Instructor Spotlight: Callie

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!

 

Instructor Spotlight: Cassandra

Cassandra/Cass is a certified beginner pole, flexibility and fitness instructor. She began training in dance at a young age with Yavir School of Ukrainian Dance and continued to incorporate dance into her life through T.O.s Rave Culture and Toronto’s Exotic Entertainment Industry. She was a performance artist at Circa Night Club and participated with the troupes of Burlesque Uni. Cass specializes in beginner strength, flexibility & pole fundamentals. She focuses on sensual movement using intent-based classes to hone in on one’s sensual prowess. Learn to writhe and roar in a safe-creative way. Come and play in Pole Basics on Wednesday nights!

Name/Stage Name/Alter Ego: Cassandra AKA Sandy Bottoms AKA Candy Bottoms (IG @cassandra_bpoling)

Pronouns: She/Her

What do you teach and how long have you been teaching?

I teach beginner pole and flexibility. In addition, I guide others to explore their own sensual movement and “spread” sensuality one split trick at a time. I am a new instructor and have been certified to teach since 2021.

What got you into pole dancing?

My pole adventure began in the late 90’s exotic dancing in T.O. I booked an interview for a cocktail server and left it as an exotic dancer. I left the industry because for my health and well-being. I still wanted to perform but knew I needed to move to something else.

I discovered pole dance years later on my road to recovery. Yes, that is AA/NA speak. Pole dance gave me something to look forward to. Something to replace my bad habits and behaviours with. Pole dance saved me from myself in dark times.

What makes you passionate about pole dance?

Poling and the its fitness regime makes me strong, confident and gives me control. Pole keeps me moving further. To where, I do not know.

What do you love sharing with your students?

“The Firsts”

I know it sounds cheesy but it’s time to celebrate!

The First Class. The First Climb. One of my favourite things to share: The First Time in Pleasers. Seeing the confident, happy and sassy looks reflected in the mirror as students scope out their new heels and height!

What is your favourite song/genre to dance to?

I post music daily on my Insta/FB stories. I usually pole jam to my “Liked” songs on the platform I stream from. Look forward to mish-mash mixes, the theremin, cow-bell, laser sounds and space noises of Arrakis. You will find a lot of 90’s hip hop and house too!

Do you train on other apparatuses or other disciplines?

I also train with Lyra, Lollipop and Aerial Pole. I am interested in obtaining my beginner Lyra certification.

I have taken some basic Silks training and like the challenge it presents. I am also eager to try Aerial Hammock/Straps.

I enjoy challenges that new apparatus’ offer. Cross-training helps to strengthen my understanding of fundamental moves on each apparatus. I find training this way pushes creative boundaries I might not explore without cross-training on multiple apparatus.

I currently am working on a 200 hr Kundalini YTT. I practice to combat symptoms from CPTSD.

Breathe work is key for my well-being. It keeps me balanced.

What would we find you doing when you aren't teaching/training?

Rest. I enjoy gardening on the rooftop patio in summer. Did I mention eating. Lots of eating.

Eating everything.

Join Cassandra Wednesday nights for Pole Basics!

 

Instructor Spotlight: Wanning

Wanning has been in love with pole dancing since her first class in 2015. She is infatuated with exotic, freestyle, and contemporary flow as well as strength and bendy tricks alike on all kinds of apparatus. She was the Second Runner-Up of both the 2021 CPFA Pole Art and 2019 CPFA Central Exotic 1 competitions. With no previous dance or gymnastics background, she loves how accessible pole dancing can be. While it can take time to build the skills, she is convinced that anyone can do it with the right support, and she wants to be that support for her students. She believes that pole dancing can be whatever you want it to be: a form of sensual or artistic expression, a phenomenal workout, and/or simply an outlet after a tired day. No matter what - it is always positive, fun, and empowering! Catch Wanning teaching Pole Basics on Saturdays!

Alexa Baker Photography

Name/Stage Name/Alter Ego:  Wanning aka The Pole Bender (@thepolebender)

Pronouns: she/her/hers

What is your profession?

I am a full-time banker & part-time pole dance instructor and aficionado

What do you teach and how long have you been teaching?

I am currently teaching Pole Basics and have taught Intro to Exotic and Chair Dance in the past. I've been teaching pole for over a year.

What got you into pole dancing?

I got an unlimited 1-month membership back in 2015 (upon introduction via a friend) and haven't stopped since!

What makes you passionate about pole dance?

I enjoy that there is always something challenging to work on - whether it’s a strength trick, a flexibility move, or a new choreography.

What do you love sharing with your students?

I love sharing my personal experiences to set expectations for moves that take some time to get the hang of and tips and tricks I've discovered along the way, but I love sharing the joy of being a part of their pole journies even more.

Alexa Baker Photography

What is your favourite song/genre to dance to?

I tend to dance to faster or more upbeat songs with strong beats in the background but sometimes opt for a slower, moodier songs as well. Anything is fair game depending on what your body and mind are feeling on a particular day.

Do you train on other apparatuses or other disciplines?

Other than pole and chair, I also train contortion, lyra/hoop, and floor flow as well as dabble in silks and trapeze.

What would we find you doing when you aren't teaching/training?

I'm most likely either snacking or napping :)

Join Wanning on Saturdays at 12:10pm for Pole Basics!