Mission Statement
We creatures of the earth, we misfits, friends, and allies, celebrate and revel in the shared gift of movement. Our purpose is to support members of the community in developing a rewarding, healthy and sustainable movement practice. The pole is a beloved tool in this endeavor.
Our pole dance and other movement practices help us:
Train our bodies to be prepared to move with authenticity, intention and/or abandon
Express ourselves artistically
Build and refine the communication network between our brain and the rest of our body. This learned skill is called by many names including body awareness, mind-body connection, etc.
Release trapped negative emotions and sometimes even patterns of behavior
Improve our strength, flexibility, and mobility
Minimize or eliminate pain that comes from the challenges of daily living
Form connections that help manifest healthy bodies, minds, and communities
SENSITIVITY AND CULTURAL APPRECIATION
BRIEF THOUGHTS ON SANCTUARY’S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE HISTORY OF POLE DANCING DEBATE
Pole dance is an incredibly fun and rewarding practice. It provides limitless opportunities for creative self-expression and for communing with and nurturing your body.
One of my guiding principles for building Sanctuary is making sure that strippers and non-strippers feel equally welcome in this space. Kindness, tolerance and mutual respect are a must when discussing the origins of pole dancing. FYI, modern day pole dancing in the global west is rooted historically in sex work (strippers and other people who made a living getting neked and moving sensually in other arenas).
Modern pole dance is also deeply influenced by many different movement disciplines, trades, and practices throughout history and across the world. I orient all students and visitors at Sanctuary towards an appreciation for all of the stories that have made pole what it is today. As a former stripper myself, I have immense respect and gratitude to strippers who brought pole and sensual movement into the mainstream so that all of us dance-loving adults can luxuriate in this practice.
Sanctuary’s bottom line on the history of pole debate:
We want to accommodate kind, curious, and compassionate humans. For non-strippers, this means that even if we happen to hold negative preconceptions about strippers- like I once did- we are willing to let go of those beliefs and open our mind to new vistas and our body and soul to new possibilities. For strippers, this means that, if we happen to take offence in discussions about pole origins or when civvies get the wrong idea about us- we agree to avoid taking umbrage at real and perceived slights, handle them graciously and thereby open ourselves to new horizons, friends, allies, and opportunities. If anyone is feeling some type of way, I am here to be a support and an ally for everyone who acts in good faith. Let’s dance ya’ll!
When you join us at Sanctuary…
You will be encouraged and empowered to train employing elements of both art and science
You will explore and pursue your goals in a safe, supportive, and thoughtfully curated environment
You will be empowered to communicate more meaningfully with your body
You will be equipped with tools that will help you take care of your body in support of your daily activities and any new physical challenges
If you are new to pole dance and intentional movement…
If you are already a committed mover and/or pole dancer…
You will improve upon all the above listed Sanctuary basics
You will be connected with resources that will help you expand and sustain your practice