip club (yes, that includes pole fitness), and this is especially true when it comes to erotic movement and dancing in heels. Before you head to your first heels class, get yourself inspired by watching some Stripper OGs to see how they move and how fucking stunning pole dancing can be. As a UK girl, my favourite originals to gawp at currently are Jamie Taylor, Lou Affinity and Annie Norris, among many others.
Investigate what style you want to try
Whilst I have a raging wide on for OG Stripper Style (aka “SS” or “$$” to avoid the IG police) there are many other glorious styles of heels pole dance to try. From complex, kippy trickery to slow, melty floorwork – I promise you there is something for everyone. In addition to the OGs mentioned above, I would recommend watching Anna Frost for badass hardstyle inspiration, Lauren Elise for dynamic, fluid combos and insane musicality and Beanie the Jet for sensual, erotic movement with a dark edge.
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Kneepads kneepads kneepads!
Unless you have knees of pure steel you will be in for an entire world of pain if you don’t wear kneepads during heels and floorwork classes. I remember many moons ago attending a floor based Twerk workshop without kneepads and fucking hell my knees were screaming afterwards. Even if the routine you’re learning in class is predominantly pole based, you never know how many sneaky floor moves will appear, and if you have feather knees like mine a simple lunge can feel like pure death. Invest in a decent pair of kneepads – you won’t regret it!
Furthermore, check the class description for any other items of clothing you’re advised to wear such as leg warmers or larger shorts for floorwork. Getting one’s arse stuck to the floor can really fuck up your flow, take it from my experience!
Take it easy with your first pair of heels
Do I have a pair of behemoth 10 inch high Pleaser boots that weight 1kg each? Fuck yes I do. Did I wear them to my first ever heels class? Hell no. In fact they were a gift from Father Christmas almost five years in to my pole journey.
For your first pair of heels, start small and go for a nice six or seven inch boot or sandal. The platform of the shoe honestly makes them feel less than wobbly regular heels, but it doesn’t hurt to be on the safe side, especially when learning something new. If heels classes rapidly become your new favourite hobby then go hell for leather and treat yourself to a few pairs, but I strongly advise starting small and simple to avoid injury or making the whole process of dancing in heels more of a complex than it needs to be.
Do not put pressure on yourself to feel sexy straight away
Whenever I chat to my fellow pole hobbyists about heels classes, the main thing that prevents them from attending one is that they believe they would look and feel daft dancing in heels or attempting a more sexual movement style. If this is something you can relate to, I encourage you to ask yourself how often anyone tries something for the first time and is an expert at it?
Sensual movement is a skill and there’s a fine art to it, one which can require years of dedication and practice. Learn to enjoy the journey and explore how your body likes to flow and move instead of worrying about looking like an ethereal goddess after one class. As previously mentioned, I’m a good few years into my dance journey and I’m chuffed if I can make it through the choreo! Attend your first class with an open mind and don’t expect or pressurise yourself to have the art mastered in a short space of time.
If you want to dress up – go for it
Some days I have turned up to heels classes in one of my favourite pole outfits, hair washed, make up on and bedazzled fishnets on to boot. Other times I have rocked up in my ten year old Primark Sports shorts, feeling exhausted with three day old, unwashed hair scrapped up in a bun like some sort of haggard goblin. In fact once I even turned up with a fetid hangover after going berserk at hen do the night before. As cheesy as this sounds it’s perfect for you to show up as you are. If you want to make the most of the class by looking sexy absolutely go for it, but it’s not a requirement. Do what feels right for you.
Pole dance in heels can be a world apart from aerial tricks
When heels flow and aerial tricks are combined together holy shitit’s the absolute most incredible dance style on earth and a treat for the eyes, but at times they can feel worlds apart. Don’t expect that because you struggle with aerial tricks you will also struggle with flow and floorwork – on the contrary it might be your forte! Similarly don’t expect it to be a walk in the park because your aerial tricks repertoire is massive. As mentioned above, go in with a fully open mind, immerse yourself in the class and see where it takes you.
If you’re a fan of all things heels and have any tips for those thinking of strapping on their first pair of Pleasers, drop them in the comments below!
Disclosure: The link above is an affiliate link, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn commission if you click through and make a purchase.
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