My Pole Goals for the Rest of 2026

I’ve been thinking about what I actually want from pole over the next few months—not only the tricks I want to achieve, but the kind of dancer I want to become.

These are my main goals for now. Some are big, some are very specific and some will probably change as I go. This post is partly for the blog, but it’s also here to keep me focused when I inevitably try to work on seventeen different things at once.

1. Survive Pole Addiction

In-Studio Pole Addiction Competition
13 September 2026

My first goal is very simple: get onstage, perform my complete routine and make it through without dying.

Of course, I want to perform it well. But for my first competition, success is getting up there, committing to the routine and finishing it—even if it isn’t completely perfect.

There will be plenty more to come about my preparation and practice as I work towards September.

2. Create and Film Fuck Them All

Song: Fuck Them All by Ash Reed Music
Target filming date: 18 October 2026

Not long after Pole Addiction, I want to create my own full-song choreography to Fuck Them All.

I don’t want this to remain another idea that lives permanently in my head. I want to:

• Map out the song and its main musical moments.
• Create the choreography myself.
• Practise and refine it.
• Film a complete, properly styled version.
• Edit it into a cool finished video for my Pole Bible and blog.

If I’m happy with the choreography, I may hire the studio for the final filming session so I have the space, lighting and time to make the video look how I imagine it.

The goal is to take an idea through the entire process and finish with something I’m proud to share.

3. Work Towards Intermediate

Preparation begins after Pole Addiction
Target grading window: 2–8 November 2026

After Pole Addiction, I’ll shift more of my attention towards grading into Intermediate.

The new studio term begins on 19 October, and Week 3 begins on 2 November. Because grading needs to happen fairly early in the term, my aim is to be ready to grade during that third week.

The exact date will depend on the studio’s grading schedule and whether moving up during the term is possible.

Before grading, I want to:

• Be comfortable with all the required Interprep tricks.
• Perform them safely and consistently.
• Link tricks together without immediately running out of energy.
• Use cleaner entries and exits.
• Feel more prepared for Intermediate, because the jump from Beginner was much bigger—and harder—than I expected.

4. Improve My Front and Middle Splits

First progress check: 31 December 2026

I want to make my flexibility goals slightly more ambitious, while still training safely.

By the end of 2026, I want to:

• Have flat—or very close to flat—front splits on both sides with good alignment.
• Be noticeably closer to the floor in my middle split.
• Record monthly photos or measurements so I can see whether I’m actually progressing.
• Improve my active flexibility so the results start appearing in my pole shapes and leg lines.

A flat middle split may take longer, and that is okay. For now, the goal is clear, measurable progress rather than forcing my body into a position before it is ready.

5. Look More Like a Dancer

First progress check: 18 October 2026
Main progress check: 31 December 2026

I want to become a smoother, bigger and more confident dancer. I don’t only want to know the choreography—I want the movement to look intentional.

My main visual focus will be my leg lines. I want to keep my legs straight when they are meant to be straight, point through my feet and stop losing the shape halfway through a movement.

To make that more measurable, I’ll use filmed routines and short movement combinations to check my technique.

By 18 October

In the final Fuck Them All video, I want to maintain clean, straight leg lines and intentional feet in at least 70% of the moments where they are required.

By 31 December

I want that to increase to around 85% of a filmed routine or combination, without needing to consciously remind myself before every movement.

I also want to improve:

• Pointed toes and control of my heels.
• Fully extended knees.
• Cleaner hands and arm pathways.
• Head placement and eye-line.
• The size and confidence of my movements.
• Finishing one movement before starting the next.
• Smooth transitions between pole, standing movement and floorwork.
• My ability to commit instead of making everything smaller when I feel unsure.

The percentages are not about analysing every single frame. They give me a practical way to watch a video and see whether clean lines are becoming my normal habit rather than something that happens occasionally.

6. Understand and Count Music

First practical goal: map Fuck Them All by 27 September 2026
Progress check: 31 December 2026

I want to understand the music I’m dancing to instead of hoping I’m moving at approximately the right time.

While creating Fuck Them All, I want to independently:

• Find the main beat.
• Hear where the “one” falls.
• Count the song in eight-counts.
• Mark important lyrics, accents, pauses and instrumental changes.
• Choose where movements should begin, finish or pause.
• Create a basic written map of the song before finalising the choreography.

By the end of 2026, I want to be able to listen to an unfamiliar song and find the beat, identify the one and count at least one full section without someone else guiding me.

Eventually, I want counting and recognising song structure to become natural enough that I can focus more on how I want the music to feel.

7. Build My Pole Bible

My final ongoing goal is to keep turning this blog into my Pole Bible—a record of what I’m learning, what I’m working towards and how my dancing changes over time.

It can include:

• Competition preparation and reflections.
• My flexibility progress.
• Grading and new tricks.
• Dance-quality comparisons.
• Music-counting notes.
• The creation of Fuck Them All.
• Movement libraries and demonstrations.
• Inspiration from other dancers, with proper credit.
• The development of my own country-rock pole style.

I don’t have to build the entire thing immediately. For now, the goal is to keep documenting the work and let the Pole Bible grow with me.

My Current Priority Order

For now, my priorities are:

1. Perform at Pole Addiction on 13 September 2026.
2. Create and film Fuck Them All by 18 October 2026.
3. Improve my front and middle splits.
4. Improve my dance quality, especially straight legs, pointed feet and cleaner lines.
5. Learn to count and understand music.
6. Prepare to grade into Intermediate during 2–8 November 2026.
7. Keep building my Pole Bible as I go.

That is more than enough to keep me busy—and hopefully focused—for the rest of 2026.