Courage to Fly

Artist's Statement:

Doing Pole workouts changed my experience with fitness by learning the
condition exercises were aligned to calisthenics. At a specific moment, I recall
standing beside the pole, wearing little-to-nothing, looking in the mirror and
having the realization that the pole accepts you at any shape, stage, and form. In
other words, the moment I allowed myself mercy and forgiveness, I felt self-love.
In accepting where I was at physically, I knew mentally and intuitively that this
was not where I was staying. And that was the moment I felt the transformation
and magic of Pole Dancing.

This pole routine is sharing the story of shedding old wings to make space
for new ones, so as to soar higher than ever before. It was inspired from my
experience in attending my first WFG Convention in Vegas alongside a crowd
of 30 000+ people. Members were invited to share their stories of overcoming
challenges and adversities. I was deeply inspired as I felt the stream of tears roll
down my cheeks. This inspired the intro monologue of my pole routine, “And in
that moment, perhaps I was mourning the person I thought I should be, to make
space for the person I was becoming. After all, what good are wings, without the
courage to fly."

My mental health has been attributed to this experience in finding an activity
that has become a part of my lifestyle. It continues to be a challenge and I
believe that every challenge has an equal opportunity. Putting myself in an
environment that is going to help me grow paired with the circle of influence I
choose to surround myself with and has allowed me to tap into courage within
myself: the courage to fly.

1st place winner \\ “Pole Sport Organization” competition
(Coach: Elspeth Cudmore \\ Studio: Redefine Fit)

Wing Reveal
Materials:
Dye sublimation process used to create the wings and ribbons,
pleather, synthetic feathers
Medium:
Fashion Design