Episode 2: From the Met to the Pole with Jenny Bascos

In this episode of Between 2 Poles, host Fawnia Mondey sits down with Jenny Bascos, who has been teaching at Pole Fitness Studio since 2008. Jenny shares her journey from a philosophy major at Smith College to a professional dance career in New York City starting in 1994.
From performing at the Metropolitan Opera in Carmen to touring Japan, Jenny discusses the "rebellious" spirit that led her from the grandest stages in the world to the pole. At 51, she dives into how the arts keep her young and the "ego check" of her very first pole class.

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:08

Welcome to Between Two Polls, where you meet the faces of Pole Fitness Studio and beyond. My name is Fanya Mundi, and we're here with Jenny Boscos, who's been teaching here at Pole Fitness Studio since around 2008. Welcome, Jenny. Sounds good. Thank you, Fanya. Yeah, thanks for joining us today. It's a pleasure to be here. Yay! Now, one of the questions many of us are thinking, like, how old is Jenny and how did she get started in dance?

SPEAKER_00 0:39

Oh my goodness. Wow.

SPEAKER_02 0:40

Well, how young is Jenny?

SPEAKER_00 0:42

Rephrase. Oh, it's okay. I like it's it's funny because it has been something I never really thought a whole lot about, which is maybe part of the reason why, you know, I I feel young. I am I'm 51, which, you know, kind of feels strange, I guess, when I when I say the number, but you know, it's never really been anything I've been overly preoccupied with.

SPEAKER_02 1:05

But um, but yes. Yeah, we if we keep keep thinking about the number, then we might become the number.

SPEAKER_00 1:11

Yeah. I think at some point you start going backwards, don't you?

SPEAKER_02 1:14

I I think so. Yeah. At least emotionally emotionally. That's what I always felt.

SPEAKER_00 1:19

Yes. And now how did you get started in dance? Uh, how did I get started in dance? Well, my professional career began in New York City circa 1994. Um, before that, I was a philosophy major, and then I decided, you know, I wanted, you know, I I want to pursue the arts. I want to become a dancer. So I um I was going to Smith, uh, Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts at the time. And I just decided to pick up and leave and move to New York not knowing anyone. Um, from there, I was fortunate enough to make some, you know, connections with Metropolitan Opera. Um, and I auditioned as a flamenco dancer for um Carmen and La Traviata. And um, you know, I got in. So that was, you know, kind of my first steps into my professional career dancing. Wow. Um before that, you know, I I did it more, you know, more as a hobbyist, like a a novelty. I never pursued it seriously because I grew up um, you know, big, you know, Asian family, you know, that I needed to pick a profession that would support, you know, support my, you know, my lifestyle. You know, so um, you know, I kind of rebelled against that whole idea. And I was like, no, I'm gonna be an artist.

SPEAKER_02 2:39

I love that. We are grateful you did.

SPEAKER_00 2:42

I I you know what I am, I am too. You know, as as as you know, play dance isn't the most lucrative profession and it's it's very challenging and very competitive. But um, you know, everything's a trade-off, right? You know, um if you you know, if if you if you work hard and you make the right connections, it could also be very, you know, um, obviously physically rewarding because true, you know, so good for your body, but also um, you know, creatively and you know, emotionally rewarding.

SPEAKER_02 3:14

So where where where would we have seen you if we went back to I guess the 90s? Oh guys where what stage were you have been on? Good times.

SPEAKER_00 3:22

Gen X, yes! Okay, Gen X and the Nice. Um, where would I would have been at the Lincoln Center? Um, let's see, we did tour Japan for um for a few weeks. Um that was my first time, you know, going to Japan, which was absolutely amazing. Feel very blessed to have had that opportunity. Um, you would have seen me in smaller venues because uh, you know, as a oh, let me let me backtrack a little bit. So my my focus uh with dance was flamenco at the time. And so most of the gigs there were done in what they call tapas bars, you know. Um, and it was like a nightlife scene. So you would, you know, you would go in, um, set up with some musicians. It was always live music and like this little wooden stage, you know, somewhere um in the bar area. And um, you know, people would just be drinking and you know, having, you know, having their tapas or their little, you know, their little hors d'oeuvres and snacks.

SPEAKER_02 4:17

So they weren't throwing money. Um, well, you know what?

SPEAKER_00 4:20

There were some, there were some people, like one of my friends had actually received diamonds. What a little um saschel of of diamonds from who knows, like me, I think some kind of rich Arab guy or something. Please take my diamonds. Yeah, like I mean, you know, um, not really throwing money like you would at, you know, uh when you make it rain, you know. Diamonds at a club. Yeah, yeah. Please don't please don't rain diamonds on me. At least not on the club. Put them in a satchel, please.

SPEAKER_02 4:49

Yes, please. I'm handing out satchels to you all. Oh, that's wild.

SPEAKER_00 4:55

So yeah, so um uh mixture of both like big stages, like I said, like the like uh like Lincoln Center, um, and then also just you know, small venues, especially when you're freelancing, um, which you know, which I did, you know, uh going to just like small restaurants and stuff like that, you'd you'd catch me there.

SPEAKER_02 5:12

And how did you end up in Vegas in a pole dancing studio?

SPEAKER_00 5:16

Well, I started uh pole dancing in New York. Um, you know, there I was working out a Gold's gym and there was uh, you know, they were offering pole dance classes, and I was like, oh yeah, this will be this'll be kind of fun and easy, you know. I mean, it shouldn't be that big of a transition. I'm in shape, I'm a dancer, I do yoga, blah, blah, blah. And I walked in there, you know, with a little bit of ego, and then I came out completely humbled because I, you know, there was this gorgeous instructor, and she, you know, she was talking and she was just climbing up on her pole and doing all these beautiful moves. And I was like, yeah, I could do that. And then I tried it and I was like, oh no, I can't. And I was like, but but then again, I was like, I was so determined after that. I was like, no, I'm gonna, I'm gonna get this. And it just became a huge addiction for me. And um, you know, so kind of close to the time when I was retiring from my professional dance career, I started spending more time out here in Vegas because my parents lived out here. And um, that's when I discovered your studio. I was like, oh, I kind of wandered in wide-eyed, and like, oh, this is great. There's a pole dance studio here, and I'm gonna be here for for the summer, and this is all I'm gonna do. I'm just gonna, you know, study pole dance.

SPEAKER_02 6:32

And I remember what poll you were on. You do? I do. So downstairs studio, which is no longer with polls, but downstairs studio in the middle, we have this pretend brick section, and you were on the pole, I'm pretty sure, near the middle of the room.

SPEAKER_01 6:45

Oh, that's so funny.

SPEAKER_02 6:46

Yeah, it was like third pole from the bathroom. Wild. And you were taking, I I swear, you would take two or three classes in a row with us, and then you would go to other fitness facilities and take two or three classes over there.

SPEAKER_00 6:59

Oh yeah. I was like, I I I'm I mean, I think that when you're doing something you love, you just, you know, you you you just naturally get the, you know, get the enthusiasm and and the energy and it kind of carries out through everything else in in your day.

SPEAKER_02 7:15

Yeah, and you have been dancing for so long. So to just do one hour of fitness a day might be a little odd.

SPEAKER_00 7:19

Yeah. Yeah, I thought no, it's uh that's very strange for me. I mean, well, I mean, the funny thing is that I stumbled into fitness and and danced more as a way of healing. Um, you know, there was a lot of well, I I can't say like you know, I well, I think there's dysfunction in every family or frustrations in every family, right? So you kind of want to find, you know, a way, a way out of that. And that's what dance was for me. And you know, and and poll was the same way, you know, it's like kind of creating a family and a community outside of you know, one that, you know, at times was very frustrating for me. So yeah, that makes sense.

SPEAKER_02 7:58

You know, the gateway to a different family, a different world.

SPEAKER_00 8:02

Yeah, yeah. Oh I love that. I think that's why we have such a great, you know, community at your studio. You know, it's like it's always been very welcoming, um, very open-minded.

SPEAKER_02 8:11

We are open-minded, yes. Which actually leads me perfect timing for the rapid fire moment. Oh, okay. We are gonna get to know Jenny um a little bit differently than we have been these last few minutes. So I'm just gonna lay out a few questions here, and she's gonna give the answer of the options that I'm gonna give. Okay. So ready, Jenny. Spinning or static. Spin. All right, whips or feathers. Oh, whips. I knew that. You know the answer to the question. No, but I just wanted to get it on the record. Okay, top or bottom. Oh, both, Jenny. If I could turn back time, okay. Rice or quinoa. Oh, quinoa. Coffee or tea? Tea. Morning or night?

SPEAKER_00 9:02

Morning.

SPEAKER_02 9:04

Rave or meditate, both. Exhibitionist or voyeur?

SPEAKER_01 9:11

Oh god, oh god. Um, I think more of that's a hard one. That's that's a tough one.

SPEAKER_00 9:19

I'm kind of leaning more towards the voyeur because I I am more introvert, I think. Okay, I'd like to finish on that note.

SPEAKER_01 9:26

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 9:27

I'll take it.

SPEAKER_02 9:28

Okay, cool. That was fun. Let's take a look. What are your favorite forms of dance? If you could just lay out a few.

SPEAKER_00 9:34

Favorite forms of dance. Well, flamenco, um, obviously, poll, obviously, you know. Um, I'm gonna make this a little stretch and say, you know, yoga, because even though I know yoga is, you know, more meditative practice, I also um approach it, you know, from the side of movement and and dance. And I think that when you're in that meditative flow, um, you know, it could it could feel like a dance.

SPEAKER_02 9:58

Your yoga is it's smooth. You got this vinyasa and you're going and you never run out of things to say.

SPEAKER_00 10:04

Yeah, well, it's like it's that whole idea like breath, you know, breath to movement. And you know, when you when you follow your breath, you know, you just get into, you know, that, you know, that meditative state. Meditative state.

SPEAKER_02 10:16

Now, what about injuries? How how have you made it this far? Or have you made it this far?

SPEAKER_00 10:22

Well, you know, I mean, you know, as we know, the body changes, you know. I'm I definitely have uh, you know, I I feel repetitive stress, you know, injuries throughout my body. But um I feel like I'm very um I'm very much of an intuitive mover. So um, and you know, I always preach this to my students too, that you know, um listen to your body, you know, um, you know, understand your own limits. You know, um progress is always kind of you know up and down, it's not just a straight shot up. Good point, you know, and I think that's kind of the secret to the whole longevity thing too. It's just like, you know, some days you're gonna show up and you're not gonna be your strongest, but don't beat yourself up. That's okay. You know, and then you know, um, you know, just you don't have to do the hardest thing, but just do something. Yeah. Even if it's not like you know, tricks on a pole, maybe you're just like dancing. And that's still very good for your body. And then by the time, you know, you you're rested, you can come back and do the more difficult things. But as far as injuries go, I mean, you know, I mean, just you know, if if something starts to hurt, I just don't push it. Oh, that's right.

SPEAKER_02 11:31

And you mentioned before we went live um that you hadn't had breakfast. Tell us what a day in the life of Jenny on the plate looks like.

SPEAKER_00 11:40

So usually um, well, you know, I it's known as intermittent fasting, although I like like I told you, I was doing it way before. I I was never really a breakfast person, you know, I never really felt like I needed to, you know, start my day with, you know, with food. And that and it's not for everyone. Um, but for me, I find that, you know, in the morning if I get up and I start moving, um, you know, that kind of carries me through the day energy, you know, energy wise. And then like right after I'm done um working out, then you know, I'll have I'll have my meal. So usually I'll um my my eating window is somewhere between two and ten p.m.

SPEAKER_02 12:18

Okay. So you're not doing one meal a day and fasting the rest.

SPEAKER_00 12:22

No, no, no. I mean sometimes like that'll vary. Like if I'm feeling really run down because I do, you know, try to monitor my insulin levels. Um, you know, I'll have like a little bit of a snack. Again, it's like yeah, that intuitive thing. Like this is like intermittent fasting is what I do, you know, as a standard. But, you know, I mean, if I'm just like, oh, I'm really, really sluggish. I need something, you know, just have some, you know, have some nuts, some or you know, just like a little snack.

SPEAKER_02 12:49

Little snack. Okay. So we're not doing the typical breakfast, lunch, dinner, and one or two snacks.

SPEAKER_00 12:54

No, that's like that's never really been it's too vanilla for her. I know I am kind of extreme.

SPEAKER_02 13:02

Now, if you could summarize why do you love pole dancing, what what would you tell someone, say, why do you do that? Are you do you want to be a stripper? You're a little old for being a stripper.

SPEAKER_00 13:10

Oh, jeez. Um, well, you know what? I think it a lot of it is down to um, you know, personal expression. Um, plus it's I mean, it is such an excellent form of fitness. You can't you can't argue that. Like it has completely changed my body that in ways that, you know, a gym workout could not. And it requires, you know, it requires coordination. Um, you know, it's it's an art form to me. Um plus there's so many forms of it. Like I love just, you know, doing my thing, but I love also looking around and being like, oh man, that's really like looking around at other other students or you know, or my peers, like, oh that's really cool. And I just love being supportive in that way. Um so yeah, it's it's everything. It's the it's uh it's the environment, it's the it's the workout, it's you know, it's the community.

SPEAKER_02 14:01

I love that. And do you have a poll at home? I don't know if I ever asked you.

SPEAKER_00 14:05

You know what? I I do, um, but the only time I used it was during the pandemic. Oh geez. Is it still up? It's no, I had, I had, I took it down because I just, you know, I just, well, you know what? I mean, I want to put it back up. It's like great to have a poll, you know, it's great to have a poll at all.

SPEAKER_02 14:22

It really is. I like putting it up even if I don't use it, but it just makes me feel better having it up. It's like having a fireplace or a television. Most people, no, most people don't have a fireplace, but it's nice to have one.

SPEAKER_00 14:33

It is, it is nice to have one. I mean, especially when you have like, you know, friends over and guests. It's like yes, it's like you it can't go unnoticed.

SPEAKER_02 14:41

And you know, and uh like it's actually more important than a table and chairs, in my opinion.

SPEAKER_00 14:46

When you have friends over, which makes sense, you know, considering that you own a studio.

SPEAKER_02 14:51

Yeah, when when we have people over, we do have a few apparatuses to play on.

SPEAKER_00 14:55

Yeah, oh god, I love your house. Like, you know, it's it's like it's like a jungle gym for adults.

SPEAKER_02 15:01

We might have to shoot there sometime. That would be fantastic.

SPEAKER_00 15:04

You should. You should 100%. Okay, well, maybe we'll do that. But yeah, I just, you know, I'm I'm really grateful for this journey I've been on, you know, like specifically with pole, but like with, you know, with you know all the experiences I've had leading up to this, you know, going to New York, you know, finding myself as an artist there, discovering pole, then meeting you.

SPEAKER_02 15:29

And what I love, I just remember when you say you go back to to New York, one time you came back to Vegas, shaved head, blonde hair.

SPEAKER_01 15:37

Yes. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.

SPEAKER_02 15:39

That is so hard to picture, but maybe we can dig up a picture and Javier can put it right here.

SPEAKER_00 15:44

Yes, I'll I'll I'll I'll I'll find one. I have one. I have like a little pixie. So great cut.

SPEAKER_02 15:49

So great. Oh well, Jenny, it's been so much fun to have you and um looking forward to seeing you on the poll again.

SPEAKER_00 15:57

Appreciate you.