THE ART OF POLE DANCING
Harley is a well-versed and passionate dance instructor whose love for dance has grown into a life-changing career. She graduated from the School of the Arts in Newark, New Jersey, and attained her college degrees thereafter. Harley has been an artist her entire life. She spent her earlier years attending and singing at the 1st performing arts high school in the nation while touring with Garden State Ballet.
Artistry and dance have always been essential in her life. Her zeal for the arts led her to try her first pole dancing lesson in college. That was the moment she began falling in love with the craft. Harley applied the same dedication and passion that was already instilled in her and began to study and take pole dancing lessons regularly. She enjoyed pole so much that she became interested in teaching it.
Harley’s skills grew impressively as a dancer. She began teaching pole dancing, chair dancing, and twerk. It was important when she started this journey, and it is still essential for Harley to diversify her repertoire. This type of range not only benefits Harley, but those advantages are particularly beneficial to you, the student.
After being a pole dancing instructor for several years with one of the biggest pole dancing studios in the greater Philadelphia area, Harley made the decision to create Re-Thick-U-Lust out of the enjoyment felt in assisting in the growth of her plus size pole dancing students.
Re-Thick-U-Lust is meant to teach the art of Pole dancing at a comfortable pace while being in the presence of similar and like-minded women. Re-Thick-U-Lust is changing the pole industry standards. It aims to rid the pole dancing community of it’s ideal and model body shape image and motivate women of all sizes into becoming their best selves.
Currently, Harley not only takes every free moment but carves out additional time to train, teach and help her students. She is dedicated to helping you achieve your goals and grow to the best of your ability – all while having fun and instilling fitness into your everyday life.
QSM: Please share your story on how and why you got into pole dancing.
Harley: While in college, my suite mate’s mother invited her and I to a pole party in Washington DC. A pole party is when you and your friends decide to take a private pole dancing class together. I was 20 years old at the time, and like any other young woman the thought and jokes of being an exotic dancer to pay my college tuition crossed my mind. It could be an easy way to make money, right? Wrong! I touched the pole and could not do a single thing but stand next to it. I mean, I could barely hold myself an inch off the floor but, I absolutely loved it. So, I put away my dreams of swimming in dollar bills and kept studying Forensic Psychology with a minor in Criminology. After I graduated college and moved back home, I wanted to continue my pole journey and found classes in Newark, NJ. When I entered the studio, it was like nothing I had ever seen before. The women were swinging around the pole 12ft up in the air. I thought to myself, there’s no way I would ever be able to do that. As weeks went on, I became familiar with the pole and grew stronger. Unfortunately, before the month was finished, in a twist of fate I tore my lateral meniscus in half. I thought I ended my pole dancing exploration before it had even started.
While recovering from my injury, all I could think about was pole dancing again. At that moment, I knew that I was bit by the pole dancing bug. The moment I was cleared for physical activity, I went right back to pole dancing. I couldn’t explain it, pole dancing was so much of a fun workout. That year my New Year resolution was to master pole dancing.
QSM: And at what point did you begin instructing
Harley: I moved to Delaware. I found myself jumping from studio to studio because they kept shutting down. I started looking for classes in Philadelphia and came across an ad for an instructor. By this time, I was confident in the knowledge that I had acquired. I thought teaching pole would be a great way to continue learning while making money and staying in shape.
QSM: I tried pole dancing once in my life. It is soooo hard lol. I used some muscles I didn’t even know I had LOL. How do you ease your clients into it?
Harley: Pole dancing is definitely a challenge. I start by asking my students to be as open minded as possible and to just go for it. We start with stretching and getting them familiar with moving their bodies around the pole. Repetition is everything. Once they become comfortable, they begin to trust themselves on the pole. Before you know it, they build their confidence and are swinging around the pole.
QSM: How do you address the sexual stigma behind the pole dancing?
Harley: Different pole dancers have different styles. Not just their accents but how they showcase their talents. Their movements display whether they are more into the fitness aspect or dance and sensuality of pole. I have been a dancer my entire life so of course I took to the portion of pole that came natural to me. In order to learn from me, I encourage women to dance on the curves that God gave them. Throw their hips. Be open and be nasty. Imagine yourself dancing for someone. It’s the only way that you’re going to look the way that you want to look. No one comes to a pole dancing studio to be rigid.
QSM: Tell me about your clients. How do you find them and what do they come in looking for?
Harley: Due to the origin of pole dancing and its popularity being connected to the adult entertainment industry, people tend to think that I'm a stripper teaching other women how to be strippers. That couldn’t be further from the truth. With pole dancing becoming more mainstream, more women want to learn. Social media has become the best tool in gaining clients. Whether it’s pole dancing, chair dancing, twerking, or heels dancing, many times they want to learn how to dance for their partners. Many of these women want to feel sexier or are looking for a fun way to stay fit. These women are of all ages, colors, shapes and sizes. Most have careers, children, and families. They’re just like me. Working professionals looking for a fun way to stay in shape.
QSM: It is great to see you out here winning. I don’t know you personally, but I am a true believer that when one win, we all win. Congratulations. We are in some different times. We need to take care of ourselves physically, mentally and spiritually and financially. How does pole dancing tap into your mental well-being (or does it)?
Harley: As I mentioned earlier I am also a working professional. There are days when I am just out of it, but dancing has always provided such a great outlet for me. Sometimes during class I just yell out “Twerk Break!” and everyone just lets the base in the music take over. You don’t have to think or necessarily twerk, you just move to the music. When I'm stressed, pole allows my body to create. I never walk away from class feeling upset because pole is freeing. That’s how pole feels to me, free. It’s like having a superpower and a secret identity. Nobody knows that you’re a pole dancer when they see you. However, given the opportunity to touch a pole you do something extraordinary. You fly.
QSM: Do you offer virtual classes or just physical?
Harley: I offer both in person and virtual classes. In this climate, my virtual classes have become very popular. Some clients book classes during their lunch hours.
QSM: Please tell people where and how they can book sessions with you. And also where they can follow.
Harley: For bookings, you can visit my website at www.rethickulust.com
You can also follow me on the following platforms:
