Get ready to bring the heat with dynamic moves, daring tricks, and a whole lot of attitude! We're beyond excited to welcome Tania Rem to The Brass Barre family as our latest guest instructor. (Tania’s Instagram)
You might've caught a glimpse of Tania in our Term 5 announcement, but trust us, there's so much more to this pole powerhouse. For over 10 years, Tania has been shaping her own unique style and honing her technique in the world of pole dancing. While many of us were figuring out adulting at 21, Tania was beginning to chase her teenage dream of becoming a pole dancer.
“The idea of pole dancing came to mind when I was 16 but I didn’t pursue it initially, afraid of the disapproval of my parents and boyfriend. But at 21, I started with pole sports and learned tricks on a spinning pole — Russian split, flags, stands, and more. After 3-4 months, I performed for the first time at our city's exotic sports competitions and even placed second.”
But Tania's story was just warming up. When her coach moved to China, she stepped into teaching, balancing classes at multiple studios while honing her skills through online resources. Today, Tania isn’t just excelling – she's the founder and creative force behind REM Dance and Acrobatic School and REM Stuff dancewear.
Ready to elevate your exo skills? Tania’s high-energy classes merge strength with a dynamic, confident spirit. Whether you’re refining your exo pole techniques or pushing your advanced skills further, prepare to build your stamina and challenge your limits.
Shaping the REM style
Tania's REM style is a captivating blend of spectacular stunts, bold attitude, and hip-hop influences, developed through years of dedication and hard work. Largely self-taught, Tania embraced a diverse range of inspirations.
“I was well-read, used all the materials available on the internet, and studied and trained a lot,” she shares. “I was looking for different movement styles, and followed dancers beyond just the pole dance community. Even though I’m not constantly involved in other styles, I take note of everything interesting I see and adapt it to my body’s capabilities. It’s not about blindly copying the dancer/trainer; I learned to independently analyse and understand the techniques behind acrobatic and dance elements.”
Her choreographies are born from exploration, play, and music. “I usually start with improvisation (freestyle) to the track I want and always record it on video to look for interesting moves afterward. Sometimes, I begin choreographing because of a particular sound or moment in the track that I want to highlight.
Once I have a framework, I refine it and add nuances based on the musicality. Everything is a result of searching and playing. Most often, I discover something new through improvisation, by reworking my old transitions and tricks, or by reinterpreting what I’ve seen on Instagram.”
Insights from an exo pro
Tania’s dedication to pole dancing has led her through numerous exo competitions and championships, including ZODIAC, Russia’s largest annual exotic championships. So, what makes a phenomenal exo dancer?
“It’s about individuality, charisma, and technique — qualities that are always visible. Individuality isn’t just about external appearance; it encompasses dance vocabulary, unique movements, transitions, tricks, and gestures. These elements are discovered through experimentation and practice. It requires a lot of work in the studio, participation in shows, battles, jams, and keen observation."
On her approach to teaching
Don't let Tania's cool exterior or impressive tricks intimidate you. She values building friendships with her students outside the studio, believing it fosters a positive environment. However, she adds with a smile, "when it comes to training, I always remember who's the mommy! 😁"
"During training, I’m not always strict; it depends on the day. Sometimes I push harder, and other times I’m more relaxed. However, I always expect my students to show interest, initiative, and effort in their own development. If I notice that they’ve become too relaxed, I remind them of our purpose. Training is for working hard — this is the rule.
I don’t ‘coddle’ my students or feel that I should force them to work on themselves. Instead, I focus on encouragement, providing support, and sharing my knowledge. I offer the material, share energy, inspire, and explain techniques and nuances. How a student chooses to use this guidance is up to them; we are all adults. If I see genuine interest and effort, I’ll help with their development. If not, I’ll discuss it, but if there’s no progress, I won’t force them to continue. I prefer to work with those who are motivated and eager to improve.”
Don’t miss the chance to train with Tania Rem. Limited slots are available for her EXO floorwork, tricks, and choreography classes — sign up via our booking app today! For more information, drop us a message on our Contact Us page.