Callie started pole in 2015, being drawn to its unique blend of acrobatics, sensuality, and artistry. Equipped with a foundation of gymnastics, breakdance, and strength training, Callie found pole was the perfect medium to progress her movement practice. She has since performed and competed in several events, and has been fortunate to learn from amazing instructors worldwide (e.g., Marion Crampe, Marlo Fisken, Yvonne Smink). Over recent years, she has also trained regularly in contortion and hand-balancing. With pole, Callie is most drawn to improvisation (freestyle), polished movement and extension, and unique floorwork or base flow.
Callie began teaching in 2020 and loves to incorporate functional flexibility, strength, and fluidity in her lessons. Callie believes the ability to connect to our bodies, with acceptance and presence, can be such a powerful and transformative experience. Her goal with teaching is to facilitate students’ feelings of mastery, comfort, and connection with their bodies. She strives to promote a warm, accepting, and challenging atmosphere to enable students of all levels to find growth through movement. Outside of her training, Callie is studying to become a clinical psychologist, and also enjoys spending time with her adorable cats. Join Callie on Sundays for Spinning Pole Choreography!
Name/Stage Name/Alter Ego: Callie (IG @calico.pole)
Pronouns: She/Her
What do you teach and how long have you been teaching?
I have been teaching for 3 years now (and training pole for 7 years). I’ve taught flexibility, choreography, base flow, spin pole, and pole tricks. I am currently teaching Spinning Pole Choreography at UV!
What got you into pole dancing?
I had admired pole for as long as I can remember. I don’t even know where I heard of it, but I have diary entries from age 12 describing how I couldn’t wait to grow up and do pole. I was too shy to try it for many years, but finally one night while at a party with a pole, I decided to give it a go (somehow deciding a shoulder mount seemed like the most reasonable first move). I reached out to the person who guided me at the party and started private lessons with her afterward. Initially, I did not enjoy it; in fact, I could not imagine working through the pain long enough to see any major progress. But, as weird as this sounds, I kept having dreams where I was amazing at pole, and they were so fun and satisfying that I eventually stuck with my practicing long enough to bring them to fruition.
What makes you passionate about pole dance?
I feel like I get to explore an alter ego, another version of myself that sits outside of language and other forms of typical expression. It’s like pure emotion and intuition manifest into a language my body craves to speak, with a message I cannot seem to convey otherwise. It changed my relationship with myself in so many ways. Before, I saw my body through the eyes of some critical observer and felt quite disconnected from it. Now, I feel so much more connected to and appreciative for my body; instead of seeing it as something to look at, I feel immersed in the possibilities of what I can do within it. This is all to say that I think there are aspects of expression and self-understanding that are uniquely accessible through creative movement, and that the mastery and connectedness we can feel with our bodies is a fantastic possibility that pole can offer.
Peter Yeung Photography
What do you love sharing with your students?
I love to share ways to polish moves and connect them together in ways that looks seamless. I like to focus on details, the transitions between moves, and the minor tweaks that can make major differences. Most of all, though, I love to help students work past what they believed were their limits to achieve moves and flow they never expected were possible.
What is your favourite song/genre to dance to?
I am not sure whether I have a favourite song or genre, but I think I gravitate towards dark, moody music, and sultry songs. I love dynamic songs that go in unexpected directions, particularly when they sound dramatic/sad, sultry, and trippy or creepy. Current favourites are “The Way” by Enthic, Calin, and URBAN, and “Oui Oui Marie” by Chelsea Wolfe.
Do you train on other apparatuses or other disciplines?
I have been training contortion for the past 3 years, and I practice hand-balancing as well.
What would we find you doing when you aren't teaching/training?
It really depends on when you ask me. Right now? Reading something related to psychology or listening to podcasts (also about psychology). Besides that, I like to paint/draw, play with my cats, and spend time with people I love.
Join Callie on Sundays for Spinning Pole Choreography!