How to Support Trans and Non-Binary Dancers in the Pole Community
Dance has always been a powerful form of self-expression, a space where individuals can explore movement, identity, and creativity. However, for trans and non-binary dancers, the dance world can often present barriers—ranging from gendered expectations in training and costuming to a lack of inclusive policies and representation. And with Trump and other anti-trans politicians taking away peoples rights now is more important than ever to make sure or trans polers feel safe and supported by us.
Creating a truly inclusive dance community means recognizing these challenges and actively working to address them. Whether you’re a teacher, choreographer, studio owner, or fellow dancer, your support can make a meaningful difference in helping trans and non-binary dancers feel seen, valued, and safe.
In this blog, we’ll explore practical ways to foster inclusivity, from using gender-affirming language to advocating for non-gendered class structures. Together, we can create a dance world where every one of all genders can move freely and authentically. Let’s take the next step toward becoming a more inclusive pole community.
Strategies to support trans and non-binary pole dancers
Supporting trans and non-binary pole dancers means creating an environment that is inclusive, affirming, and free from judgment. Use and respect each dancer’s chosen name and pronouns, and encourage others to do the same. We are all learning, and while mistakes happen, we can learn to correct ourselves and accept correction gracefully.
Advocate for gender-neutral changing spaces and policies that allow all dancers to wear what makes them feel comfortable and empowered.
Challenge gendered stereotypes in movement styles and competitions, recognizing that pole dance is for everyone. Most importantly, listen to and uplift trans and non-binary voices—support their experiences, celebrate their artistry, and stand up against discrimination both in and outside the studio.
Two things you can to today
Respect names, pronouns, and identities
Always use a dancer’s correct name and pronouns, and encourage others to do the same. Avoid making assumptions about gender based on appearance or movement style, and be open to learning if you make a mistake. It's better to be open to learning and accepting your mistakes than avoiding contact with someone because you don’t know how to refer to them.
Advocate for inclusive spaces
Support gender-neutral changing areas, flexible dress codes, and competition categories that don’t reinforce the gender binary. Ensure that trans and non-binary dancers feel safe, welcome, and celebrated in the community. Is it possible to use non gendered language when describing moves? Can you make adjustments for trans students and be comfortable with discussing their needs as students, performers, and competitors?
Strategies to support trans and non-binary pole dancers as a studio owner
As a pole studio owner, you have the power to create a truly inclusive and affirming space for trans and non-binary dancers. We’ve included some positive ways to use that power.
By making these changes, you can help make pole dancing a space of empowerment, self-expression, and joy for everyone, regardless of gender identity. When many of us started pole dancing we were looking for a space where we could feel safe and feel comfortable to move in a way we had never done before. It’s a very vulnerable feeling. Try to remember that feeling when trans or non binary polers come to join your classes. How can you make them feel comfortable and accepted like every other student?
Use gender-neutral language in classes, marketing, and signage (e.g., “students” instead of “ladies” or “gentlemen”). Ensure all staff and instructors are trained on using correct names and pronouns, and encourage a culture of respect and affirmation. Training and practicing with staff on how to intervene or redirect if someone is being transphobic. Make sure that hiring is inclusive of trans instructors, including those who are strippers or sex workers and often face more stigma.
Trans and nonbinary people do not always feel safe to disclose that they are trans or nonbinary to other people, and members of these community will likely become less comfortable disclosing this information with increases in transphobic policy and rhetoric. Some students might not want to share that they are trans or nonbinary at all, or they might feel comfortable with the instructor or studio owner knowing but not other students. It is important for studio owners and instructors to be able to maintain confidentiality about this, and not out a student in front of others in the studio or if they run into them in public.
Have a gender inclusive dress code, allow dancers to wear whatever makes them feel comfortable and empowered. Avoid dividing classes, techniques, or performances by gender and instead focus on skill, style, and individual expression. Specify that any women’s only classes are inclusive of trans women.
Engage with and amplify the experiences of trans and non-binary pole dancers. Seek their feedback, implement changes based on their needs, and create an ongoing dialogue to ensure your studio remains a welcoming space.
Offer gender-neutral changing areas and restrooms to ensure all dancers feel comfortable. If your space is limited it isn’t always possible to offer gender neutral changing areas. So in these situations it can be nice to make students aware that they can use which ever facility makes them feel most comfortable.
Instructors should be willing to help trans and nonbinary students who are interested in competing, find inclusive competitions and/or troubleshoot options for competition category and dress code for competitions that only offer mens and womens categories.
Strategies to support trans and non-binary pole dancers as a student
One of the main tips is to use and respect everyone’s correct name and pronouns, and avoid making assumptions about their gender based on their appearance.
Encourage all dancers to explore any pole style they feel they want to explore. Why should your gender dictate the style of pole you do? Pole is for everyone!
Most importantly, if you witness misgendering or exclusion in class speak, don’t stay silent about it. Depending on this situation, this might look like correcting someone who used an incorrect name or pronouns, or checking in with a classmate who was misgendered to ask how best you can support them. The goal isn’t to be harsh if someone makes a mistake but to create an environment of learning and support where trans and non-binary students don’t need to take on all of the work of educating and advocating for themselves.
Unfortunately, not everyone is open to receiving education or doing their part to creating an inclusive space. We are not always able to make another person understand why this is important if they are closed off to it. If you feel someone is being inappropriate and needs speaking to, reach out to the studio owner.
Do's and Don'ts
By following these do’s and don’ts, you help create a pole dance community where all dancers feel respected, valued, and free to express themselves authentically. 🫶🏻
Do
- Use Correct Names and Pronouns – Always respect a dancer’s chosen name and pronouns. If unsure, politely ask or listen to how they introduce themselves.
- Use Gender-Inclusive Language – Say “dancers” or “everyone” instead of gendered terms like “ladies” or “guys”. When describing moves could you use the term “crotch” rather than “pussy”. Sure it’s hilarious but just remember that not everyone will identify with it and it can make people uncomfortable unnecessarily.
- Support Inclusive Studio Policies – Advocate for gender-neutral changing spaces, flexible dress codes, and gender inclusive classes.
- Speak Up Against Discrimination – If you witness misgendering or exclusion, offer support and, when safe, gently correct others.
- Listen and Learn – Be open to feedback from trans and non-binary dancers and educate yourself about their experiences
Don't
- Assume Gender Based on Appearance – Avoid guessing someone’s gender or asking invasive questions about their identity or body.
- Make a Big Deal About Mistakes – If you misgender someone, correct yourself and move on without over-apologizing or making it about you.
- Force Gendered Expectations – Don’t assume certain moves, costumes, or styles are “for men” or “for women” only—pole dance is for everyone.
- Tokenize Trans and Non-Binary Dancers – Don’t single them out or expect them to educate you on inclusivity—do your own research where possible. If someone is willing to help you and offers that is great but don’t expect it from anyone.
- Ignore the Issue – Staying silent in the face of discrimination allows it to continue; being an ally means actively supporting inclusivity.
Helpful Resources
These are trans/LGBTQIA+ mental health resources that you can recommend to individuals in those communities and/or financially support
The Trevor Project
The Trevor Project is the leading suicide prevention and crisis intervention nonprofit organization for LGBTQ+ young people. They provide information & support to LGBTQ+ young people 24/7, all year round. You can call, text, or chat with them anytime you need support.
Trans Lifeline
Trans Lifeline provides trans peer support for the community that’s been divested from police since day one. They’re run by and for trans people. They envision a world where trans people have the connection, economic security, and care everyone needs and deserves—free of prisons and police.
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Insights from Our Blog Contributors
My name is Sam (they/them) and I am a scientist, educator, activist, and drag performer based in the US. I am also a life-long athlete and have competed in pole sport, swimming, water polo, running, and triathlons.
As a nonbinary and intersex person, it has sometimes been complicated to navigate binary categories and expectations in the world of sports, but I strongly believe that everyone should have the opportunity to train, perform, and compete as their authentic self. I’ve done a lot of research about the history of “sex testing” and discrimination against transgender and intersex athletes (especially transgender and intersex women in sport), and it is very clear to me that fixating on trying to regulate and police athlete’s bodies based on inaccurate binary understandings of human sex and gender makes things worse for everyone.
Scrutinizing people’s bodies to make sure they confirm to this false and rigid binary doesn’t make competition more fair and counteracts the benefits that sports participation can provide to athletes’ self-confidence, mental health, and experiences of belonging. While I’ve usually been the only or one of a few transgender or nonbinary students in pole classes I’ve taken, it’s made a big difference to have instructors who were interested to learn more about my needs and experiences and make sure that the class environment was supportive.
I think implementing gender inclusive policies in sports and dance settings benefits everyone by encouraging more diverse classes and removing the pressures and limitations of conforming to gender stereotypes for all students. In a political moment where transgender communities are facing increased political and rhetorical threats, it is really important for cisgender allies to step up and find ways to better support and include transgender and nonbinary individuals in any spaces where they have power and influence to create inclusive policies and fight against discrimination.
Pole is for every “body”.
This expression gets tossed around a lot within the pole community. It’s the idea that you don’t have to be strong before you start Pole. You don’t have to look a certain way before you start Pole.
If you want to pole Dance, hell yeah, do it.
I never hear pushback from within the community about this concept. But for some reason, the idea of somebody’s gender, their pronouns, or how they look (i.e. “passing”) seem to ruffle some peoples feathers.
I have been very fortunate that the Studios that I have trained at have always been welcoming to me as a cis man, given that these are historically women’s spaces. But it also makes it all the more frustrating when trans and non-binary individuals tell me that they have been asked to leave classes because their presence makes people uncomfortable.
I put together the list of gender inclusive Studios so people know where they can go dance, and hopefully not have to deal with one more place they are excluded, for simply existing.
Pole is for everybody, so let people dance 💖
I was 26 when I realised I was nonbinary. It was a total surprise. Not only because I didn’t really know about other genders before, but also because I’d spent so long trying to conform and be like everyone else. I was bad at being a girl and it felt fake the entire time.
When I realised, I told two of my friends straight away, one of them being concerned that this was a reaction to abuse I’d suffered from men. But the opposite was true; this felt like something that would make me more visible, not less, as my friend had suggested that I might be trying to hide and make myself less appealing out of fear of being assaulted again. But coming out was like coming home. It’s infinitely better to get to be yourself whilst going through life’s challenges, in my experience.
Pole and aerial hoop were activities that helped me to connect to my body in a positive way, even though I was many years from being able to begin my transition. Family and friends took a long time to understand and to get on board, with their questions being hard to respond to when I was still working out so many of those answers for myself. Over ten years later, there are still older members of my family who are not yet onboard, but who have at least stopped deadnaming me to my face.
Pole and aerial hoop provided space for me to express myself, to feel empowered, and to be among other people who valued self expression. And at a time when the rest of my life was up in the air for many years, it was one of the few activities in my week that provided some consistency, community and a chance to really feel my physical strength; to feel anchored in myself when everything else was really unpredictable and sometimes heartbreaking.
I really can’t put into words how much that space meant to me. Coming out and transitioning is something that lasts many years, and sometimes lasts forever if you’re nonbinary and can never really fit in in a conventional way. Aerial sports to me represent self-expression for those of us who are socially shamed for it, or who are told our self-expression makes other people uncomfortable. Whether we’re LGBTQ+, not considered conventionally sexy, or women who want to own their self-expression for themselves, aerial sports to me is licence to be yourself, for yourself. To get to enjoy your body and your physical experience just for you. So to me, it’s no surprise that we’re having these incredibly important conversations in this space.
As a nonbinary parent to a nonbinary 8 year old athlete and dancer, my best piece of advice is to let your child lead. If you’re giving your child the space to explore their gender identity, let them choose their pronouns, their clothes, their activities, let them cut their hair, etc… it’s so important to give kids structured autonomy for self-discovery and actualisation!
Also, as parents and members of our communities, inclusive is better! Invite parents of all genders to be part of group texts. Try not to assume everyone’s gender with texts that address everyone as a certain gender like “ladies” “parents” “caregivers” or even something pretty bland like “everybody” or “everyone” is immediately more inclusive! We can also do this as dancers! Often teachers or students can mistakenly assume the gender of everyone in the class with labels like “ladies” or “queens” but creating an inclusive environment by simply calling people “dancers” is so easy! If that seems boring to you I also personally like “party people”
Small actions add up!
Together, we can build a community where all dancers feel safe, seen, and free to express themselves authentically.
This blog was made in cooperation with some amazing people so a massive thank you to:
xxx