Instructor Spotlight: Tania REM

Get ready to bring the heat with dynamic moves, daring tricks, and a whole lot of attitude! We're beyond excited to welcome Tania Rem to The Brass Barre family as our latest guest instructor. (Tania’s Instagram)

You might've caught a glimpse of Tania in our Term 5 announcement, but trust us, there's so much more to this pole powerhouse. For over 10 years, Tania has been shaping her own unique style and honing her technique in the world of pole dancing. While many of us were figuring out adulting at 21, Tania was beginning to chase her teenage dream of becoming a pole dancer.

“The idea of pole dancing came to mind when I was 16 but I didn’t pursue it initially, afraid of the disapproval of my parents and boyfriend. But at 21, I started with pole sports and learned tricks on a spinning pole — Russian split, flags, stands, and more. After 3-4 months, I performed for the first time at our city's exotic sports competitions and even placed second.”

But Tania's story was just warming up. When her coach moved to China, she stepped into teaching, balancing classes at multiple studios while honing her skills through online resources. Today, Tania isn’t just excelling – she's the founder and creative force behind REM Dance and Acrobatic School and REM Stuff dancewear.

Ready to elevate your exo skills? Tania’s high-energy classes merge strength with a dynamic, confident spirit. Whether you’re refining your exo pole techniques or pushing your advanced skills further, prepare to build your stamina and challenge your limits.

Shaping the REM style 

Tania's REM style is a captivating blend of spectacular stunts, bold attitude, and hip-hop influences, developed through years of dedication and hard work. Largely self-taught, Tania embraced a diverse range of inspirations. 

“I was well-read, used all the materials available on the internet, and studied and trained a lot,” she shares. “I was looking for different movement styles, and followed dancers beyond just the pole dance community. Even though I’m not constantly involved in other styles, I take note of everything interesting I see and adapt it to my body’s capabilities. It’s not about blindly copying the dancer/trainer; I learned to independently analyse and understand the techniques behind acrobatic and dance elements.”

Her choreographies are born from exploration, play, and music. “I usually start with improvisation (freestyle) to the track I want and always record it on video to look for interesting moves afterward. Sometimes, I begin choreographing because of a particular sound or moment in the track that I want to highlight.

Once I have a framework, I refine it and add nuances based on the musicality. Everything is a result of searching and playing. Most often, I discover something new through improvisation, by reworking my old transitions and tricks, or by reinterpreting what I’ve seen on Instagram.”

Insights from an exo pro

Tania’s dedication to pole dancing has led her through numerous exo competitions and championships, including ZODIAC, Russia’s largest annual exotic championships. So, what makes a phenomenal exo dancer? 

“It’s about individuality, charisma, and technique — qualities that are always visible. Individuality isn’t just about external appearance; it encompasses dance vocabulary, unique movements, transitions, tricks, and gestures. These elements are discovered through experimentation and practice. It requires a lot of work in the studio, participation in shows, battles, jams, and keen observation."

On her approach to teaching

Don't let Tania's cool exterior or impressive tricks intimidate you. She values building friendships with her students outside the studio, believing it fosters a positive environment. However, she adds with a smile, "when it comes to training, I always remember who's the mommy! 😁"

"During training, I’m not always strict; it depends on the day. Sometimes I push harder, and other times I’m more relaxed. However, I always expect my students to show interest, initiative, and effort in their own development. If I notice that they’ve become too relaxed, I remind them of our purpose. Training is for working hard — this is the rule. 

I don’t ‘coddle’ my students or feel that I should force them to work on themselves. Instead, I focus on encouragement, providing support, and sharing my knowledge. I offer the material, share energy, inspire, and explain techniques and nuances. How a student chooses to use this guidance is up to them; we are all adults. If I see genuine interest and effort, I’ll help with their development. If not, I’ll discuss it, but if there’s no progress, I won’t force them to continue. I prefer to work with those who are motivated and eager to improve.”

Don’t miss the chance to train with Tania Rem. Limited slots are available for her EXO floorwork, tricks, and choreography classes — sign up via our booking app today! For more information, drop us a message on our Contact Us page.

Instructor spotlight: TATI BLUE

Launching Term 1 of 2024 with a slinky start, we're delighted to announce Tati Blue as our special guest instructor at The Brass Barre. Not only is Tati the triumphant winner of Exo Gen 23 Group, but she also secured an impressive 3rd place in the recent Exo Gen France 23. As one of the leading instructors in the Indi Pole Dance community, Tati is celebrated for her exceptional finesse in Edgework, bringing a one-of-a-kind flair to pole dancing with her deliberate accents of flexed feet and daring sickling.

While sickled and flexed feet might sound like a departure from the familiar echoes of “point your toes!” resonating within the studio, Tati playfully shares, “it always feels like I was breaking the rules of ‘pointing toes’, but I enjoyed breaking some rules here and there for expression and creativity.”

Edgework, as she elaborates, is a creative exploration of utilising all sides and edges of our platform heels as an expressive element, and can be incredibly helpful in improving heel technique. It allows for a more comprehensive range of ankle positioning which in turn improves ankle flexibility, stability, balance, and control in heel work, so dancers can trace, slide, skate, and glide over the floor using different methods for an added layer of slink and flow.

“By actively using the shoe and bringing it as an extra element into focus, this complex technique requires the dancers to focus on the different shapes and ways they can use their heels, exploring new ways of movement.”

Embarking on her pole dancing journey

Tati’s pole dancing journey began in November 2014, after relocating to Berlin. Drawing on her extensive background as a gymnastics instructor, she quickly transitioned to a teaching role within six months.

Initially drawn to pole dance for its physical exercises and how it seamlessly intertwined with dance movements, Tati's fascination deepened as she delved into the roots of pole dancing and explored the intricate world of strip culture.

“I discovered that incorporating Edgework and highlighting the shoes while dancing comes from strip culture and clubs, and I love how dancers use this technique to highlight the shoes and the roots of dancing with heels.”

Exploring the intricacies of Edgework

Drawing inspiration from her background in contemporary dance and classes from unique and diverse dancers and strippers, Tati created her first class introducing the topic of Edgework in 2020.

“Contemporary dance has been an excellent tool for me to follow my natural body movement and stop thinking about everything else while being in the moment. Using flexed feet or foot positions in contemporary dance has always felt like a style element, and I have always enjoyed incorporating it into my performances.”

But Edgework, for Tati, goes beyond the stylistic accents of sickling and flexing feet. While these elements come naturally — “it was always a challenge to point my feet in a correct gymnastic way” — nailing Edgework involves understanding how to dance safely on heels and allowing oneself to play with different positions for new pathways.

“It takes time and repetition, and Edgework has different shapes and ways of exploring it. Depending on how deeply you want to dive into it, it has many aspects to focus on. It’s all about weight transfers; ankle and leg strength and flexibility; hip rotations and movements; upper body strength; exploratory and artistry.

I love seeing my feet not just as apparatus but also seeing my heels and how they move in them as creations. It adds a unique touch to my performances. Also, Edgework comes together with Slink for me and in my style. I want to incorporate the heels into the rest of my body movements as a sensual exploration of flow.”

Exploration, details, and repetition

These three elements intricately shape Tati’s style of pole dancing.

“Take the time to appreciate the beauty of each movement and explore it in different ways. I like to spend time on single movements a lot. For example, I can spend an hour just exploring body waves.  

By focusing on single movements again and again and understanding the beauty behind them, you can explore ways to make them your own instead of simply copying what others are doing, and take your dance skills to the next level. 

Experiment with different hand and arm movements, spinal and head movements, and vary levels, volumes, and pace. It’s also good to try out different dance styles and be open to new things, even if you think you won’t like it.”

Beyond these tips, Tati also provides tools and guidance via prompts in her classes to help students explore and challenge their movement pathways. Give her favourite prompts a try the next time you’re practising in the studio:

“Slow Down!

Freeze!

Close your eyes and feel, hear, smell & taste.”

Don’t miss the chance to sign up for Tati’s signature classes, Dancing on Edges (Open & Adv), Slink & Slither (Basic), and Low Flow (Open) in Term 1 2024. Private lessons and single class drop-ins are also available. Sign up via our booking app. For more information, drop us a message on our Contact Us page.

Instructor Spotlight - SASHA MEOW

This term, we are thrilled to welcome Sasha Meow as a guest instructor at The Brass Barre. Sasha is a true powerhouse in the pole dancing community, known for her magnetic personality and dynamic dance style. With her burst of charisma and infectious energy, she creates a vibrant atmosphere in every class, leaving her students inspired and energised.

Her classes go beyond just learning the moves; they are a celebration of the process, filled with laughter and enthusiasm. In fact, her coaching and cheering are so spirited that she even lost her voice after just one week of teaching. In this exclusive feature, we delve into Sasha's pole dancing journey and discover how she uncovered and developed her unique and distinct style.

Embarking on her pole dancing journey

Sasha's story begins after she bid farewell to her years of gymnastics. "I did gymnastics for 15 years but quit at 18. I didn't do much for a while, but eventually realised my body needed movement, so my search for dance studios began," Sasha shares. Her love for classical choreography in gymnastics led her to explore dance classes where she could continue expressing herself through movement and routines.

During this exploration, Sasha stumbled upon pole dancing, but due to the high price points of pole dancing classes, she opted for strip plastic as a substitute. Despite feeling out of place at first, her body quickly adapted to the new movement patterns, surprising even herself. "I felt very uncomfortable in class. I was shy — because I knew my body was used to a completely different movement pattern — kind of awkward, and clumsy. But to my surprise, my body adapted quickly, and within half a year, I became bored and uninspired by the dance team," she reveals.

Then one fateful day, a friend shared news of a newly opened pole dance studio in Riga, Latvia, that caught Sasha's attention. Without hesitation, she contacted the director, arranged her first lesson, and from that moment on, pole dancing became what makes her happy and what she finds purpose in.

Discovering her style

When it comes to her distinctive style of pole dancing, Sasha's journey of self-discovery took time. As a pioneer in her city's emerging pole dancing scene, she quickly transitioned to teaching. "Back then, exotic was also just developing, and I was looking for any information that would help me and provide me with tools," she explains. "I explored videos, attempted to replicate moves, attended classes in Russia, and took private classes from others who inspired me, among whom was Daria Che."

While Sasha initially focused on mastering tricks on the pole, she soon realised that dancing brought her far greater joy. "At some point, I caught myself feeling that tricks don't bring me as much pleasure as dancing," Sasha shares. "When dancing, I feel especially beautiful and sexy. I just did what was comfortable to me and moved the way my body asked me to."

Sasha's dance style is largely fueled by her emotional state and music. "Whatever I'm feeling, I can always express it through dance," she says. "I am a very emotional person, and music affects my mood. When a song resonates with my deepest emotions, the choreography that accompanies it becomes incredibly special to me too. It flows effortlessly, and whenever I revisit it, I am transported back to that state."

Her way of choreographing also reflects her dynamic nature and the connection she shares with her students. "I usually choreograph in the moment. I like to be present and connected with the group," Sasha reveals. "The most challenging part for me is preparing in advance. Sometimes, if the chosen song seems difficult or doesn't align with my current state, I would head into the studio earlier to sketch out a rough draft of about 8 counts. This helps me plan the movements and direction, and I continue to develop it further with the group in class. This approach is primarily how I work with Dynamic choreos — the flow comes more naturally to me, and I rely less on thinking and more on following my instincts and emotions when I move."

Exploring flow in dancing

But the real magic of it all lies in the flow, an essential element in Sasha's style that brings it all together. "Flow is very special to me. It is my meditation. It is my ability to be soft, gentle, and sensual," she explains. "It's like an alter ego for me because I'm completely different in real life. To me, flow is the connection between my body and soul. It is the ability to slow down, observe, experiment, and enjoy the possibilities of your body."

Her advice on how to work on flow? "Move! Observe yourself, experiment, film, explore your videos and improvisations. Listen to your body. Learning movement is like learning a new language in this case — body language. The body will always tell you if you listen. Visualise, play with shapes, and don't be afraid to be different. This is the essence of your style. You are a person, you are you!!! Your style is an expression of your personality. It reflects what you have discovered within yourself, and can share with others through your body."

On dancing

"Dancing should be fun," she reaffirms, "enjoy the process, not the results. Appreciate what you can do at the moment, and praise yourself!" As an instructor, Sasha pays close attention to the emotional state and technique of her students. "The emotional state of my students and their technique of performance are important to me. It is very important for me that we prioritize understanding each other, then the whole process will be beneficial and free of tension."

When it comes to her current pole goals, Sasha's perspective aligns with the significance of embracing the process. She explains, "I think I've reached a point where my focus as a dancer has shifted, and as a result, I no longer set specific goals. Instead, my emphasis is on sharing my knowledge, personal experiences, and stories with others. I remember the challenges I faced without proper guidance when I started, and now I am eager to provide that for others."

Private lessons (co-ed bookings are welcome!) and single class drop-ins with Sasha Meow are still available on our booking app. For more information, drop us a message on our Contact Us page.

By Gladys G.