MEET OUR INSTRUCTORS | DANI
Photographer: @f2f.photography and @flowpolefoto on Instagram
What apparatus(es) do you do/teach?
Teach lyra, pole, chair. Casually dabbles in silks and slingHow long have you been doing pole/aerial? How did you start?
4 years going strong! Started with pole and then branched out to other apparatuses' cause I am a glutton.
What made you try pole/aerial?
After my dog passed away, I had a lot of free time on my hands. I tried different types of workouts (the usual gym, bouldering, swimming) and it just didn't give me any dopamine that aerial has given me.
What advice do you give beginning dancers?
WORK YOUR HUMBLE ("Bad") SIDE.
Advanced students?
WORK YOUR HUMBLE ("Bad") SIDE.
Why did you start teaching?
I am a trainer at my current workplace and found myself enjoying it a lot more than I expected. I loved having that initial impact to my trainees and seeing them succeed after! Once I became a pole instructor, that feeling has been just elevated. I love seeing my students progress and even attend classes with me. It's inspiring and makes me happy I was part of their aerial journey.
What is different about your teaching style that you think students are drawn to?
I love offering options for varying levels and giving them brain-teaser transitions. My cues also add flavor to my classes cause they can make them laugh but also help them engage their muscles properly! 2 for 1!
What would you say is the biggest struggle or obstacle among pole/aerial students that you come across? What would be your advice to them?
When you hit plateaus, keep going at it and don't get down on yourself. Don't compare your journey to another person's journey cause you are a one-of-a-kind person with a one-of-a-kind journey! No copy and paste here my friend!What would your advice be for students who want to find their own style in dance?
Try different instructors, watch pole dancers online, then pick what you have liked and find what feels good in your bodyWhat has been your biggest challenge in your pole/aerial journey? How did you overcome the difficulty/challenge?
Inverting and still is an ongoing battle. Really getting back to the basics of pole crunches and different ab exercises have really improved my invert.
What has been the most challenging move/trick to learn?
Superman. Still working on it after 3 years. My thighs don't wanna do it!!What is your favorite pole/aerial move?
Pole sits and any variation of that. It's a relaxing a catch your breath moment once your thigh skin accepts the painWhat is your greatest achievement so far in pole/aerial?
I just got my extended butterfly which is just a step closer to Ayesha prep.
What are you currently working on?
Getting my extended butterfly stable.
What are your goals for this year?
Work on shoulder mounting and aerial inverts.
What is your proudest moment in your career?
When I performed for the studio and at PSO. Very anxious times and honestly was SO CLOSE to bailing out last minute, but didn't, and had a blast doing it!
What has made you stick with Pole/Aerial?
The community is so supportive and I love how it's personal growth focused. I get to be competitive with myself vs being competitive with others
How did people around you react when they learned that you were doing pole/aerial?
Very well! It's basically a personality trait of mine at work and wherever I go now
Do you perform regularly?
At least 1-2 times a year, usually local pole studios
What is the most important in a pole/aerial performance in your opinion?
Being mindful of your face. It is still something I struggle with when I perform cause my default face is the duck lips, thanks high school me
Do you have any pole/aerial idols? Anyone in the pole/aerial community who inspires you?
All my fellow instructors continue to inspire me cause we all move differently.
What is your favorite pole/aerial workout wear?
Pole - CXIX, Lunalae
Aerial - SavageXFenty
Heels - Pleasers for boots, HellaHeels for sandals. Jewel heels is new for me but loving them so far!
What are your other hobbies?
Very basic crochet, lots of gaming and eating. Primarily single player games and definitely not competitive multiplayer games cause people scare me.
What do you do in your free time? Outside of pole/aerial?
I work at a QC lab as my main job and usually outside of work
What is your all-time favorite song to pole/aerial to?
Coaster by Khalid. In your feels, can be a slow or fast routine with the beat.
What’s a YouTube pole/aerial video we should check out?
Not Youtube but on Instagram I love watching polelols or Dan Rosen and his catfishing pole videos. They are so hilarious!!
Photographer: @f2f.photography and @flowpolefoto on Instagram