My Passion With Gemma Hopkins

In November 2008, I was looking for something new to do. I have always had a passion for dancing and loved to use dance to keep fit but could no longer make my regular jive class.

A friend of mine pointed out a post in Sheffield Forum offering pole dance lessons and she dared me to inquire. I did, booked myself and the friend in, and haven’t looked back.

Admittedly walking into my first class was terrifying as the only knowledge I had of pole dancing was from Spearmint Rhino and the like.

Being a size 16 and rather short I certainly did not fit this image.

I was very surprised when I saw normal women in the class and the instructor Eve, while being very beautiful, was also normal. I was hooked.

After my first class, I ached all over for a few days and had a fair few bruises.

I also had a new-found respect for women who pole dance for a living as it is hard work.

The strength you build from pole dancing is amazing.

I have severe back issues that doing pole dancing has helped me with no end.

The core strength I have gained is phenomenal and the confidence I have built is unreal.

If it wasn’t for pole dancing I certainly wouldn’t be in business for myself. Over the past four years I have taken part in five regional competitions, winning my category in one of them, overall performer in another and getting through to the national finals. I didn’t win in the finals but the talent there was unreal.

My passion for performing and encouraging others to perform meant that in 2010 I started Pole for Purpose, a charity event which gave local pole dance students the chance to showcase their skills and help to raise money for Tickled Pink and Everyman.

We have since had three further showcases and have raised nearly £1,000 between them.

The most recent was on December 2, which raised £520 on its own. Our next Pole for Purpose event is planned for Halloween time.

After my last competition performance in September I decided to retire from competitions and start instructing others.

So I am now a fully insured pole dance instructor too. I teach at Butterfly Fitness Studio working with the other instructors there, Eve and Gemma. We all have different specialisms, meaning we are a fantastic team to work with students, encouraging them to achieve what they want.

My speciality is performance and putting on a show. Being bigger means I can support other larger women with pole dancing and show that you don’t have to be a size zero to be good at, or enjoy, pole dancing.

I would seriously recommend it to anyone who wants to try something new to get fit.