Educating the Public

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]A HUGE part of what I do as owner of Aerial Dance is educate the public about pole. When I first opened in Aerial Dance in Appleton, the number of “stripper” comments made was frustrating. Now, after almost 5 years and the shift in pole to be part of mainstream culture, it is better. But I STILL spend a LOT of time and energy educating people about the sport of pole.
My first “educating the public” experience was actually in 2008 in Sydney, Australia with Studio Verve. They were setting up a booth at the Health & Fitness Expo and asked for some students to come along to demo. I WAS SO EXCITED to be part of this.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”35938″ alignment=”center” border_color=”grey” img_link_large=”” img_link_target=”_self” image_hovers=”true” img_size=”medium”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”35939″ alignment=”center” border_color=”grey” img_link_large=”” img_link_target=”_self” image_hovers=”true” img_size=”medium”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]I spoke with the crowd. I answered the same question a million times with a smile. My pole buddy, Kelly, and I danced the routines we knew. And we demoed a bunch of our favorite moves. I was exhausted at the end of the day but so excited to bring pole to the public.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_single_image image=”35940″ alignment=”center” border_color=”grey” img_link_large=”” img_link_target=”_self” image_hovers=”true” img_size=”medium”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]I spent that day in 2008 with my pole buddy Kelly, my beloved instructor Phoebe (left center) and the owner of Studio Verve Jen (right center). I learned so much from Jen. Watching Jen that day, I saw the stress of keeping everyone safe and the love pouring out of her for this sport. I watched her teach a bunch of people their first pole spin. I saw her professionalism and kindness at “inappropriate” (and annoying) questions. I learned so much more from Jen than pole. I will always be eternally grateful to her for all the lessons she doesn’t even know she taught me. And a few years from that date, I too was the owner of a pole studio at a fitness expo and got an even better understanding of what it takes to educate the public at a mass event. I’m so glad I started valuing education early! We have a long way to go, but are making progress.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]