Defying gravity (and expectations) at KC’s Pole Dance Collective
Pole Dance Collective // Photo by: Julia Nagy
Located in the Crossroads Arts District, Pole Dance Collective is both an instructional studio and a birthplace of confidence, welcoming students with a grounded understanding of the art form’s roots. For many dancers here, including me, PDC isn’t just a gym or a class schedule. It’s a place to return to your own body, to understand it, to surprise yourself with what you can do. I started pole in January to train for a role. I intended to take one or two classes. Even when the film lost its funding, I began taking five to seven classes a week, clinging to the studio on days when gender dysphoria made my body feel like it wasn’t mine. Pole helped reconnect me to it. It still does.
At PDC, that experience isn’t rare. It is the point. That sense of return is what Julia Nagy hoped people would find when she built the studio.
Julia Nagy – The Visionary Behind PDC
Julia Nagy found pole dancing almost by accident when YouTube recommended a competition video featuring Sarah Jade. By the end of her first session at a studio in Lansing, Michigan, she was hooked. Athleticism, artistry, and a profound connection to her body were all blended in pole dancing. This infatuation developed into an ambition to build a studio that embodied the movement, creativity, empowerment, and community that she cherished about pole.
Julia Nagy // Photo by: Grace Victoria
When a studio spot opened in Kansas City, Julia seized the opportunity. She envisioned a place where students could reach goals progressively and safely while expressing themselves. “Pole gave me such confidence. I wanted others to feel that too without me dictating what a pole dancer should be,” she says. Every detail reflected her commitment to accessibility, ensuring dancers of all genders, ages, and body types felt welcome.
For Julia, teaching is a long-form collaboration. She pays close attention to how students problem-solve in their bodies, watching the minor adjustments they make as they experiment with grip, momentum, and shape. When a student suddenly clicks with a movement, she sees it as evidence of their own persistence rather than something she “gave” them.
“The light-bulb moment on students’ faces when they realize they can do something they didn’t think possible is the most rewarding part,” she says.
Her focus on generosity shapes the way she structures every class. Rather than presenting pole as a rigid discipline, she breaks skills down in multiple ways, offering different pathways for different bodies. She encourages dancers to experiment with their own style, to ask questions mid-combo, and to play with variations that feel true to them. “You have to teach with generosity in mind. I’m not about gatekeeping. I want to give people the tools to explore and find their own expression,” she explains.
Julia also sees PDC as a place to foster real-world connections. She hopes to extend the studio’s influence through showcases, workshops, and volunteer opportunities. “I want people to feel a sense of community and home. If I can foster connection in a world that feels so digital, that is an immense privilege,” she says. For Julia, the heart of PDC lies in its mission to empower dancers, honor pole’s roots, and create a space where students can push themselves.
Anna Haynes – The Choreographer and Innovator
Anna’s journey into pole started long before she stepped into a studio. Growing up on ballet, belly dance, and burlesque, she was captivated at a Pink Floyd tribute event with her father, where she first experienced the spark of pole. Her passion persevered and ultimately carried her to Kansas City, where she found a pole community ready to bloom.
Anna // Photo by: Julia Nagy
Anna’s teaching at PDC displays both her technical proficiency and her passion for imaginative storytelling. She creates sequences that are both athletic and dramatic by fusing her other dance training with pole movement. Her Russian-style ballet-inspired choreography, which demonstrates her ability to combine classical form with modern pole technique, was one of my favorites. She emphasizes exploration over perfection in her classes. “Teaching has made me think more deeply about how my movement works, why my body does something, and how to break it down for someone else,” Anna says.
Anna’s classes are as much about community as they are about technique. She strives to create an atmosphere where students feel seen, supported, and encouraged to push their boundaries. “I want my classes to feel like an open environment where people can ask questions, become friends, and feel warm and fuzzy for an hour,” she says. She celebrates capability over appearance, reinforcing that pole is for everyone. “Our focus isn’t on what your body looks like, but what your body can do,” Anna notes.
Outside the studio, Anna brought her vision into her polewear line, Synchronicity, which she started in 2022. Each piece is hand-sewn by Anna herself for studio training, designed to allow movement and expression. “Starting my pole-fashion brand, Synchronicity, let me blend my love of movement with design; it’s been another way to contribute to the community,” she explains.
Lexie Olivarez – The Healer and Creative Explorer
Lexie’s first encounter with pole dancing was an act of curiosity mixed with defiance. “I first got into pole dancing because my friend was teaching it—and my ex told me not to do it. So obviously I had to,” they recall with a laugh. What began as a rebellious impulse quickly evolved into a deep connection with their body, something Lexie had rarely experienced before. “I had never done anything that made me feel in tune with my body. I was always the awkward kid.” Pole became an opportunity to claim her physicality and movement on her own terms.
Lexie Olivarez // Photo by: Julia Nagy
Before joining PDC, Lexie performed in clubs, an experience that continues to inform her teaching philosophy. “Any pole dancing we do is honoring the art that came from the clubs. We’re not above strippers—there’s nothing taboo about that. If I could just perform all the time without drunk men, I’d still be a stripper,” they say. Lexie brings that authenticity into every movement, inviting students to connect with the history of pole while creating their own stories on the apparatus.
Lexie’s teaching style emphasizes liberation. They instruct beginners in choreographed routines and Pole Tricks 1, helping newer students move confidently and without judgment. Their classes blend fairy-like whimsy, messy energy, and provocative expression. “Lately a lot of my choreos have been about healing the inner child—not being sexy, just feeling,” they share. This approach allows vulnerability, connecting emotion to movement rooted in confidence.
Their identity as a neurodivergent instructor further informs her approach. She shows up every day as her whole, authentic self, and that encourages others to do the same. “Being autistic, it’s so nice not to have to mask at the studio. I can be silly, say weird things, take little dance breaks, and no one cares.” That openness carries into every session she teaches, providing students permission to inhabit their bodies entirely, to play around and make mistakes, and to feel supported while doing so. “Pole is the one hobby I always come back to. There’s always more to learn, more to grow, more to feel.”
Jordan Davis – The Technician and Showman
Jordan’s first pole class began with her tucked in the back, unsure and hesitant. By the end of the class, she couldn’t wait to go back. Her initial curiosity became a deep commitment to mastering technique while developing a deeper stage presence. She teaches beginner and intermediate choreography and Pole Tricks 2/3, supporting students through progressively challenging routines in a fun and safe environment.
Jordan Davis // Photo by: Julia Nagy
Jordan brings a mix of precision and personality to everything she teaches. After years of mastering high-powered, trick-focused routines, she now turns that foundation into vivid, story-driven choreography. Her specialized classes, notably her crowd-favorite boy-band choreo, reveal her playful creativity and her inspirational drive. “Our boy band choreo was so special. Four very different people doing something ridiculous together—that was magic,” she reflects. It is in these simple moments that have the greatest impact; what seemed like a silly choreo routine was one of my most gender-affirming moments.
Vulnerability and personal growth are central to Jordan’s teaching philosophy. She openly acknowledges the difficulty of pole and frames it as part of the journey. “The biggest thing I want students to know is that this is hard—and if you don’t get something today, it’s because it’s hard. When you do get it, it’s because you did something hard.” Students in her classes are encouraged to embrace the challenge, to recognize that each slight improvement is a milestone, and to celebrate those victories as part of the learning process. Pole, she says, can bring out aspects of oneself that no other art form can.
Jordan’s classes also foster inclusivity and fellowship. Her emphasis on technical skill does not come at the cost of connection. She thrives in areas where diverse students meet, share their stories, and explore pole together. “Pole brings in people from wildly different backgrounds. Sometimes the only thing we have in common is pole—but that’s kind of the fun of it,” she notes.
The Heart of Pole Dance Collective: Community
Anna // Photo by: Julia Nagy
At PDC, community is the heartbeat of the studio. Students come to participate in a community where individuals support and motivate one another as they practice skills. Julia designed PDC as more than a training space, cultivating connections that extend beyond poles and mirrors. Students often meet for drinks, art fairs, or tacos outside of class, creating an organic network of support.
The studio’s design embraces inclusivity. Classes are open to all genders, ages, body types, and ability levels. No single “pole body” exists. Offerings span from level 4 trick work to basic choreography, making them accessible to all. The social energy is combined with thoughtfulness, reflecting Julia’s idea of a welcoming culture where everyone feels seen.
Art and Fitness- Hand in Hand
At Pole Dance Collective, fitness and creativity are inseparable. Classes push the body while exploring the possibilities of movement. Julia highlights that the studio is “a blank canvas” where dancers can experiment with contemporary, gymnastic, or club-inspired techniques, allowing their own preferences to guide their practice. Instead of imposing a single pole vision, the objective is to focus on the tools they need to explore expression while still developing the strength and control necessary for demanding tricks.
Beyond choreography, PDC offers Mobility and Conditioning, a class focused on strengthening all the muscles used in pole dancing. Julia highlights that these sessions are essential for safely preparing the body for advanced moves and for developing endurance and resilience that support all aspects of pole practice. Flexibility is supported in Bendy Babes, a class dedicated to improving range of motion and fluidity. At PDC, physical fitness is always linked to artistry.
Lexie Olivarez // Photo by: Julia Nagy
Honoring the History of Club Culture
Pole Dance Collective acknowledges that pole’s history is profoundly ingrained in the club scene, and that legacy informs how dancers approach the craft. Given the history of the practice, Julia Nagy remembers that when she first began, there was a discernible “not a stripper trend,” which she found odd. She reflects, “This art form started in the clubs, and we embrace those roots.” At the same time, she points out that shame around the practice can be contagious. If something is treated as taboo, others pick up on it. A significant part of moving forward as a community is changing that narrative and destigmatizing not only pole dancing in clubs but also talking openly about it in any context.
As a collective, embracing this history also means fostering conversations that normalize pole as both art and athletic pursuit. Students are encouraged to speak about their experiences, reflect on the origins of the movements, and consider how pole’s development has made room for imaginative, dramatic, and expressive interpretations. Moving the focus from shame to awareness allows the greater pole community to honor its past while encouraging every dancer to talk boldly about their chosen craft.
The Beginning of Your Pole Journey
Since its founding, Pole Dance Collective has grown in many ways. Julia has expanded class offerings to meet the demand, adding additional times for popular beginner, intermediate, and specialty classes. The studio continues to refine its programming with creative projects, community showcases, and unique, limited courses. The sense of progression is palpable; students can choose a path toward athletic feats, theatrical choreography, or simply moving in ways that feel joyful and freeing.
PDC is a safe and encouraging place to start for beginners. Teachers provide students with progressive guidance so that they can improve without feeling overwhelmed. The focus is on exploration, discovering new strengths, and celebrating milestones. Pole Dance Collective is a space where you gain confidence, connect with your body, and join an inclusive community. Regardless of skill level, age, or identity, dancers are invited to experiment with movement, discover their capabilities, and express themselves. There is a pole for everyone.
Pole Dance Collective is located in the Core Strong Fitness building at 1007 W 24 St, Kansas City, MO 64108. Drop-in classes start at $25, or a monthly membership is available for $165.
PDC // Photo by: Julia Nagy
