Explore every episode of the podcast The Pole Dance Performer
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Why Your Routine Isn't Landing (And It Has Nothing To Do With Your Tricks) | 26 Mar 2026 | 00:05:30 | |
Why Your Routine Isn't Landing (And It Has Nothing To Do With Your Tricks) If you've ever walked offstage feeling like something didn't land — or you keep freezing every time you sit down to choreograph — this episode is for you. The hard truth? It's not your tricks. It was never your tricks. A routine that moves people isn't built on what you can do. It's built on why you're doing it. That's the concept. And without one, even the most technically impressive routine can feel like a laundry list of moves. In this episode Sergia breaks down the 4-step framework behind every compelling pole performance: Clarity — defining your concept, the heartbeat of your routineStructure — mapping your music so you stop guessing what goes whereConfidence — building anchors and character moments that hold your piece togetherCohesion — assembling, refining, and polishing into something that actually lives and breathes Your routine doesn't stand out because you're dancing better, stronger, harder, and faster than everyone else. It stands out because you've done the homework. --- Note: Pole dance was created by skrippers and sex workers. Full stop. They built this art form from the ground up — the studios, the moves, the culture, all of it. I would not be here without them. I honor that history and I stand in solidarity with sex workers and their rights. Always. --- LINKS MENTIONED:
poledancefoundations.com/compellingroutines
poledancefoundations.com/poleartistmentorship
poledancefoundations.com/routinemap | |||
| 3. Who Really Built Pole Dance | 02 Apr 2026 | 00:18:34 | |
In this episode Sergia shares the history of where pole dance actually comes from — and why honoring that history is every pole dancer's responsibility. You'll walk away with: A mini history lesson on the real origins of pole dance — from carnival tents to strip clubs to the first pole studios The names of the pioneers who built this art form and deserve to be remembered What whorephobia is, why hashtag NotAStripper caused and causes real harm, and what to do instead LINKS MENTIONED: Yes, A Stripper Podcast / YAS Podcast The Black Sex Worker Collective | |||
| 2. How to Map Your Music Before You Choreograph a Single Move | 02 Apr 2026 | 00:05:13 | |
LINKS MENTIONED:
poledancefoundations.com/compellingroutines
poledancefoundations.com/poleartistmentorship
poledancefoundations.com/routinemap Follow Sergia: @sergialouise on Instagram --- In this episode, Sergia breaks down the one step most dancers skip that makes choreography feel chaotic — and how fixing it changes everything. You'll walk away with:
--- Note: Pole dance was created by skrippers and sex workers. Full stop. They built this art form from the ground up — the studios, the moves, the culture, all of it. I would not be here without them. I honor that history and I stand in solidarity with sex workers and their rights. Always. | |||
| 4. The Tiny Gestures That Make an Audience Feel Everything | 09 Apr 2026 | 00:04:48 | |
LINKS MENTIONED:
poledancefoundations.com/compellingroutines
poledancefoundations.com/poleartistmentorship
poledancefoundations.com/routinemap Follow Sergia: @sergialouise on Instagram -- In this episode, Sergia breaks down why small, intentional gestures are one of the most powerful performance tools you're probably not using. You'll walk away with:
--- Note: Pole dance was created by skrippers and sex workers. Full stop. They built this art form from the ground up — the studios, the moves, the culture, all of it. I would not be here without them. I honor that history and I stand in solidarity with sex workers and their rights. Always. | |||
| 5. Why You Freeze When You Try to Choreograph (And What to Do Instead) | 16 Apr 2026 | 00:06:04 | |
LINKS MENTIONED:
poledancefoundations.com/compellingroutines
poledancefoundations.com/poleartistmentorship
poledancefoundations.com/routinemap Follow Sergia: @sergialouise on Instagram --- In this episode, Sergia breaks down why choreographer's freeze has nothing to do with creativity — and the simple systems fix that gets you moving again. You'll walk away with:
--- Note: Pole dance was created by skrippers and sex workers. Full stop. They built this art form from the ground up — the studios, the moves, the culture, all of it. I would not be here without them. I honor that history and I stand in solidarity with sex workers and their rights. Always. | |||
| 6. The One Thing That Makes or Breaks a Pole Performance (That Has Nothing to Do With Pole) | 23 Apr 2026 | 00:06:23 | |
LINKS MENTIONED:
poledancefoundations.com/compellingroutines
poledancefoundations.com/poleartistmentorship
poledancefoundations.com/routinemap Follow Sergia: @sergialouise on Instagram --- In this episode, Sergia breaks down why concept is the single most important ingredient in any pole performance — and what's actually missing when a routine doesn't land. You'll walk away with:
--- Note: Pole dance was created by skrippers and sex workers. Full stop. They built this art form from the ground up — the studios, the moves, the culture, all of it. I would not be here without them. I honor that history and I stand in solidarity with sex workers and their rights. Always. | |||
| 10. The Quote That Changed Everything for Me | 21 May 2026 | 00:11:59 | |
LINKS MENTIONED: Free Masterclass: Compelling Pole Routines poledancefoundations.com/compellingroutines Free Training: The Choreography Code poledancefoundations.com/poleartistmentorship Create Your Routine with Sergia 1:1 poledancefoundations.com/routinemap Follow Sergia: @sergialouise on Instagram --- In this episode Sergia shares the Martha Graham quote she taped to her bedroom wall at sixteen — and why it might be exactly what you need to hear right now. You'll walk away with:-Why comparing your work to someone else's is not just painful — it's beside the point-How performing for approval keeps you from making work that's actually yours-Why you don't have to feel ready or confident to keep the channel open —Note: Pole dance was created by skrippers and sex workers. Full stop. They built this art form from the ground up — the studios, the moves, the culture, all of it. I would not be here without them. I honor that history and I stand in solidarity with sex workers and their rights. Always. | |||
| 9. Your Spinning Pole Is a Storytelling Tool (Here's How to Use It) | 14 May 2026 | 00:07:07 | |
LINKS MENTIONED:
--- In this episode Sergia breaks down why your spinning pole is one of the most powerful storytelling tools you have — and how to use it intentionally. You'll walk away with: -Why where you put your spin pass is a storytelling decision, not just a technical one-The difference between what belongs on static versus spin — and why it matters-How to make sure your spin pass is earned so the escalation actually lands —Note: Pole dance was created by skrippers and sex workers. Full stop. They built this art form from the ground up — the studios, the moves, the culture, all of it. I would not be here without them. I honor that history and I stand in solidarity with sex workers and their rights. Always. | |||
| 8. Stage Fright Is Lying to You | 07 May 2026 | 00:06:00 | |
LINKS MENTIONED:
poledancefoundations.com/compellingroutines
poledancefoundations.com/poleartistmentorship
poledancefoundations.com/routinemap Follow Sergia: @sergialouise on Instagram --- In this episode Sergia breaks down what's actually happening in your body on performance day — and why the voice telling you to run is lying. You'll walk away with:
—Note: Pole dance was created by skrippers and sex workers. Full stop. They built this art form from the ground up — the studios, the moves, the culture, all of it. I would not be here without them. I honor that history and I stand in solidarity with sex workers and their rights. Always.— | |||
| 7. Props: When to Use Them, When to Ditch Them | 30 Apr 2026 | 00:05:10 | |
LINKS MENTIONED:
poledancefoundations.com/compellingroutines
poledancefoundations.com/poleartistmentorship
poledancefoundations.com/routinemap Follow Sergia: @sergialouise on Instagram --- In this episode Sergia breaks down exactly when a prop earns its place on stage — and when it's just a distraction. You'll walk away with: The one question to ask before you ever bring a prop to a performance The four rules every prop must follow to actually serve your routine How to know if your prop is helping your story or splitting your focus — Note: Pole dance was created by skrippers and sex workers. Full stop. They built this art form from the ground up — the studios, the moves, the culture, all of it. I would not be here without them. I honor that history and I stand in solidarity with sex workers and their rights. Always. | |||
| 14. Two Exercises That Will Change How You Choreograph to Music (Musicality Series 4/4) | 18 Jun 2026 | 00:12:14 | |
Join me June 24-27 for the Free Choreo Cookout Challenge: Heels Edition | |||
| 13. Music Has Layers. Here's How to Use Them. (Musicality Series 3/4) | 11 Jun 2026 | 00:10:04 | |
Join me for the Chore Cookout Heels Edition Free Challenge June 24-27 | |||
| 12. If You Hear It, It Exists (Musicality Series 2/4) | 04 Jun 2026 | 00:08:07 | |
Join me for the Free Choreo Cookout: Heels Edition Challenge June 24-28 Register here | |||
| 11. Musicality Isn't What You Think It Is (Musicality Series 1/4) | 28 May 2026 | 00:08:47 | |
Join me for the Free Choreo Cookout: Heels Edition Challenge June 24-28 Register here | |||
| 15. Stage Presence Isn't a Vibe. It's Built in Moments (Stage Presence Series 1/4) | 25 Jun 2026 | 00:10:13 | |
LINKS MENTIONED: Free Masterclass: Compelling Pole Routinespoledancefoundations.com/compellingroutines Free Training: The Choreography Codepoledancefoundations.com/poleartistmentorship Create Your Routine with Sergia 1:1poledancefoundations.com/routinemap Follow Sergia: @sergialouise on Instagram --- In this episode Sergia breaks down why "you need better stage presence" is one of the most useless notes in pole — and what stage presence actually is and how to build it. You'll walk away with:Why stage presence is not a general feeling you dial up — it's built in specific momentsWhat subtext and action mean in pole performance and how to find them in your own routineWhy smiling more and making bigger eye contact might actually be working against you —Note: Pole dance was created by skrippers and sex workers. Full stop. They built this art form from the ground up — the studios, the moves, the culture, all of it. I would not be here without them. I honor that history and I stand in solidarity with sex workers and their rights. Always. | |||
| 18. Your Entrance and Your Bow Are Part of the Routine. The Stage Presence Series — Part 4 | 16 Jul 2026 | 00:12:33 | |
LINKS MENTIONED: Free Masterclass: Compelling Pole Routines poledancefoundations.com/compellingroutines Free Training: The Choreography Code poledancefoundations.com/poleartistmentorship Create Your Routine with Sergia 1:1 poledancefoundations.com/routinemap Follow Sergia: @sergialouise on Instagram --- The Routine Starts Before the Music Does. This is the final episode of the Stage Presence Series, and I saved my favorite for last. Most dancers treat their entrance as the walk to the pole before the real thing starts. And the bow? Something to get through after it ends. Both of those assumptions are costing you. Your audience starts forming an opinion the second you step into the light. Before the first note plays. Before your first move. And that opinion? It shapes how they receive everything that follows. If you walk out without intention, you've already made a choice. You've just made it accidentally. The same is true for the bow. What your character does after the last note fades is still part of the performance. Don't let the routine bleed out awkwardly. Today I get specific on how to choreograph both, how to stay in character from wing to wing, and why the moments everyone forgets are often the ones that hit hardest. | |||
| 17. Write a Script for Your Routine (No One Else Has to See It)" The Stage Presence Series — Part 3 | 09 Jul 2026 | 00:07:56 | |
LINKS MENTIONED: Free Masterclass: Compelling Pole Routines poledancefoundations.com/compellingroutines Free Training: The Choreography Code poledancefoundations.com/poleartistmentorship Create Your Routine with Sergia 1:1 poledancefoundations.com/routinemap Follow Sergia: @sergialouise on Instagram --- Your Character Is Always Saying Something. Do You Know What It Is? Here's a thing I want you to try: write a script for your routine. Not choreography notes. Not a song map. An actual script — what your character is saying in every single moment, even though the audience will never hear a word of it. I know. It sounds a little ridiculous. Stay with me. This comes from actor training, and it's one of the most powerful performance tools I know. You cannot play an emotion on command. But you can play an action. And when your character has something specific to say in each moment, your body figures out the rest automatically. Your face knows what to do. Your eyes know where to go. Your gestures get specific instead of decorative. I walk you through how to actually write the script, share a real example from a student's assassin routine (yes, it sounds absurd, yes it works), and explain why nobody has to see this document except you. | |||
| 16. Don't Worry About Stage Presence. Choreograph It In. The Stage Presence Series — Part 2 | 02 Jul 2026 | 00:06:16 | |
LINKS MENTIONED: Free Masterclass: Compelling Pole Routines poledancefoundations.com/compellingroutines Free Training: The Choreography Code poledancefoundations.com/poleartistmentorship Create Your Routine with Sergia 1:1 poledancefoundations.com/routinemap Follow Sergia: @sergialouise on Instagram --- Stage Presence Isn't Something You Feel. It's Something You Build. In Part 1, I went on a rant about the note "you need better stage presence" and why it's one of the most useless pieces of feedback in pole. Today I'm giving you the actual answer. Don't try to conjure up stage presence before you walk onstage. Don't dial up your intensity or make bigger eye contact. Instead: choreograph it in. Stage presence is the result of specific decisions made during the choreographic process, not in the performance moment. And the most foundational of those decisions is focus. Not vague, general, out-into-the-audience focus. Specific, intentional, character-driven focus. In every moment of your routine, where are your eyes? What is your character looking at? Why? Most dancers haven't answered those questions. And that unanswered question is what an audience perceives as lack of presence. We also talk about subtext, actions, and what's actually happening when a routine feels magnetic versus hollow. --- | |||
| 19. From Concept to Stage 1/4: DEFINE | 23 Jul 2026 | 00:07:22 | |
LINKS MENTIONED: Free Masterclass: Compelling Pole Routines poledancefoundations.com/compellingroutines Free Training: The Choreography Code poledancefoundations.com/poleartistmentorship Create Your Routine with Sergia 1:1 poledancefoundations.com/routinemap | |||
| 22. From Concept to Stage 4/4: REFINE | 13 Aug 2026 | 00:06:57 | |
LINKS MENTIONED: Free Masterclass: Compelling Pole Routines poledancefoundations.com/compellingroutines Free Training: The Choreography Code poledancefoundations.com/poleartistmentorship Create Your Routine with Sergia 1:1 poledancefoundations.com/routinemap | |||
| 21. From Concept to Stage 3/4: EMBODY | 06 Aug 2026 | 00:13:49 | |
LINKS MENTIONED: Free Masterclass: Compelling Pole Routines poledancefoundations.com/compellingroutines Free Training: The Choreography Code poledancefoundations.com/poleartistmentorship Create Your Routine with Sergia 1:1 poledancefoundations.com/routinemap | |||
| 20. From Concept to Stage 2/4: MAP | 30 Jul 2026 | 00:14:22 | |
LINKS MENTIONED: Free Masterclass: Compelling Pole Routines poledancefoundations.com/compellingroutines Free Training: The Choreography Code poledancefoundations.com/poleartistmentorship Create Your Routine with Sergia 1:1 poledancefoundations.com/routinemap | |||