What to wear and what NOT to wear when pole dancing?

Picking the right outfit is crucial to pole dancing. Pole Dancing requires skin contact to cause traction or a break, so if you do not have bare skin, traction to the pole can be very difficult and the body part cannot grip causing too much slide. Here are some tips:

• Wear short shorts that are tight-fitting around the upper thigh area. The more skin showing the better!  For the more advanced tricks, tiny tops and sports bras are recommended.  You will need the grip you get from the skin on your arm and under your armpit.  
• NEVER wear lotion. Creams and lotions coat the skin in grease that transfers to the pole, making it slippery and dangerous!
• Never wear rings or watches, they will pinch your skin and will damage the pole.
• It is recommended that you start off barefoot and gradually progress to wearing heels to ensure that technique and muscle memory are learned first before adding extra height and weight from shoes!

There are exotic shoes specifically designed for DANCING.  These unique shoes will give you the best support as well as make it easier to do turns and spins.  It is recommended that you get them with ankle straps so they don't fly off while dancing!  Pleaser, Jante, Ellie, and Lucious are some of the best exotic dance shoes.

What to do if my hands are slippery?

Here are some helpful tips that will help you on your journey of the pole.

• NO LOTION: Never wear lotion or oils, it will cause you to slip and slide and create a dangerous situation. And even if you don't put lotion on your hands, if it is on your legs it will get on the pole when you wrap a leg around the pole.
• CLEAN YOUR POLE: Once you gain more confidence and strength in your pole tricks you will grip the pole better and sweat less.
• PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT: Often times your hands sweat more when you are learning a new pole move. That is because you haven't quite figured out how hard to grip the pole and so you put a lot more strain on your hands, causing you to sweat. Eventually, you will start to develop muscle memory of the most effective way to perform the trick and you will relax and your grip will be correct.
• BREATHE:  I know this sounds simple enough but you would be surprised as to how many people hold their breath while dancing. The more you breathe the more relaxed your muscles will be and the drier your hands will become.
• POLE GRIP: Perfect for really advanced tricks can be purchased here or at any athletic store, look for Prince or Tight Grip near the batting equipment and tennis rackets.