Who We Are

Blackstage is an events company that was founded by Leila Davis AKA Cutie Whippingham in March 2020. Blackstage was founded as a direct response to the lack of diversity in the pole industry and the lack of opportunities for Black people and people of colour (BPOC) who pole dance. Davis draws from her experiences being a part of the London QTIBPOC scene and all of the events she has been involved with since entering the scene in 2015. She says “I was tired of the lack of representation of BPOC and I was tired of the white, non-sex worker allied, pole narrative which also erases trans and non-binary polers. I wanted a space for the community I love and see, to be loved and seen by all as it should be. I want the pole industry to be decolonised”.

Blackstage isn’t an organisation with a team, it is more of a project/movement that is decentralised and focuses more on the goal of benefitting the BPOC community. As a result, Blackstage often collaborates with brands and different organisations to bring opportunities and goods to BPOC pole dancers.