Meet Manchester pole dancer, Marissa Jade

Looking for pole dance experiences in Manchester? Meet Marissa Jade, a pole performer with a true and unadulterated passion for dance.

By Isobel Clark & Marissa Jade 4 min read 4 August 24 Updated 29 October 26 4 min read Updated 29 October 26

Marissa Jade is a hobbyist pole dancer and floorwork enthusiast based in Manchester. She offers pole dance performance experiences as well as many types of modelling. We sat down to get to know her story with pole.

Could you introduce yourself and what you do?

My name is Marissa Jade and I’m an amateur pole dancer/performer from Manchester. In my spare time you’ll find me training, at my allotment or catching up on a box set to relax!

What are the specific services you provide?

I love to dance for an audience! I will be competing at You Filthy Floorwork in August but later on this year I have a few showcases and performances lined up which I’m really excited about!

I recently tried life modelling at Riot Party* and I loved it! I would love to do more life modelling and I’m actively seeking more work in this field. I’m not shy in front of a camera so I love all aspects of modelling.

* if you haven’t been to one of their parties before, please go – they’re incredible! *

What was your journey into this world?

I’ve always loved dancing, but nothing had captured my heart like pole. I’d always wanted to try it, but nerves had gotten the better of me. I started with pole fitness, I didn’t particularly enjoy doing tricks (although I gave it a good try)! I then discovered Beanie The Jet, and as cheesy as this sounds – she literally changed my life.

Her classes (along with others I’ve been privileged to learn from) ignited a fire in me that I didn’t know existed. Firstly, it was refreshing being taught by and seeing other students who were of colour like me (something that was very much lacking in the first studio I attended). I felt seen.

I love the feeling that pole dancing gives me- being able to embrace my sensuality, eroticism, playfulness etc.

I am aware that being able to learn pole dance is a privilege so I also take care to learn from as many sex workers as possible (through studio classes, online content and workshops).

How would you describe your style of pole dancing in a nutshell?

Pure filth! When I dance, my aim is to entice, tease and seduce. I move with erotic intention, savouring each and every movement. I also include a lot of floorwork, suggestive touch and use eye contact to leave my audience wanting more.

What makes a pole performance special to you?

Engagement – I love it when a dancer makes me feel like I’m the only person in the room and that they’re dancing just for me.

Tell us a small and unexpected pleasure about what you do.

I am very critical of myself so when people comment or tell me what they’ve enjoyed about how I’ve danced it literally makes my heart sing every time!

What do you feel is unique about a pole experience with Marissa?

I always have the biggest smile on my face performing as it makes me so happy to be on stage. Even when I’m trying to be “sexy” I can’t help but grin!

I’ve learnt that the audience enjoys this though as it shows how much I love to be dancing for them.

Tell us something that you wish more people knew about dancing.

How freeing it is, and this isn’t just specific to pole dancing. When I’m dancing, I’m able to let go of any worries, any stresses and just be in the moment. There is nothing more liberating.

What have you learned about yourself from dancing?

That I don’t have to do absolutely everything that everyone else does.

When I first started pole, I was gutted that I wasn’t able to do more “tricks” but I found that my style wasn’t defined by this.

I’m most comfortable slinking around as it comes more naturally to me.

How do you feel about the current pole scene?

I love the community. I’ve been lucky enough to make so many friends through pole which is amazing!

Advice for newbie dancers?

Learn from sex workers! Pole dancing comes from strippers and I feel it’s vital that new dancers are educated in this, become allies to sex workers and learn directly from them.

Gemma Rose Pole and lunaminxx have some incredible resources/first hand experiences if you want to read into this more.

Also, if you want to learn twerk, please take a class with a black stripper/teacher or request for your studio to host a black stripper/teacher. destiiny_x has a great post about this and blxckstage have multiple resources and a BIPOC teacher directory on their website.

Discover more about Marissa Jade.

Explore all erotic dancers on Sensuali..

Manchester sex parties and sex clubs: the ultimate guide

Sources & further reading.

— References & recommended reading

Glorious Sport. Pole Dancing's Heritage Deserves To Be Respected, Not Sanitised. Pole fitness grew out of strip-club dancing; supports 'learn from sex workers'.
InsideHook, 2021. Netflix Documentary "Strip Down, Rise Up" Facing Backlash. Strippers' critique of sex-work erasure in mainstream pole culture.
Kim J et al., Health Care Women Int, 2023. Body positivity through creative immersion: A qualitative study of women's pole dancing experiences. Research on pole dancing's liberating, body-positive effects she describes.

erotic modelling Pole dance striptease

The Author

Isobel Clark

Isobel is a writer and creative based in Paris. She has been working with Sensuali since 2022 and is deeply passionate about eroticism, kink, the feminine experience of pleasure and its place in art and culture. Originally from a Northern UK seaside town, she is naturally…

Marissa Jade

Marissa Jade is a pole dance performer and floorwork enthusiast based in Manchester. She is passionate about pole dance as a means of liberation and is known for her big booty, curly hair, love of wigs and sensual movement.