St. Louis is home to a vibrant community of pole dancers, and every dancer has their own story. While the pole dance community proudly owns and celebrates sex work as a facet of their story, it also expands well beyond this scope. Whether it be belonging, challenge, exercise, or serendipity, each individual was initially drawn to pole dance for a different reason. But, what stays constant for many is the way that this community builds radical acceptance, healing, and a sense of home- no matter who shows up to class. Here, we explore the stories of 3 pole dancers here at Washington University: Tiana Johnson, Shmuel Tentzer, and Fay Hwang. Photos are by Isabelle Silver.

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“It’s a lot of mental work to get your body to do things it has never done and to trust your body to do the things you know it can do but your mind is holding you back from. They’re very strong people and very dedicated people. They deserve the utmost respect.” – Tiana Johnson

“I think I was on Groupon one day, and I came across a Groupon for a 20 dollar introductory pole class. I was living in Illinois at the time. When I came across it I thought, “Oh, that’s cool.” And Groupons expire, so maybe a week or two before it expired, I knew I needed to use it. I was super nervous about it, but the place I went to was very open and welcoming. So that’s when I took my first pole class. After that, I don’t think I could stop thinking about it.” – Tiana Johnson

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“It’s everything that I’ve wanted. I have my good job that pays me everything I need to live, and everything I need for recreation. I have a community that’s absolutely phenomenal. I have nothing bad to say about anything I have shared a stage with. Nothing bad to say, great performers, great people. Now, I’m able to express myself without rules.” – Shmuel Tentzer 

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“You can’t do pole dancing all covered up in a sweatsuit of whatever; you have to have your skin out to stick to the pole. You have to be comfortable with yourself, and you have to express yourself in a way that’s meaningful to you; it can’t just be someone else’s choreography. It’s just me and the music and that’s it.” – Shmuel Tentzer

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“I have a much deeper respect for it [now] and the people who do pole because I feel like it makes you very physically strong. There are things people can do in class that I can’t do. And it transcends race or age; like there’s someone in my class who just turned 70 who can do a handstand, and I still struggle as a 30 year-old and I’m just like, dang! It’s such a safe community I didn’t know existed.” – Fay Hwang

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“I found it extremely intimidating to even look at myself in the mirror and practice sexy moves, ashamed even, especially with more confident classmates present. For weeks I felt like a fish out of water and completely exposed. Today, I truly feel that both physically and mentally, I’m the strongest I’ve ever been because of pole.” – Fay Hwang

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Michelle Mynx herself showcasing a skill during class.

“Knowing that these people are gonna be there at a set day of the week and a set time to do the same thing that you’re doing, but also to cheer you on when you’re doing things that your mind says you can’t do but your body knows you can. Having that support physically there and outside of that room is amazing. I feel like no matter where I go, I guess the theme here is that in all these [studios], in all the different communities I have been in, I have never been an outsider, and I have never felt unwelcome.” – Tiana Johnson

“The community is like a family. I’m not in class with people I started with, but I do have classes with three or four people regularly, and we’ve become our own little family. Even if it’s someone you’ve never met in that class, they’re so supportive and encouraging. We’re always learning something new.” – Fay Hwang

“I feel like pole dance is one of the reasons I have the confidence I have today, the confidence in my strength – not just physically – but mentally and emotionally in my body. Like I know that my body can do these amazing things and that I am strong. And I think that’s amazing.” – Tiana Johnson