Jenna Williams

I'd better go ahead and say that I have never been a stripper, nor do I ever intend to be. For me, pole dance has been a wonderful form of expression, and a powerful source of self-confidence and empowerment, as it has become for many women. Pole dance is fast becoming a popular workout for women, and I can testify that no other form of exercise has toned and strengthened my muscles like this one has, while being so much fun!  Pole dance has been a passion of mine for about three years now. I began taking pole dance classes at the age of 18 at a  fitness studio in Chicago called Flirty Girl Fitness. This women-only fitness center offers a wide range of classes, from Pole Dance and Chair Dance, to Salsa and Zumba, as well as some more typical cardio and aerobics classes. I took various classes there, but fell in love with Pole Dance in particular. I continued to take classes until I moved from Chicago back to my hometown of Grand Rapids.With no existing pole dance classes in the area, I was forced to continue learning on my own. I set up a pole in my house, which I purchased from a well-known dance pole manufacturer, X-Pole USA. Two of my close friends, Sasha Tomasik and Gabrielle Hutchinson, have become very interested in this style of dance as well, and begun practice shortly after I did. They often share my pole for workouts and they may be seen in some of the photos on this website. While pole dance is my passion, it can be hard to find time to practice. I am a full-time student at Grand Valley State University studying Hospitality and Tourism Management with an emphasis in Event Planning. I also currently have an internship with the event coordinator at Saint Mary's hospital. Although school and my internship take up a lot of my time right now, I remain dedicated to the art of pole dance. My idol, in the pole dance world, is Felix Cane, a famous Australian pole dancer who has won many competitions worldwide. My ultimate dream is to one day perform in a competition held by the United States Pole Dance Federation, an organization that is spreading awareness of the sport and art form.