Interview with Catherine George - UKAPP Newbury Heat Winner 2013

After the success of the recent UK Amateur Pole Performer (UKAPP)  heat in Newbury, we talk to one of the winners Catherine George...



1.You recently won the intermediate category at the UKAPP Newbury Heat. How do you feel being a winner and what made you enter UKAPP over any other competition?

It's such an amazing feeling I'm still buzzing from the experience and cannot wait to do it all again for the finals! I entered UKAPP as recommended by my amazing pole instructor Jo Dandridge with it being one the biggest amateur competitions me and a few of the other girls entered the Newbury heat and between us left with 1st place in performer category 1st intermediate category 1st expert category 1st doubles and also the wild card! Could not be prouder of my pole friends at the fitness hangout.




2.How and did you first get interested in pole dancing?
A few people I knew gave it a go and loved it so being a lover of all things fitness and dance I thought why not give it a go. I trained with someone local to my work for a few months then once Jo opened the fitness hangout I travelled there to train. Now nearly two years training there I am stronger than I have even been and winning my first pole comp :)

3.What is it about pole dancing that you enjoy the most?
It has to be the challenge of learning a knew move and the excited feeling you get when you finally nail it and of course everyone in the classes knows that feeling so well that you can just high five everyone!


4.What are the main fitness benefits of pole dancing and how have pole dancing improved your fitness, strength or body shape?
Pole is one of the few things that I have found that challenges your body to the extremes. I am the strongest I have ever been, most flexible and my pain barrier has increased.

5.Has pole dancing had an impact on anything else in your life such as giving your more confidence or making new friends?
The friends you make in pole dancing are for life everyone is so encouraging and pushes you through to nail each move. I would definitely say pole gives you more confidence especially in yourself I remember when I first started it was long shorts and long tops now its sports bras and pole pants


6.What are your 3 favourite pole moves and why?
Of static poses it has to be a butterfly as it always looks like a difficult move and you can make it look really graceful; superman as once I got through the pain of it it opens up so many new moves such as titanic which is another new love of mine.  My favourite spins are the drag and fly and reverse grab as you can really throw yourself into them

7.What are your favourite strength training moves on the pole and why?
Shoulder mount from sitting on the floor as even though I'm not a fan of a shoulder mount as it scares me it does wonders for your core and arms and then straight leg inverts which just seems to work everything (well on me anyway).

8.Where would you like to see pole dancing in the future?
I suppose just becoming more and more popular in the public eye I had no idea how big the pole community was until I got involved and making it onto tv program's and even the Olympics will make even bigger.


9.What pole performers do you admire or inspire you?
It's hard to name just a few as I have so many! If I had to choice it would have to be Sarah Scott for her incredible strength, Michelle shimmy for her sexy, strong and flexi performances and bendy Kate for her ability to ignore gravity and of course Jenyne butterfly who is such a beautiful performer!

10.What would you say to someone who is thinking of trying pole dancing for the first time to convince them to give it a go?
Just do it! Pole dancing has helped to remove the can't from fitness as you will love it so much you will try pretty much any move at least once 

11.Three words that sum up pole dancing for you.
Strong, sexy and flexi