This week, Stephanie invited her friend Lisa over to talk about her unconventional entrance into the world of performing. Unlike so many others, Lisa wasn’t placed in piano lessons or ballet classes, or dropped off at the community theatre as a kid. Lisa quite literally leaned into performance as a necessity when life had no other options to present. The world of exotic dance led her to teaching, exploring her own physicality, and helping others to explore theirs.

A pole dancer before it was cool to wear a rhinestone “Pole is Life” shirt to brunch with your friends, Lisa illustrates a story very familiar to other artists in Stephanie’s green room.