I stumbled on Blackstage’s Instagram after aimlessly perusing Instagram for pole inspiration. What immediately caught my eye was the amount of Black and brown people in the photos - everyone was different shades of black and brown, which is unheard of in pole spaces. I was intrigued and went down a rabbit hole learning more about it.

I soon discovered that the femme at the helm of Blackstage is the formidable Cutie Whippingham aka Leila Davis, a queer Black professional pole artist and performer based in London, England. Cutie has performed alongside Snoop Dogg, Burna Boy, Cupcakke, Shygirl.

What is Blackstage?

Cutie founded Blackstage in 2020 as a response to the exclusion and discrimination in the pole industry. Blackstage is a London-based events organization that centers people of colour who are sex workers, LGBTQ+, disabled, plus-sized, and low-income.

There are a few other things that make Blackstage unique though. Besides creating a safe space and celebrating marginalized members of the pole community, Blackstage is also creating paid opportunities for pole dance performers and artists. For their annual show, performers are paid for their performances, have their transport expenses paid, receive free quality meals, gifts, and access to professional photos and videos of their performances.

Blackstage’s annual show isn’t a competition either, there are no judges. Performers get free reign over how they choose to perform and creative autonomy over their performances.

I didn’t have to read too much to understand that Blackstage is a movement of people not just wanting change but bringing change to the pole industry. And people are ready for it. Blackstage had to find a bigger venue for this year’s annual show, Community, which sold out (800 tickets) and had 139 people on the waiting list. It is actually UK’s biggest pole event!

I was so excited about this year’s show that I kept re-watching the teaser videos for last year’s show Rebellion over and over again - wishing I could attend!

It was the energy, unapologetic sexiness and sass, the crowd’s reception and the performer’s response that made me wish I was there to witness it in person.

It’s the type of pole show that people who look like me have been wanting and waiting to see for a long time - where our humanity is seen and celebrated, not being fetishized or tokenized.

Here’s a clip of Rebellion.

I emailed Blackstage in February asking if they were going to sell a recording of their 2024 show, Community. I was surprised to receive a direct response from Leila saying that she wasn’t sure if they could… but sure enough, she delivered! 

What makes Blackstage’s shows so special?

I was overjoyed to be able to watch this year’s show, Community in May. It was stunning - the performances, the venue, the lighting were all beautiful. The night’s MC, Kelechi was very entertaining as well. Blackstage really put on a high-quality show.

Although it was a huge venue, the show felt intimate, and the performances felt very personal. 

Besides the amazing pole skills, the artistry blew me away; the fine attention to detail in their movements, costumes, and music selections. But also the vulnerability, the sexiness, and the ethereal component of some of the performances were breathtaking. 

I also loved how some of the performers showcased their cultural backgrounds as well. Some shared their inspiration for their performances, told a story through their performance, while others weren’t as explicit.

Even without prior knowledge of Blackstage’s ethos, you can easily sense that performers felt free to express themselves however they wanted (as opposed to pole competitions with rules and guidelines).

The reception and love from the packed-out auditorium was beautiful to watch, even from my living room couch. The community feel was palpable even through my laptop screen. 

Blackstage is unlike the other pole shows that I’ve seen. It’s a platform that is based on valuing and validating talent that doesn’t get seen in most pole spaces and it feels very empowering to watch. I got emotional a few times!

It is a highly anticipated show because it’s the only one of its kind - one that creates a very beautiful space for pole performers and artists of colour to feel safe, cared for, and recognized in a celebratory, shame-free way.

It’s also worth mentioning that Blackstage’s show was as inclusive as possible - there were low-income tickets available, strobe light warnings for attendees with sensory issues, and most if not all suppliers hired for catering, filming, photography, and hosting the after-party were all queer-owned businesses.

What’s Next?

Since its inception in 2020, Blackstage has continued to grow every year. By platforming pole dancers of colour and paying them to perform, performers increase their visibility, which has led to more (paid) professional opportunities for some. Besides the annual show, Blackstage has also performed at festivals and other events in the UK. They also hold different events, such as workshops, talks, and a signature masterclasses on how to write a pole contract by Cutie (available for purchase online).

To me, Blackstage is one of the most exciting movements happening right now. As much as it’s about pole, it’s really about so much more - on a personal, political, and business level. It is absolutely about art, sexual expression, liberation, and also about creating fair, ethical, and inclusive policies and business practices that center people’s needs and identities.

It’s been such a relief to know that a pole movement like Blackstage exists and that it continues to grow and thrive. I look forward to following its upward progression from across the pond!

Watch Blackstage’s 2024 annual show

or donate here.

All photos are used with permission by Blackstage.