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Jordan Mazur (Feb 16)
Jordan is the owner of Muse Pole Fitness in Columbia, MO. You can find more about the studio on the web at: http://www.musepolefitness.com. From her formal bio: "Jordan danced professionally with the Missouri Contemporary Ballet for 4 years and performs and competes pole throughout the U.S. Jordan integrates her knowledge of classical dance with her degree in kinesiology to create classes that allow free, beautiful, and sexy movement while understanding the specific mechanisms to facilitate these accomplishments."
Big thank you to Jordan for taking the time out of her schedule to answer all the questions. I'm grateful. And with that as the intro... Here's Jordan...
KBev
KBev: How did you get started in dancing?
Jordan: I started when I was 3 years old, so it was really just something my mom signed me up for.20questionsInstagram TagsInstagramPixInstagramPostedJordan MazurMuse Pole FitnessPole Dance
KBev: What styles do you do/ not do? (I think I saw you tap dance one time.)
Jordan: I've been trained in most styles. Ballet, jazz, tap, modern, contemporary, some ballroom. There's nothing I'm really opposed to; I feel like that's part of being a well-rounded dancer!20questionsInstagram TagsInstagramPixInstagramPostedJordan MazurMuse Pole FitnessPole Dance
KBev: Who has had the biggest influence on you as a dancer?
Jordan: I've never tried to really imitate or follow any single dancer, growing up or in the pole world, but find qualities I like in many dancers to shape my own development.20questionsEventInstagram TagsInstagramPixInstagramPostedJordan MazurMuse Pole FitnessPole DanceSpeak to Me
KBev: How would you describe the first performance where you said, “Wow, I kinda like being on stage”?
Jordan: It's never really been something that hasn't been in my life. But as a person, I've always been a people pleaser as far back as I can remember, and I've always viewed performance as something you give to the audience. So it makes sense that I enjoy being on stage.
KBev: How has your work with Missouri Contemporary Ballet influenced you as a dancer?
Jordan: The company really embodies a lot of the things I value in dance: precision, innovation, and strength. When you find a good fit with a company, it doesn't so much influence you as develop you.
KBev: Which is more true of your personality and why?: (1) You’re a ballerina that poledances OR (2) You’re a poledancer who does ballet
Jordan: Well I've been a ballet dancer for 22 years and a pole dancer for 6. I would not be the pole dancer I am if I had not been a ballet dancer first. I am definitely a ballet dancer who pole dances, even though my career has shifted primarily toward dancing with the pole apparatus.20questions50's50PoleInstagram TagsInstagramPixInstagramPostedJordan MazurMuse Pole FitnessNAPDCPole Dance
KBev: What is the best reaction that you have gotten from the ballet community when they find out you are a ballerina by day and poledancer by night? (yes, that’s probably an overly dramatic way to frame the question)
Jordan: I've really never had much of anything beside support, especially in my professional career. There apparently was some gossip while I was completing my dance major in college, but never anything that directly affected me.
KBev: What are some of the similarities and differences between the two communities?
Jordan: There is definitely a high physical demand from both. The communities themselves, though, are very different. The ballet world is highly competitive and much more formal. There is a strict etiquette surrounding nearly everything you do in ballet.
KBev: When and how did you make the decision to open your own studio?
Jordan: I started with a home studio. At the time I was dancing as an apprentice with the Missouri Contemporary Ballet and teaching at 3 different dance studios. Some friends kept telling me I should teach pole classes but I only had a pole in my home and insisted no one wanted to come to my living room to learn how to pole dance. But one convinced me to put up flyers to see, and it blew up! I cleared all the furniture out and had a room with two poles, mirrors, and a table for music. After a year and a half I finally moved to a full space.
KBev: What has been the biggest surprise, as a business owner?
Jordan: That I could do it and actually enjoy it! Growing up I always said I didn't want to own a dance studio at any point, but this sort of fell into my hands and I love it.20questionsInstagram TagsInstagramPixInstagramPostedJordan MazurMuse Pole FitnessNAPDCPole Dance
KBev: What types of women come to MPF?
Jordan: We are a nondiscriminatory studio. We have women and men who take classes. Men are allowed to come to any of the regular classes and do the same material as the women, but we also have a regular men's class on Monday nights. Given that it is a college town, Muse is a younger studio. (The fact that I started it when I was 21 may have had a bit of influence on that as well.) But we do have students of all ages, shapes and sizes. One of the neatest things is that we actually have multiple sets of moms and daughters who take classes at the studio!
KBev: What do you want the people who come to Muse Pole Fitness to take away from the experience?
Jordan: I just want everyone to find growth in classes. It's great to watch everyone become more comfortable with themselves and the others at the studio. I've had so many individuals tell me about how much more confident they have become in life after starting pole classes, and it's always one of the greatest things to hear.20questionsInstagram TagsInstagramPixInstagramPostedJordan MazurMuse Pole FitnessNAPDCPole Dance
KBev: What’s going to be “new” with the studio’s expansion?
Jordan: There will be more class times available, and we will be able to add in regular floorwork classes, an acro pole class, and an exotic choreography class to the schedule.
KBev: What has been the most memorable experience you’ve had traveling to events all over the place?
Jordan: Of all of my travels, one of the most memorable experiences was touring to South Korea with the Missouri Contemporary Ballet. We were guests of Suncheon and performed at the International Garden Expo on a beautiful outdoor stage. It was such an amazing cultural experience as well as having the opportunity to perform with my MCB family in some of my favorite repertory pieces for such an enthusiastic audience.
KBev: How nervous were you the first time you wore pasties in front of a pole audience?
Jordan: No more than any other performance. Growing up dancing, your body is an instrument, so there is no modesty while dancing or performing.
KBev: I notice Leah and you are like Thelma and Louise on the road (minus the guns and crime), how do you keep each other focus, supported, and energized?
Jordan: We both are driven and like to seize every opportunity possible. Coffee and Google calendars are our best friends...during the day anyway. Then sometimes unwinding with my good friend Jack Daniels is necessary to stay sane ;)20questionsJordan MazurLeah FranklinMuse Pole FitnessPole Dance
KBev: Which type of events do you like most (e.g. showcases, competitions, burlesque, etc.)?
Jordan: Any sort of actual performance. I've worn pasties while performing but I've never actually performed burlesque. But as I mentioned before, I enjoy being able to give a great performance to an audience. Competing is by far my least favorite. A standout performance doesn't necessarily have to be some of the things that judged in competitions, but competitions are a good motivation to push yourself and another opportunity to put yourself on a stage.
KBev: Who inspires you in the pole community?
Jordan: I keep this the same as my previous answer. There are a lot of people who I take different inspiration from. When I'm overwhelmed by how much I'm doing I think of Kelly Yvonne and Amber Cahill who have respectively produced dozens of shows, competitions, commercial work etc, and run her pole studios while earning pole titles and raising her family! Brandon Grimm's movement quality is to die for, and Rachele Ribera's heel work is on pointe (pun intended).
KBev: What is the one thing about you that would surprise most people? Any hidden talents?
Jordan: I get extremely nervous every time I perform. I'm also afraid of heights.
KBev: If you weren’t a dancer and business owner, what would you do for a living?
Jordan: I realized when I went to college that I didn't know what I would do with myself not dancing. If I had to choose another path to have gone down, though, it would be something in the math/science/physics field.