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As her passion for pole continued, Nikki wanted to open her own studio and share the world of pole she has come to know and love, thus, Nikki’s Independent Pole Studio was established in 2021. Nikki’s mission is to provide an all-inclusive environment where you can safely express yourself and feel empowered through the movement of dance and pole.
Pole dance has expanded: it’s a space for community, a body positivity movement, an outlet for dancers looking for a different way to move, and an alternative fitness routine.
This history of pole, however, is not something that today’s pole dancers are looking to detach from. They’re open about it and appreciative of how their beloved dance started. “It’s just as valid if it’s sexy or not,” BPF instructor Angel Diaz said. “But it came from people doing it sexy so let’s not forget that.”
Diaz remembers doing ballet as a child and struggling to stand in one place at the bar, which she told me got her dismissed from the program. Pole dance, she said, has healed her relationship with dance.
“Pole dance is pole dance, anybody can do it,” Lai said.
