Pole Files Interview 23: Aerial Amy Pole Dancer

Aerial Amy is one of my great pole dancing inspirations, and I am so happy to share her story on my blog. Amy has her pole dancing blog which she everyday post new and interesting things about the pole dancing world. She shares all the things she has learnt, and from that has an amazing fan following.


Here are some of the links to Amy's pages


Blog
http://aerialamy.com/blog/


Youtube
http://www.youtube.com/user/amyxshi

I admit it I am a huge Aerial Amy fan..... So here is what Amy has to say...........

Quick Bio.

I don’t have any background in dance or gymnastics.

A few years after graduating from college, in 2007, I found myself looking for a way to lose the post-college sluggishness that came from transitioning to a desk job. On a whim, I signed up for pole dancing classes at a local studio. During the demo that the teachers performed at the end of class, I found myself completely enthralled by their strength, power, and sensuality. As I watched, I thought: I would love to be able to bring this to people and introduce women to this potential in themselves. Literally from that moment on, my goal was to eventually teach.

I started taking regular classes and found pole dancing to be a means of staying in shape and re-connecting to my sensual side. I found amazing, open-minded, gracious, and introspective new friends that helped me grow as a person and challenge myself. And eventually, I found abs– long lost old friends that emerged from under a few layers of late-night-carb-loaded-dinners– and biceps, and deltoids, and traps. I found I was in the best shape of my life, and empassioned about this new type of movement that had brought so much positive change into my life.

Early in 2010, I found myself with an opportunity to teach, and finally felt that I was ready. I jumped at it, and have since been introducing men and women in their 20′s, 40′s, and 60′s to the joy that is dance– specifically, pole dance!

I truly believe that all women are beautiful, that all hips are inherently sexy no matter what size, shape, or color, and that there is nothing more attractive than self-confidence that radiates from a healthy place within. Currently I live and work in Manhattan, managing construction by day and flying weightless at night teaching pole classes at Shockra Studios.

I am certified in CPR/AED with the Red Cross, group fitness through AFAA, and pole instruction through the X-Pert Pole Fitness program. I’m a PDC Approved Level 1 instructor. I’ve performed in Polesque, the Great Midwest Showcase, and Pole Superstar. I am also a staff writer for Bad Kitty’s online blog, Vertical Art & Fitness magazine, and United Pole Artists.

I completed my BS from NYU’s Stern School of Business, with a concentration in Marketing, Psychology, and Entertainment Marketing & Technology. I have done MA work in Clinical Psychology and am currently obtaining a MA in Motor Learning from Columbia University.

How long have you been doing pole dancing?

Since 2007.

The moment you realised you love pole dancing?

My first intro class!

Describe your style.

I try to connect dance to the music and to my breath so that it’s fluid. I love booty popping down and dirty with heels and stomping and clacking them, but I also love barefoot spin mode emotive and lyrical dances!

Favourite move?

I have so many, but the shoulder mount was my nemesis for such a long time that even now I am thrilled to be able to do it. It was a big accomplishment for me! Otherwise, I love the corkscrew (body spiral) spin because it feels like floating.

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

I have sweaty hands, so I love Tite grip and dry hands. Pole-safe lotion and dew point are pole must-haves for me too. Aside from that – my Bad Kitty Brazil shorts, a Lululemon sportsbra, and some thigh high leg warmers for warmup. And I love my 6-7” heels!

Any hobbies or passions outside of pole dancing?

I love teaching pole dance and I am super passionate about it! I also love learning--I’m going to grad school right now and focusing on motor learning (at Columbia University) to try to grow my knowledge and expand my abilities as an instructor, and maybe make a shift into teaching movement of all kinds.

Can't live without?

Sleep.

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

Neurosurgeon, until I realized what brains look like.

Favourite things of all time:

Movie: Oh. That’s really tough. Top Gun, Say Anything, 16 Candles are in my top 10. Recently saw Blue Valentine and it stuck with me for weeks.

TV Show: The office, maybe? I don’t watch much TV.

Musician:  That’s not even fair. I have hundreds. I post 10 songs I loooove in Tuesday Tunes every week!

Album: See above 

Song: See above 

Book: Oh. I read a lot too. Recently, I just finished 1Q84 and The Night Circus, both amazing and transcendental in different ways

Magazine: Vertical Art & Fitness! I write for them too 

Food: ALL OF IT

Designer:  Don’t like to name names but I’m partial to buying red soles and motorcycle bags.

Thanks Amy keep on poling and blogging, I love reading your work. xx

Pole Files Interview 22: Amy Lewis Pole Dancer

So its been a little while since my last interview. I have been a bit slack with easter break.

Our 22nd Interview is with Amy Lewis from New Zealand, another beautiful pole dancer. I have loved doing this interview with Amy as she has such unique interests outside of pole dancing. 

Here is Amy story.............

Quick Bio.

Hi, my name is Amy Lewis.  I started pole dancing from scratch nearly five years ago with no dance or fitness background.  In fact, before I took up pole I hated all forms of exercise!  I found pole really hard to start with, but after coming to class twice I was determined to get better, and started coming twice a week.  After three months I was coming three times a week, and about another 5 months after that I began teaching beginners.  I've been teaching pole for around four years, and even met my soon-to-be husband when he came in to take pole lessons with me. :)  Together, we opened Polaris Pole Dance in Wellington nearly two years ago.  I have performed in a number of pole and burlesque shows held here in Wellington, and competed in the first Miss Pole Dance New Zealand competition.  I was also lucky enough to be chosen as a Wild Card to go through to the final of the New Zealand Amateur Pole Performer competition last year.  Somehow I managed to fit all that in while studying, earning a PhD in Biomedical Science.

How long have you been doing pole dancing?

Nearly five years

The moment you realised you love pole dancing?

I'm not sure... I became determined to learn pole dance during my second lesson, so I started watching pole videos on Youtube.  The first time I realised how beautiful and amazing pole dance could look was when I watched Felix Cane's 2006 Miss Pole Dance Australia routine on Youtube, and then later when I saw Amy Richardson perform an amazing aerial pole routine while blindfolded. :)

Describe your style.


I haven't done any type of dance except for pole, so I'm very much influenced by the polers I've seen on youtube.  I guess I would describe my style as sexy and confident.  When I'm performing and free styling my main consideration is connecting to the music, so I place a lot of emphasis on musicality.  I want to let my audience experience music the way I do by expressing how I connect to it, and not just doing a series of pole tricks.

Favourite move?

Oooh, It's close!  My favourite would have to be the Gemini, because it's such a beautiful pose, but it's very closely followed by the Ayesha because I feel amazing doing it.  I love both because they're both so versatile.

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

Mighty Grip, my Bad Kitty crop top and shorts, and great music.

Any hobbies or passions outside of pole dancing?

Science, and my fiance Peter. :)  I don't have much time for anything else... I work full time at my day job, and run a pole dance studio in the evenings :)

Can't live without?

Pole, and cheese.  I like cheese.

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

Dinosaur (when I was 4); Paleontologist (when I was 6); Veterinarian (when I was 10); and a Geneticist (when I was 12).

Favourite things of all time:

Movie: Too many to list!  A random selection: The Shawshank Redemption; 10 Things I Hate About You; Love Actually; Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

TV Show: Buffy the Vampire Slayer.  It helped me through some tough times growing up. :)

Musician:  Pearl Jam and Green Day

Album: Dookie, by Green Day

Song: I don't really have any favourites, but I'm really enjoying Sail by AWOLnation at the moment.

Book: Embarrassingly I read the Twilight series all the way through four times, but definitely not a favourite!

Magazine:  I don't read magazines.  I really want to get Vertical Art and Fitness but they don't sell it in New Zealand. :(

Food: Cheese, and Chocolate (but not together) 

Designer:  I quite like Mika Pole Wear at the moment

Thank you Amy for the interview, I have loved hearing your story and more about what inspires you.