Every pole journey begins differently—and for Elaine, it all started with hip hop. A few years ago, she was searching for a local dance class when she stumbled upon Gravity Arts. While her intended hip hop class was eventually cancelled, curiosity led her to try something completely new: pole. She and her friend Marrian signed up for a trial class with Sheila—and it was love at first spin.
Why Pole?
Elaine had a very practical reason for committing. Approaching 50, and aware of her increased risk for osteoporosis, she wanted to invest in strength training—but the gym just didn’t inspire her. Pole seemed like a fun, engaging alternative. Ironically, her pole goals ended up motivating her to hit the gym anyway, and now she strength-trains regularly to support her pole progress.
Poling at Any Age
Like many who start later in life, Elaine sometimes wonders what it might have been like to begin pole in her 20s. But she also recognizes that her younger self probably wouldn’t have had the confidence to climb or invert. Starting now has turned out to be the perfect time.
As she puts it: “One of my favorite things about being an ‘old’ poler is that I can really go at my own pace, let something go if it doesn’t work, and feel 100% happy for my pole sisters’ successes. Anything I achieve feels like a gift.”
That mindset has become one of her greatest strengths—celebrating every win, big or small, while also cheering (loudly and enthusiastically!) for everyone around her.
From Ballet to Pole
Elaine’s background includes 15 years of ballet, and while she says it hasn’t made pole tricks come faster, it has influenced her style. Her natural toe point and eye for clean lines help her polish moves once she nails them. For Elaine, ballet didn’t unlock the door to pole—it just added extra sparkle once she walked through it.
The Challenge & the “Click”
Having danced all her life, Elaine was used to picking things up quickly. Pole turned that upside down. Moves didn’t come easily, and the struggle was real. But in that struggle, she found something incredibly satisfying: the click moments.
Those moments when, after countless tries, everything suddenly comes together—the first jasmine, the first chopper, the first time a shape feels effortless. Elaine says it’s those victories that make pole uniquely rewarding.
Real Talk: The Struggles
Like any poler, Elaine has her challenges. From the fear of falling to battling dry winter skin (or sweaty thighs and kneepits), and even navigating the unique dynamic of sometimes ending up in class with her university students, she’s faced it all. And of course, some moves—like her forever-nemesis supergirl—remain works in progress.
The Joys
Despite the struggles, Elaine’s list of loves is long: Creating pretty shapes on spin, hunting for new splitty moves online, any trick that relies on leg strength and leaving little secret messages on friends’ class videos
Most of all, she loves being part of the Gravity Arts community—celebrating every achievement, hers and others’, and finding joy in the journey itself.
