Great idea. So here comes mine

1. Where do you live? United Kingdom. In Worcestershire in the West Midlands, not far from the border with Wales.

2. How long have you been pole dancing? Just a few months

3. How regular do you pole? 1 class per week (Sunday nights) and I practice moves as best I can every day. My husband has offered me an X-pole Sport as my Christmas present.

4. What is your current occupation? What is your dream occupation? I'm a 3rd year undergraduate studying Psychology, Media & Social Culture. I think I may want to teach adults.

5. What is your best and worst pole move that you want to get the hang of? To be honest I'm pretty rubbish at everything and being 17 stone improvement is slow, but improvement is happening. I working towards the Level 1 on the PDC syllabus and I will get there.

6. Has your opinion of pole changed since taking it up as a hobby? My opinion has changed massively. I took it up because I liked the way the girls I'd seen looked really pretty when they were dancing. Now I totally get just how strong, confident, dedicated and fit anybody who Poles is (Male or Female). I want more than pretty, I want that level of personal achievement.

7. What are your pole strengths and weaknesses?

I draw strength from the supportive nature of the class. I was over 18 stone when I started and not one person did anything but encourage me. Having experienced that kind of supportive interaction, I believe that I give it back to everyone who is brave enough to have a go at Pole.

I still have a fear of falling/injury. Sometimes it's big, sometimes it isn't, but it is there in my mind and I have to battle it each time I put my hand on the pole.

8. Tell us any 5 things about yourself

i. I'm about to be 50 ... and I LOVE the social freedom that being older gives me. (At 20 I worried about what people thought about me, At 40 I didn't care what other people thought about me, At 50 I've realised .... no-one was thinking about me anyway LOL!)

ii. I'm in a happy and loving relationship with my husband ... and no one is more taken aback at that than me!

iii. That Youtube video "eharmony interview ... Hug Every Cat" makes me laugh every day.

iv. I absolutely hate pairing socks after they've been washed. Seriously, it is like the worst job in the world ever.

v. My husband taught me to bake bread. He's a mega serious hobby baker who runs a micro-bakery in the evening from our home selling his awesome breads and breakfast goods. That means I live in a house which has a thin coating of flour everywhere regardless of how often I clean.

Okay, whose next then?

1. Where do you live?
near Birmingham,UK

2. How long have you been pole dancing?
Since July

3. How regular do you pole?
Class 1 hour twice a week, hoping more as I now have a pole at home (my credit card company loves me)

4. What is your current occupation? What is your dream occupation?
Public Health Information Specialist- basically health, disease and mortality analysis
I wish I knew what my dream occupation was but probably no way to get a job in it.... I wish I had a job with animals or plants. Something working from home would be good too. But I'm more likely to end up doing more statistics stuff

5. What is your best and worst pole move that you want to get the hang of?
best: at the moment I like doing cuddle straddle its quite simple but it builds my confidence and I love the speed on the spin. I'm also happy to have managed cross knee release (still holding the the foot with one hand). I'd like some day to be able to do a Stag http://poledancedictionary.com/moves/321/stag/ as it reminds me of the spiral positions in figure skating
worst: I still can't manage to climb to the top of the pole, I'm hoping it will come with building up more grip and strength

6. Has your opinion of pole changed since taking it up as a hobby?
I didn't expect to get so bruised and ache quite so much. My right shoulder blade muscles are sore where it meets the middle of my back I'm hoping it will go away when I've gotten more strength.

7. What are your pole strengths and weaknesses
Still finding this out.... possible weaknesses include lack of flexibility- I've never been able to do the splits, atm lack of grip and strength in general. Strengths...I have keen!

8. Tell us any 5 things about yourself
i. I have purple hair.... think it will go well with the bruises if I can get them from brown to black and blue!
ii. I don't need an alarm clock... I have two cats that wake me by standing over me mewing and pawing me in the face til they get fed
iii. I have 7 house bunnies that have a very expensive hutch.... people may think its a conservatory but according to the bunnies they would be wrong
iv. Foster rabbits for an animal rescue
v. My favourite quote atm is “Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning how to dance in the rain.” - Anonymous

Cool thread! I love reading everyone's answers. Mavis, I'm from Worcester originally!

1. Where do you live? Shropshire, UK.

2. How long have you been pole dancing? Since March this year.

3. How regular do you pole? Whenever my children let me! Usually 4 hour long sessions a week (wish I could do more!).

4. What is your current occupation? What is your dream occupation? Home maker I have a 3 year old and an 8 month old, but when I do go back to work I'd like to train as a maternity massage therapist
.
5. What is your best and worst pole move that you want to get the hang of? There's so much I have my sights set on! I've just started inverting so definitely a more controlled invert. And I still haven't got the hang of tuck spins! My favourite accomplished moves are reverse grab (so much fun!) and cross knee release.

6. Has your opinion of pole changed since taking it up as a hobby? I was interested in pole from a pretty young age (blame Demi Moore in Striptease!) but never had the opportunity to try it out. As it became more the norm outside of strip clubs I became interested in getting a pole for the home, but could never justify spending the money on something I didn't know if I was even any good at! But after I had my second baby I wanted to get in shape and reasoned I'd rather spend money on a pole than a gym membership. Like others I was shocked by the strength required - it's made to look so easy but I definitely admire the athleticism much more now that I have bruises/burns from practice! I still think it is a graceful, elegant art form.

7. What are your pole strengths and weaknesses? Strong biceps and pointy toes, my weaknesses are poor stamina and core strength!

8. Tell us any 5 things about yourself

1. I used to play roller derby.
2. I have a beard fetish.
3. I love "vintage" crafts like knitting, baking and decoupage.
4. I played the trumpet in school (badly).
5. Gene Simmons once hit on me. True story.

Hiya, thought I would jump on this band wagon and say hi!

1. WHERE DO YOU LIVE?
In Milton Keynes UK

2. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN POLE DANCING?
I went to my first class in 2006, qualified to teach in 2008, started up Polenastics in 2009

3. HOW REGULARLY DO YOU POLE?
Every single day

4. WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT OCCUPATION? WHAT IS YOUR DREAM OCCUPATION?
I work full time as a marketing manager and pole full time in my part time running Polenastics, I am also a parent to an almost 17yr old– I have my dream job already it’s just a shame I can’t have it as my ONLY job and I am not 20 years younger.

5. WHAT IS YOUR BEST AND WORST POLE MOVE THAT YOU WANT TO GET THE HANG OF?
My worst moves are those that I am unable to achieve due to being restricted by a previously dislocated shoulder, I can still teach moves that I have no hope of achieving though so I live those moves through my students.

6. HAS YOUR OPINION OF POLE CHANGED SINCE TAKING IT UP AS A HOBBY?
It has, yes, I used to love that my friends thought I was a secret stripper, that I was unique, had a skill set and a hobby that no one else had. I felt special and exclusive and could stand, surveying a room full of people, proud in the knowledge that I could invert and hold my weight with just my hands. I knew that there was a 99% chance that no-one else in the room could do what I could do, could even imagine what I could do or had the strength that I did…. Now? Everyone has done it, seen it, knows about it, has a cousin that does it etc and although that’s great for business now I run a pole school it’s still broken my heart as pole is no longer a secret and special society. I am fearful that with the huge amount of interest and influx of people wanting to teach we will get inundate, saturated and the heart, roots and uniqueness will be lost and pole will become a cheap commodity like other fitness classes…

7. WHAT ARE YOUR POLE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES
My weaknesses are due to time, I teach so much I don’t pole for myself anymore and end up breaking down moves then teaching them before I ever get the time to perfect them. My strength is my passion. I simply breathe and eat pole. I get a buzz from my students coming into their first class as shy and limited pole-virgins and watching them blossom into vibrant and powerful polers.

8. TELL US ANY 5 THINGS ABOUT YOURSELF
I am turning 41 in December and have never felt so young and fit and have NEVER had such a wicked set of abs!
I am incredibly lucky to have been trained by some the world’s best including: Felix Cane, Jenyne Butterfly, Zoraya Judd, Justine McLucas, Alesia Vazmitsel, Badazz, Bendy Kate, Marlo Fiskin, Alethea Austin, Amber Ray, Jess Leanne Norris, Karen Chaundy, Hanka Vensalaar and loads more.
I am a hopeless romantic.
I have been known to cry if someone delivers a fish with the head on it as my dinner.
I am scared of heights.

1. Where do you live?
Tallahassee, FL for now

2. How long have you been pole dancing?
off and on for over a year but just started going back regularly in May of this year!

3. How regular do you pole?
3-5 times a week

4. What is your current occupation? What is your dream occupation?
I'm a student so that's really all i do lol. My dream would be being a pharmacist

5. What is your best and worst pole move that you want to get the hang of?
i really need to get the hang of aerial moves. my best moves are spins lol

6. Has your opinion of pole changed since taking it up as a hobby?
not really. i've always thought it was awesome and took a lot of strength now i just know that's 100% true lol

7. What are your pole strengths and weaknesses
i don't always trust myself and that hinders lots of things that i think should come fairly easy. i'm much stronger than i think i am

8. Tell us any 5 things about yourself
I have a 1 year old daughter, I'm engaged to my high school sweetheart, I'm afraid of the dark, I was named after a mall, and Chipotle is the one thing i can never get rid of in my diet...i just love their burrito bowls.