By Natalie Murphy

As she finishes teaching a full class, The Diva Dive owner Sally Corbin, 42, walks around the studio in her 6-inch pole dancing heels. Between the clicks of her shoes on the hardwood floors, she and her students laugh and chat as they prepare the floor for the next class.

The walls of The Diva Dive, a pole and aerial silk fitness center off College Avenue, are hot-pink and sparkly, painted by one of the studio’s loyal students. Lining them are pieces of decor holding many stories and memories, such as the unicorn head made out of Corbin’s first pair of pole heels and the studio’s very first sign that was mounted outside of their old location.  

The overall aura of the studio may be familiar to those who have taken dance classes prior, but it’s the community and comradery aspect, both within and inside the walls, that set the gym apart from others.

“It’s a very supportive environment,” said The Diva Dives’ student Mary O’Neil, 33.

She, alongside student Inger Bakaric, 54, sat on the pink couch in the entrance of the studio after their class. The two of them, both good friends, bounce thoughts off of each other as they talk about their love for pole fitness. 

“It’s empowering. It really changed my life,” Bakaric said. “It’s a whole body makeover, mentally and physically. I have such wonderful friends from it and I’m stronger and more confident all the way around.”

Despite the stigma surrounding pole dancing, the environment created in the space is friendly, respectful, empowering and strong as well as sexy. 

One of the beauties of the Diva Dive is that they are advocates for women embracing their beauty and sexuality. Corbin and instructor Sydney Wingo, 21, who is a University of Arkansas junior, both agree that they wouldn’t want to change that side of the art.

“I don’t necessarily know that I would change the fact that it is seen as sexy. I just think that it’s not a bad thing to be sexy or not a bad thing for women to want to feel sexy, and it shouldn’t be demonized,” Wingo said.

For Corbin, the payoff comes from watching her students enjoying themselves in the mirrors lining the studio’s walls. She jokes that she often tells her students to use them to admire their movements and beauty because they were expensive, but the real truth is that they provide dancers with a visual that allows them to grow in technique as well as confidence.

“I don’t know what the world does to women before they get to our door, but it’s our job to fix it. I have so many students that I’ve seen come through the door and can barely look at themselves in the mirror, because they are believing the lies the world has told them,” she said.

 “And I love it when I see that unconfident girl and see her look in the mirror and she has appreciation for herself and she realizes how beautiful, sexy and capable she is. That is the moment for me when I’m like ‘My job here is done’,” Corbin adds.

While pole fitness does wonders for one’s confidence and mentality, it is also a great form of exercise. Similar to ballet or other forms of dance, it may appear to be easy by the output of professionals, but pole dancing is very physically demanding of the upper body and core. Which is why, no matter your dance background, The Diva Dive starts you in beginner level classes.

O’Neil, an intermediate level student, and Bakaric, an advanced level student, agree they are in the best shape of their life. This may come as a shock after learning Bakaric previously competed in triathlons, but it goes to show the hard-working testament and the strength needed for pole dancing. 

Wingo, who had dance experience prior to taking and teaching pole classes, felt the same challenge and determination after taking her first class at The Diva Dive

“I was tired and I was sore, but I felt so good just watching myself either in the mirror or taking videos and looking back on them. I felt so good, that I think that’s when I was like ‘Okay, this is something I love’,” She said.

Although the pole and aerial fitness gym has done so much good within the Fayetteville community, it hasn’t been without hardships and outside discrimination. 

Back in 2013, when The Diva Dive opened, being the first of its kind in Northwest Arkansas, the studio was met with snide comments and remarks by conservative-minded citizens. 

“When I started pole dancing in 2010 or 2011, you didn’t talk about it because people had this whole negative connotation about it here in this part of the country,” Corbin said honestly.

Corbin has also been an advocate for the sport on social media, getting into battles with Facebook and Instagram for shadowbanning pole dance content and ads across the platform. In 2019, a letter she wrote to Instagram gained national recognition after being reposted by United Pole Artists to their large audience.

Although, in recent years the overall idea of pole dancing has gained acceptance, not only in the media but in Fayetteville, its stigma can still be felt.

As a U of A student, Wingo said she is very selective when it comes to the people she talks with about her job. 

“If you’re with people that you know are going to think it’s cool, then you have no shame whatsoever. If you are in a crowd of people you know are going to look at you and think bad things about you and maybe your character, you don’t bring it up,” she said.

The studio has also faced unfortunate scenarios with ill-intentioned men, resulting in the studio becoming a female only establishment, but Corbin and Wingo said it’s worth noting the talent and impact male pole dancers have in the craft.

Above all, the pole studios main goal is to create a safe space for their students. One that’s directed away from stigma and judgment. 

“None of us are in here doing this for someone else. We’re after our own goals and achieving something for ourselves,” Corbin said.

For those interested in taking classes at The Diva Dive, they offer a multitude of pole, aerial, pilates and dance classes open to all ages. There are also Intro to Beginner Pole classes everyday of the week for those who are interested in trying it out. 

The instructors encourage coming in with a beginner mindset and only ask that their work is taken seriously. 

“I love watching people realize their limitless potential. That’s what it’s all about,” Corbin said.