Pole Files Interview 16: Sass Kirkham Pole Dancer

I have had the great pleasure of interviewing Sass Kirkham from New Zealand. She wears beautiful costumes when performing, I think truly adds to the performance.

Here more about Sass.

How long have you been doing pole dancing?

It will be 5 years this coming April I think.

The moment you realised you love pole dancing?

I think it snuck up on me really. By the time I got up to three classes a week, had a pole at home, went to every show and comp I could here in NZ, and offered to be in the pole shows put on by people I knew, I knew I was completely and irrevocably hooked

Describe your style.

My practice and freestyle style is a bit different to my performance style because when I’m in the studio mucking round, it’s just for me, while I feel it’s important to take an audience and their potential needs into account when you’re doing a show. My stage persona is called Sassy Minx (there’s a fanpage on facebook, if you can find it) and that’s what I generally try and embody on stage – something a bit sassy, a bit fun, maybe a theme or a prop included. I particularly like using older music that maybe people haven’t heard before or certainly haven’t heard in this context – Dean Martin, Lena Horne, Dinah Shore.
I’m starting to explore more lyrical routines though; my last show routine was a slow one and my next one for a show in March is to another slow, melancholy tune. 

Favorite move?

Ooh there’s favourite moves to do and favourite moves to watch! For both though, I don’t think you can go past a well-executed extended butterfly; great lines, great extension, beautiful

Tools of the trade, what can’t you live without when pole dancing?

I am a recent convert to Tite Grip and I LOVE it!! I went for several years without using anything but I wasn’t confident at the best of times with some of the aerial moves. I started using Mighty Grip, and then moved on to Tite Grip. I also need music that moves me!

Any hobbies or passions outside of pole dancing?

I’m a keen runner (not fast, but keen) too. I like travelling as well when I can.

Can't live without?

My pole, running, and gym. My friends and family and partner. And chocolate

Growing up I wanted to be a.....

an author then an archaeologist. Or maybe both…

Favourite things of all time: I find these questions really hard to answer because I like different things at different times!

Movie: I have different movies I like at different times so this is tough to answer! I do love 10 Things I Hate About You though.

TV Show: At the moment, Supernatural for drama, New Girl or Community for comedy

Musician: Probably Bic Runga or Brooke Fraser (both are beautiful Kiwi songstresses and musicians)

Album: I can’t pick one!

Song: Fields of Gold by Sting

Book: I’m a fan of junkie books and they’re very easy come, easy go in my memory so I can’t cite a fav recent book 

Magazine: I don’t really buy magazines

Food: Chocolate 

Designer: I guess I'll seem hopelessly gauche to say this but I’m not really into designers because most fashion I see round flatters so few people and I’m a firm believer that people should wear things that look good on them, regardless of what everyone else is wearing.

Its been a pleasure hearing your story Sass:)