This Place I Know
Amy Dana-Mayernick
When I need to get high, I drive all the way to Forty Fort, Pennsylvania. It’s over an hour from my house, so it’s quite a hike. There’s an old brick warehouse at 900 Rutter Avenue. Formerly a factory, the 138,000- square-foot complex is covered both inside and out with pic- torial renderings in neon spray paint. The exterior entrances are guarded by figures of brushed and twisted metal. At the end of the sprawling park - ing lot is a painted steel fence adorned with walking bears, an homage to a rock and roll band of the distant past. A quick jaunt up a graffitied indoor stairwell leads to the second floor, and at the end of the hall behind a locked glass door, there lies a room where eight chrome bars are affixed securely to both the ceiling and the floor, spanning the height of the room and reaching altitudes of 16 feet. And that’s where I go when I need to get high enough to execute a 10-foot drop or an aerial tumble without hitting the floor. Waves Pole Studio is an atypically spacious dance room for the NEPA scene, and it’s where I go to practice once a week during competition sea- son. Formerly Taboo Pole Fitness, Waves changed ownership in 2023 and re-opened its doors to pole artists and athletes at varying skill levels. In keeping with the aquatic theme, Waves names its class offerings “Ripples” for beginners, “Swells” for intermediate dancers, and “Rogues” for the most advanced polers. In addition to uniquely tall poles, the studio offers wall-to-wall mirrors in the front, natural light from a large window at the rear, and multicolor LED lighting to create ambiance. The wood plank floors are both smooth and durable; they are easy on bare feet and skin, but also sturdy enough for drops and heavy heelwork. Looking upward, the ceiling tiles are monochro-
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