Everything you wanted to know about our amazing teacher Roxy!
How long have you been at BPS?
I started as a receptionist in June 2010 and started teaching in January 2011. As a student I actually was one of the first students to go through BPS in 2004 when my friend from work, Chilli (yeah we go waaaay back!), asked me to go with her. Our teacher was Candice and we were so in awe of how amazing she was! Then after beginners I went overseas for 6 years and when I came back in 2010 Chilli convinced me to come back and do I Int 1. Soon after I started working on reception.
What is your favourite move?
Anything splitty! Jade splits, Allegra….I like the “classics”! And floor work!
What is your nemesis move?
Aerial candy/shoulder mount. Candys are just not my move, and if I don’t practice them for a while I lose them completely.
What move are you working on at the moment?
At the moment I’m working on the basics but on my “weaker”side. Omg it is like going back to beginners! Also brass monkey is a new one for me…again, not my forte at all….I don’t like the flexed foot. I’m a complete scaredy-cat, so new moves take me forever, especially to integrate them into a routine.
Do you have a go to move in-case-of-emergency?
Any thing splitty! In fact a good, fast drop-split from height is always a crowd pleaser! Oh, and of course, the bum dance will always get their attention! And floor-work! I could spend a whole song on the floor without realising. Free-standing head stands and backward rolls are my thing.
Did you have a background in gym/dance before you stared pole?
Yes, I was a professional dancer! I did ballet all my life, have a Bachelor of Arts in dance from WAAPA, and worked as a contemporary and musical theatre dancer before finding pole.
Favourite pole moment?
Dancing in the opening number of Miss Pole Dance Australia for the last few years….nothing beats the feeling of dancing on the Enmore stage with my besties for all my beautiful students and Australia’s biggest pole fans!
Care to share any faux paux or disaster moments with us?
Once in beginners slap I was demonstrating and explaining how to walk in a sexy way across the room….and then I fell over!! Haha!!
Who is your pole crush/pole idol?
Oh oh oh so many!!! I love Jedda’s flawless technique and awesome energetic power, and her magnetic stage presence. I am a massive fan of Alethea Austin for her super-sexy style, and I LOVE Olga Koda’s floor work.
If you could take a class with any poler (active or retired) who would it be?
Too many to choose from!
Which celebrity (apart from the obvious Channing Tatum) do you think would be great at pole?
Cameron Diaz! Haha she just sprang to mind for some reason. She is gorgeous, hot, sporty and up for a fun time I reckon!
What song(or genre) do you love to pole to?
I like to dance slow and sexy, so something with flow and a very sexy vibe.
What song has pole ruined for you?
Some of my favourite classic rock songs…I’ve just danced to them so many times that I can’t hear them on the radio any more, even though I love this genre. Songs like Metallica “Enter Sandman”, Guns and Roses “Welcome to the Jungle” and every pole dancers old faithful “Cherry Pie” or “pour Some Sugar On Me”. They totally work so well for pole though, and I do love them, but I just can’t listen to them any more.
Do you think pole should be in the olympics? Yes/No
No way! I think if it was there would be a list of tricks to be performed and a certain acceptable way of performing them. Pole, and indeed all styles of dance, is art! It is expression, personal style, performance quality and originality, as well, of course, as beautiful technique. Technique and tricks without all the other stuff is boring and soulless in my opinion.
If you never discovered pole dancing what would you be doing?
Probably teaching a different style of dance!
Some non-pole stuff about you…
What is your star sign?
Pisces (#totesemotional)
Where did you grow up?
I was born in Bournemouth, England and moved to Australia when I was 10.
Do you have any siblings?
1 brother, 7 years older than me.
Tell us about your (fur)babies.
Aw I love him so much! Wild Thing is a 4 year old, 9 kg medium haired grey and white cat rescued as a feral kitten. He is crazy, sometimes loving and smoochy, and often a total jerk!
Favourite Movie.
Dirty dancing, Goonies, labyrinth and Love Actually.
Favourite food/place to eat.
Ooh I am a total foodie! Italian is my fave, but I actually love and eat almost everything! Chocolate and wine top the list too.
Wine or chocolate?
Haha answered the above question before reading this one! Noooooooo don’t make me choose!!!
Sun or snow?
Sun! But snow is amazing.
Cats or dogs?
Cats but I love dogs and all animals! 🙂
Tattoos or beards?
Tattoos! Stubble is great, but full-on beards…yuk!
Things we can learn from you…
Do you have any pole hacks?
Don’t stop moisturising! Don’t slather with cocoa butter right before pole, but on your days off or the night before moisturise with a good quality product. Your skin needs the humidity in it to stick to the pole!
Any other advice you want to share?
Don’t rush through the levels! They are there to help you learn safely and sequentially. And there is no rush! Where are you rushing to get to? In my experience rushing through levels leads to injury, so slow down and enjoy the ride! Make sure your lines are lovely and your toes are pointed. Then move on when it is all beautiful and feels easy for you.
Oh also, try different teachers sometimes! It is so good for you to hear a different way of explaining things, or try a different style. Sometimes all it takes is fresh eyes or a different way of explaining something for you to have one of those “a-ha!” lightbulb moments on your nemesis move.