Interview with Justine McLucas

1. How and did you first get interested in pole dancing and what made you become an instructor?
A friend of mine took me along to a Pole Dance class at a gym in London about 4 years ago... the instructor was an ex-ballerina the same as me so I was like "I can do that!!" The grace coupled with power and strength really inspired me to start up.. and just a few months into it the instructor asked me teach for her... I opened my own school after a couple of years of poling so I could make it my full time career - pole just became the centre of my life and I wanted to do it every day and help others find the same drive and passion as I did from it.

2. What is it about pole dancing that you enjoy the most?
The intense skill required to make a trick or combination of tricks look easy and fluid.. such a challenge but so rewarding. When I perform, I feel this amazing fire inside me to show everyone how free on the pole I feel and how much I love it... I hope that comes through and that they fall in love with this art too..

3. What are your 3 favourite pole moves?
Downsplits (no hands)
The Phoenix
Ballerina (Felix's original version!!)

4. What are the main fitness benefits of pole dancing?
Upper body strength and toning of your arms in particular, also legs and extreme ab control!! It really gives you a lot of confidence and encourages a healthy body and mind combined.

5. If someone has never tried pole dancing before how to they get started?
Always get a really highly quality dance pole like an X-Pole if you want to do it from home. Be safe and follow the instructions and and any instructional DVD very carefully. It's also a good idea to go try a taster class at a reputable school near you - and check out the qualifications of the instructor you are going to see.

6. What’s next for you in the coming year?
This is an exciting year for me – I’m involved in a new beginner pole fitness DVD called Pole Motion, which aims to promote pole fitness to a wider audience and show the benefits of pole dancing as it works the whole body. It features really detailed instruction so anyone can start pole in their own home and offers some great features like the tone up section on the pole to really show all the features and uses for the pole as a way to get healthy and active. I’m also going to be touring alot this year. I’m off to the Pole Convention in America with X-Pole UK in June, I am judging for UK Amateur Pole Performer 2011 and will also be show casing in my home Australia at the X-Pole International show in Sydney in July. I’m teaching workshops across the UK and Ireland – so much going on – some top secret things too that will be amazing– but we’ll keep you posted on those ;)

You can see a clip of Justine in action on Alan Titchmarch's TV show here

Find out more about Justine and Ecole de pole here