We are sitting down to talk to our new instructors for PoleCon 2025! Learn more…
Interview with New PoleCon Instructor: Kristen Nichole
We are sitting down to talk to our new instructors for PoleCon: West 2025! Learn more about them and then click here to purchase their workshop
1. We’re so excited to have you teach at PoleCon: West this year! Can you tell us a little more about what you’re teaching?
Thank you! I’m teaching a 3-hour intensive called Holding Space for Pole Dancers. It’s designed for instructors who want to create class environments that feel safe, inclusive, and deeply connected. We’ll go through six core principles for holding space and explore activities that help integrate each one into your teaching. Everyone leaves with a ready-to-use playlist and a full lesson plan you can take straight into your next class.
2. Is there something that defines your style of teaching or your content that is unique to you?
Absolutely. In my classes, you’re immersed in your body from the moment you arrive. We ground together at the start, and the plan for the day is clearly laid out — visually and intentionally — so everyone knows what we’re working on. The focus isn’t on piling on tricks or combos, but on deep, embodied learning that builds over time. There’s a rhythm, a routine, a method and that structure creates safety. Students aren’t just moving; they’re integrating.
3. What is the one thing you want your students to leave with after taking your workshop?
Absolutely. In my classes, you’re immersed in your body from the moment you arrive. We ground together at the start, and the plan for the day is clearly laid out — visually and intentionally — so everyone knows what we’re working on. The focus isn’t on piling on tricks or combos, but on deep, embodied learning that builds over time. There’s a rhythm, a routine, a method and that structure creates safety. Students aren’t just moving; they’re integrating.
4. What are you most excited about for PoleCon: West 2025?
I’m so excited to be in community with other instructors and artists who are thinking deeply about how we show up in our spaces. I love getting to learn from others, exchange ideas, and be part of conversations that push our industry forward in ways that are grounded and thoughtful.
5. Anything else you want to share with PoleCon: West attendees?
If you’re interested in working with me — whether that’s one-to-one, booking me to teach at your studio, or bringing me in for retreats or public speaking engagements — I’d love to connect. I’m always open to collaborating with individuals and organizations who want to create more intentional space for transformation. Contact me at kristen@thepolecologist.com, let’s talk about how I can support you and your team.
Colleen Jolly is an entrepreneur and a pole dance enthusiast. She has been poling for 13 years, is the CEO of PoleCon and the Executive Director of the IPIA. She teaches pole, lyra, floorwork, and mobility online and in-person in the DC metro area. She has been active in leadership roles in several international businesses over the past two decades and is also an award-winning pole dancer, artist, writer, and speaker. She is certified in several movement modalities and wrote the book "Mobility for Pole" to help pole dancers move better.
Latest posts by Colleen (see all)
- Interview with New PoleCon Instructor: Kristen Nichole - July 25, 2025
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