We Honor the Roots of Pole Dance​

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At Wild Orchid, we honor and celebrate the intertwined history of pole dancing and stripping. While dancing with a pole has existed in many cultures and forms throughout time, the style and expression of pole dance as we know it in the Western world today is deeply rooted in the artistry of strippers. From seductive heel clacks and body rolls to powerful floorwork and stage presence, much of what we now call “pole dance” was created, refined, and boldly performed by sex workers—often in the face of social stigma and marginalization.

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To practice pole without acknowledging these roots would be to erase the very people who pioneered this movement and made space for its evolution. Wild Orchid is proudly stripper-owned and operated, and several members of our team have experience working in clubs. We do not distance ourselves from these origins—we embrace them.

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We believe that stripping is skilled, creative, and legitimate labor—and that sex workers deserve respect, rights, and protection. We also recognize that many of the privileges afforded to mainstream pole dancers today—such as being able to train publicly, compete, or teach—have not always been granted to the very people who shaped this art form.

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At Wild Orchid, we are committed to resisting whorephobia and dismantling the stigma that still surrounds sex work. We uplift the voices, stories, and contributions of sex workers in our community and beyond. Whether you’ve danced in clubs, on stages, or in studios, your movement is welcome here. Your body is welcome here. You are welcome here.

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Pole dance is powerful because of its history—because of the women, femmes, and queer folks who claimed their bodies, their sensuality, and their strength in spaces that didn’t always feel safe. We honor that legacy with deep reverence.

 

We invite our community to remember: this practice exists because strippers made it visible, made it beautiful, made it irresistible.

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Let us never forget who moved first.