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THE FIRST ANNUAL POLE and EXOTIC DANCE FITNESS CONVENTION AND EXPO is taking place this weekend May 21-23, 2010 in DC!!!!!
Read below about the amazing Jessalyn, founder of the DC convention and how she got things moving and shaking in Washington, DC. Literally!
YOU are awesome Jessalyn!!!! I only met you thru a couple of emails we had exchanged when I was ordering your POLE MAGAZINE but you rock my pole world Girl!!! I will be attending next year for sure! :) Sincerely, Jane
Meet Jessalyn Medairy, owner of Pole Pressure, USPDF competitor, and founder of the DC Pole Convention.
How did you get started pole dancing?
I attended an introductory to striptease class in Baltimore, MD and I actually didn’t enjoy the class that much. I thought it wasn’t that tough of a work out and didn’t meet my expectations. Instead of purchasing classes at the location, I decided to apply for a job as an instructor – LOL. I wanted to make the lessons better and do them the way that I thought they should be done. So, I trained and did everything they told me, but then started to warp the work out into something rigorous, exotic, and intense.
When it came to pole dancing, I was a natural. I was very determined and jumped right into intermediate level classes. I progressed very quickly and had a very strong passion for the sport. I wanted to get fit in the exotic dance workout and that’s exactly what I did!
Tell us about the DC Pole Dance Convention you’ve started!
The DC Pole Convention has been a whirlwind of action!! I went searching for locations in Spring of 2009, and settled at the DC Convention Center in downtown Washington, DC in Fall of 2009. I had a contract with them, the Pole Convention website was being compiled, and I thought life was good. I received a phone call one afternoon from the event planner at the DC Convention Center, alerting me that I needed to take my website down and that I could no longer host the Pole Convention.
The DC Convention Center called the event “unprofessional” and “sending the wrong message.” Politicians have a say in what Conventions are hosted at the DC Convention Center and they did not want the Pole Convention there. That’s right!! Our own government did not see the Pole Convention and Pole Dancing for Fitness as a respectable event.
So, I was not going to let this slow me down. I found the Gaylord National Convention Center and they took us in with open arms.
The convention will feature performances by Jenyne Butterfly, Amber Richard, Allison Cox, Karol Helms, Takeila Fox, Carolyn Chiu, and Erica Shergold.
There will also be workshops with Amber Ray from Australia, Sally-Ann Giles from the UK, Estee Zakar from the US, Viorika Vencheto from Russia, Maria Luz Escalante from Argentina, and Prana from France.
There will also be seminars on everything from technique and injury prevention, to talks on nutrition, stage make up, and the future of pole.
Note from Jennifer: I’ll be presenting on Overcoming Stage Fright – definitely something every pole dancer should know! And be sure to stop by the PoleSkivvies booth, too!
And, of course, there will be lots of shopping and socializing, plus tons of pole jams and performances!
You also run your own pole dance studio. What do you like best about that?
My office has eleven poles in it, plays great music all day, and involves 6″ heels … enough said!
How do you see the pole dance community changing over the next five years?
I would like it to get into the mainstream fitness world! I think it would be great to have people all over the world pole dancing as a fantastic form of fitness.
Favorite makeup tip:
I love dark, whispy eyes … anything that makes me look like a demon – LOL.
Barefoot, sneakers, or platform heels?
Barefoot, anyday. Platform heels for a hard rock, pole show!
Favorite grip enhancer:
The original Platinum Grip, not their new solution. I think I am going to switch to Dry Hands now.
Pole dance move that made you proudest to learn:
Gemini.
Pole dance pet peeves:
Flexed feet … POINT YOUR TOES!!!
Favorite treatment for bruises and sore muscles:
Deal with it! 
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