If you follow me on Instagram you know that my Thursdays and Fridays don’t mean a cheeky pint at the pub. They mean #thirstythursday and #pdfilthyfriday in Emma Obayuvana‘s chair and lap dance classes. I interviewed London Dance Academy’s chair and lap queen for your eyes only.

If you’ve never been to Emma’s classes, I can’t recommend a better way to wind down at the end of your week. In chair and lap, things get freaky in the best possible way. When you see Emma, a former model and a tall Nigerian Ukrainian beauty, you’d never think she’s as weird and hilarious as she is. But at the end of the day, we are humping chairs. Things are bound to get awkward. Conversation is meant to be great. And you will find your inner sexy, whatever that is. Emma reveals more about dancing, fitness and teaching in this quick Q&A.

What is your goal with the chair and lap classes at LDA?

Empowerment! Connect women with their sensual side, explore their divine and soft feminine side as well as strong sassy domineering side and thus ultimately their full divine power. Make women feel strong, sexy and use it as a kind a therapy in a safe space. Where else can you go for a giggle, learn fun routine, feel great, and feel part of a supportive and warm group of women? Come to my class!

Couldn’t agree more! What’s your favourite thing about teaching?

Seeing people’s mood, self-confidence and health change in a positive way.

What does dancing mean to you? The wonderful feeling of being lost in the music, getting all the feelings out and self-expressing whatever I am feeling or going though at the time. Quite therapeutic and joyful!

Can you tell me a bit about your past as a performer?

I performed in music videos, stage (biggest being Royal Albert Hall) and a burlesque club. I stopped as my journey was taking me elsewhere. It was quite organic actually, very subtly I moved into mainly teaching. I felt like I explored that side of dance performance, with its extreme highs and extreme lows. I felt like it was time to make an impact by connecting with audience win a different way, by way of teaching.

How did the chair and lap classes start at LDA? It was actually taught by an ex lap dancer, who decided to concentrate on her own business. I took over and made it very much my own. Like me, you lead a “double life” – so the dance life and office/professional life. Do you keep them separate and why? Yes and no. My friends know what I do on both sides, and some colleagues know vaguely. I tend to keep both sides separate from my office work colleagues whom I am not close with, mainly because it’s nice to have a bit of privacy. And also it gets exhausting explaining what I do and why I want a day off, for example! How did you get into pole dancing? Complete accident! I organised a hen party for my cousin and fell in love with pole. Everyone tried for 10 minutes and carried on drinking, while I couldn’t get enough and kept twirling around! You’re also a fitness influencer – can you tell me a bit more about the other classes you teach and some more info on that aspect of your life? Happy Friday! Walk in your truth. Be unshakable. Love yourself. #unshakeable Powering though the day in @be.unshakable gear A post shared by ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Emma Obayuvana 🇺🇦🇳🇬 (@emmaoba_) on Feb 16, 2018 at 4:32am PST I teach at Third Space and FORM Studios . There I can really express my other side of fitness – loud music, resistance weights and propensity to give out burpees like there was no tomorrow. I love weight training and bodyweight exercises, HIIIT and breaking sweat this way is absolute best 🙂

You can try Emma’s classes at LDA every Thursday at 6 and every Friday at 6.30. Chances are I will be there wearing something ridiculous, and for that I’m sorry.

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