CULTURE
“One night I went into a club and saw this girl doing stuff on a pole, and, honestly, time stopped for me.”
High Flying Birds LAURA MARTIN ELEVATES POLE DANCING IN KC WITH ALCHEMY SPACE By Hannah Scott Every athlete has their gear, and for Laura Martin of Alchemy Space Pole and Fitness, seven-inch heels are the last step in prepping for her game. Located in the River Market, Alchemy Space is an exposed brick studio with windows overlooking the city and light pouring in, creating a comfortable environment for self-exploration and body positivity. This is exactly the goal Martin had for her studio when coming back to Kansas City. Born and raised in the city, Martin spent over 16 years in San Diego dancing full-time, before coming back to Kansas City during COVID and realizing that she could keep her passion as a job while educating others. For Martin, Alchemy Space is a realized dream that has allowed her to create an environment for people to explore their sensual side and also push their limits. “I feel like people think that to be legitimate, we have to deny parts of who we are and our sexuality,” says Martin. “The point of this container, of this studio, is to create a
Laura Martin strikes an ethereal pose. (Opposite) Martin flips the switch at Alchemy Space Pole and Fitness. Courtesy Laura Martin
safe space where people can re-integrate with that part of themselves and lose that story that we’re constantly being told, especially as women.” Martin started up in the scene as a stripper and finds beauty in her background. Although she knows some people may judge her, she also knows that most individuals actually have little information about what goes on in clubs as well as what the people inside are like. Some people love writing, some people love film, and just like any other pas-
sion, Laura loved pole dancing from the first moment she set her eyes on it. “One night I went into a club and saw this girl doing stuff on a pole, and, honestly, time stopped for me,” says Martin. “I was like, ‘That is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen, I have to do it, I want to be the best.’” Martin wants to invite intimacy and drop the stigma that has been so heavily placed around dancers, strippers, and anyone who wants to take part.
“In all honesty, it’s less about what actually goes on inside those clubs and more about the rumors people hear,” says Martin. “We need to change the way that people talk about it because there’s a lot of misunderstanding and dehumanization in the language that gets used about those places. Generally, it’s not actually the places or the people inside of them, it’s more of what people say on the outside.” In California, Martin spent most of her time training and dancing in different competitions, gaining the title of American Pole Champion in 2011. She was also one of ten who were chosen worldwide to compete for the world title of International Pole Champion in 2013. When not in San Diego, she traveled the world, performing and training others in the art as one of two individuals who traveled to China and performed pole for the first time in a more competitive circuit. At the beginning of each intro class, she gives a brief background on the history of pole dancing and its origin to help students understand the root of the art. As pole dancing has become more accessible and popularized through social media, Martin has often found that people try to erase much of the original meaning behind the practice to make it more palatable. During the pandemic, pole dancing became more explored as a way to stay fit at home. It also took hold on TikTok and Instagram. Through these mediums, it has
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THE PITCH | August 2022 | THEPITCHKC.COM
