In conversation with Maya Hart | Images by Sky Sirens’ Creative Team
Introduce yourself!
My name is Tani and my pronouns are she/her. I am a Sky Sirens Pole student and have been for about a year. I found out about the studio from walking past and seeing the bright, beautiful window display!
How do you identify?
I identify as fat but am happy to use the term plus-sized too. I prefer to use the word fat, however, as it is a way for me to reclaim the word and shape it (pun intended) in a positive light.
I often find people still seem to use the word fat as an insult or as a way of diminishing me, which is ironic because I would never want to diminish any of the larger-than-life size I am rocking.
Every time I hear someone say "you're not fat, you're beautiful", as if the two things are mutually exclusive, or some other statement that perpetuates the word fat as being an unwanted state of being, my motivation to destigmatize fatness is renewed. I'm lucky in that I have generally always been quite confident about being fat, and I think the world is beginning to accept it more too, which helps. It’s encouraging to see more and more body types being celebrated, and as a fat, bisexual, person of colour, I am always wanting to celebrate the new milestones for an inclusive culture.
I think so much of my own self-love comes from having a great supportive network and community around me.
Sky Sirens has added to that, being this incredible place I can come to dance, embrace my sensuality, feel sexy, learn new skills and make new friends all while walking around in the tiniest lingerie and being encouraged to not only let it all hang out but give it a shimmy too!
How has your experience at Sky Sirens been?
Sky Sirens has been the best dance studio I have ever been to. It made me feel so comfortable, the moment I walked through the door. So inclusive, that even my 50+-year-old mother joined me after seeing how confident, strong and happy I was becoming after 6 months of classes.
