Blackstage, founded by pro pole artist, instructor, activist, Leila Davis, will launch Blackstage Talks – an in-person event to discuss issues facing the pole industry and how to do better as a community – on Saturday, February 10 at queer bookshop The Common Press, London.
Blackstage Talks: Breaking Moulds will be hosted by Dr Carolina Are – the pole dancing academic behind bloggeronpole and whose PhD in ‘Social Media Governance’, plus campaigning work against social media censorship, has obtained direct apologies from Instagram about the shadowbanning of pole dance.
Carolina is a leading voice against censorship in and outside the pole dance industry, having published the first peer-reviewed study on shadowbanning in Feminist Media Studies, and is the consultant across the #StopDeletingUs campaign. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Conversation, BBC, Wired and The Guardian.
Guests speakers at Blackstage Talks: Breaking Moulds will include:
Beanie the Jet – renowned as the ‘sexual Liberator’ and ‘pleasure enthusiast’, Beanie is the creator of the UK pole industry’s first fully inclusive showcases called Filthy Friday in Manchester, which was created not only as a space for marginalised folk to celebrate and be celebrated, but also to honour the roots of pole dance as we know it today.
Cutie Whippingham (Leila Davis) – a queer professional pole dancer, instructor, model, movement coach, brand inclusion consultant, and founder of Blackstage – a group for Black people and people of colour (BPOC) of all bodies and abilities, especially those who are queer, trans, non-binary and/or sex workers. Drawing from her own experience, Leila is known for her informative online voice and workshops such as ‘How to make money as a pole performer’, ‘How to Write a Pole Performer Contract’ and ‘How to Build an Ethical Pole Event’, shining a light on the creative industries prejudices and getting the pole community to do better.
Gemma Rose – a proud sex worker and pole instructor. She is the creator of Pole Dance Stripper Movement (PDSM). PDSM runs sex worker centred events by providing spaces and opportunities which directly give back to the community on which pole was founded. The PDSM Competition is the world’s most sex worker inclusive pole competition and unites the intersecting pole and stripping communities. Gemma is also the podcast host of The 6am Club.
Located at London queer bookshop, The Common Place in Shoreditch, the evening promises an insightful conversation between guests. Following the discussion, attendees will have the chance to mingle with speakers and other guests.
Blackstage Talks: Breaking Moulds will take place on Saturday, February 10 from 6.45pm at The Common Press, Shoreditch, London. Limited tickets are on sale now for £21.50 and sold HERE
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