The Red District: From the Clubs to Building a Studio That Actually Gets It

Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussion of drug and alcohol abuse, violence, and experiences within strip clubs that some listeners may find confronting.

In this episode of Pole Obsession, we sit down with Red, the founder of Canberra’s newest pole studio, The Red District.

Red shares her journey through the club industry and how those experiences ultimately led her to open her own studio. She speaks openly about the realities of working in clubs, from the highs to the darker moments, including stories involving alcohol, theft, and violence that can occur behind the scenes.

We also talk about the moment that pushed her to build something of her own. After running shows and feeling unsupported in a previous studio environment, Red realised that if she wanted a space where dancers from the club industry felt truly welcomed and understood, she would need to create it herself.

The Red District was born from that idea, a studio built with a deeper understanding of the industry and the people who come from it.

This episode explores the many different paths into pole. Not everyone arrives the same way, dancers, performers, athletes, and club industry workers all bring different experiences to the pole community.

A raw and honest conversation about authenticity, creating safe spaces, and building the studio she couldn’t find.