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# ‘Blackstage Talks: Breaking Moulds’: in-person event at The Common Press to discuss issues facing the pole dancing industry and how to do better as a community
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/blackstage-talks-breaking-moulds-in-person-event-at-the-common-press-to-discuss-issues-facing-the-pole-dancing-industry-and-how-to-do-better-as-a-community/
- Published: 2024-01-23T16:00:52.000Z
- Updated: 2024-01-23T13:06:12.000Z
- Description: Blackstage, founded by pro pole artist, instructor, activist, Leila Davis, will launch Blackstage Talks – an in-person event to discuss issues facing the pole industry and how to do better as a community – on Saturday, February 10 at queer bookshop The Common Press, London. Blackstage Talks: Breakin
- Author: Graham Robson
- Tags: News

**Blackstage**, founded by pro pole artist, instructor, activist, **Leila Davis**, will launch ***Blackstage Talks*** – an in-person event to discuss issues facing the pole industry and how to do better as a community – on **Saturday, February 10** at queer bookshop **The Common Press**, London.

***Blackstage Talks: Breaking Moulds*** will be hosted by Dr **Carolina Are** – the pole dancing academic behind **bloggeronpole** and whose PhD in ‘Social Media Governance’, plus campaigning work against social media censorship, has obtained direct apologies from Instagram about the shadowbanning of pole dance.

Carolina is a leading voice against censorship in and outside the pole dance industry, having published the first peer-reviewed study on shadowbanning in *Feminist Media Studies*, and is the consultant across the **#StopDeletingUs** campaign. Her work has appeared in *The New York Times,* *The Atlantic*, *The Conversation*, *BBC*, *Wired* and *The Guardian.*

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/untitled-1-e1706015018890.png)

### Guests speakers at *Blackstage Talks: Breaking Moulds* will include:

**Beanie the Jet** – renowned as the ‘sexual Liberator’ and ‘pleasure enthusiast’, Beanie is the creator of the UK pole industry’s first fully inclusive showcases called **Filthy Friday** in Manchester, which was created not only as a space for marginalised folk to celebrate and be celebrated, but also to honour the roots of pole dance as we know it today.

**Cutie Whippingham** (Leila Davis) – a queer professional pole dancer, instructor, model, movement coach, brand inclusion consultant, and founder of **Blackstage** – a group for Black people and people of colour (BPOC) of all bodies and abilities, especially those who are queer, trans, non-binary and/or sex workers. Drawing from her own experience, Leila is known for her informative online voice and workshops such as ‘How to make money as a pole performer’, ‘How to Write a Pole Performer Contract’ and ‘How to Build an Ethical Pole Event’, shining a light on the creative industries prejudices and getting the pole community to do better.

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/untitled-2.png)

Cutie Whippingham (Leila Davis)

**Gemma Rose** – a proud sex worker and pole instructor. She is the creator of **Pole Dance Stripper Movement** (PDSM). PDSM runs sex worker centred events by providing spaces and opportunities which directly give back to the community on which pole was founded. The **PDSM Competition** is the world’s most sex worker inclusive pole competition and unites the intersecting pole and stripping communities. Gemma is also the podcast host of **The 6am Club**.

Located at London queer bookshop, **The Common Place** in Shoreditch, the evening promises an insightful conversation between guests. Following the discussion, attendees will have the chance to mingle with speakers and other guests.

***Blackstage Talks: Breaking Moulds* will take place on Saturday, February 10 from 6.45pm at The Common Press, Shoreditch, London. Limited tickets are on sale now for £21.50 and sold [HERE](http://blackstagepole.com/events?ref=scenemag.co.uk)**