Forget any preconceived ideas you had about pole dancing being associated with stripping. Pole dancing, lyra and silks are becoming mainstream thanks to performances like Pink’s stunning ‘Glitter In the Air’ at the 2010 Grammy Awards show. In 2021, her 10-year-old daughter Willow Sage joined her in silks on stage at the Billboard Music Awards, performing ‘Cover Me in Sunshine’. Then there’s the likes of pole dancer Kristy Sellars who wowed judges on Australia’s Got Talent and America’s Got Talent. The strength and flexibility required to master these disciplines is no mean feat.
It’s why music teacher and singer Toni Jordan decided to buy and revamp the pole and aerial fitness studio where she exercised. “The studio had been in Bundaberg for about 12 years, as Bella Bliss and Raven Dance,” Toni said. “I really loved working out there – it opened my mind to different ways to get fit.”
Toni renamed the Bundaberg CBD studio, The Neon Loft, gave the space a bright, modern facelift and introduced some new activities. “My fantastic team and I added spin pole and heels dance and chair classes to our already exciting class offerings. We also continued lyra, silks, static pole, burlesque, stretch & flex and Neon Kids classes,” she said. “We want it to be a space where people of all ages and sizes feel comfortable, and can be part of a community that is supportive physically, mentally and emotionally. Our youngest student is five-years-old and our eldest is 74. All our exercises can be modified to suit individual capabilities.”
The Neon Loft offers group classes, private lessons and practice sessions, from beginners to professionals. It’s also a great space for private functions, like birthdays and hen’s parties. Buy pole equipment for your home or some Neon Loft merchandise. “At the end of the day, everything we do here is about having fun, femininity, confidence and strength, because strong is sexy. Aerial and pole fitness are whole of body workouts,” Toni said.
Be bold