We were lucky to catch up with Ciara Ulloa recently and have shared our conversation below.
Ciara, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
I’ve been involved in many projects & performances! Each one has its own unique strengths & challenges.
I love to perform at pole dance competitions, as I try to compete around the US every year. I train the choreography I created for a couple months (as well as planning the entire trip if I travel out of state) before the big day, I try to make it better every time. Last time I competed was in Los Angeles this last March, it was the best competition performance I have ever done! I wore heels for the first time, a bodysuit for the first time, & engaged with the audience like I never have before. My performance from last summer (in Orlando) was disappointing for me, so I’m glad I was able to improve.
I also love choreographing video projects for dance students ; where I teach a choreography for a couple of weeks, then my students & I film the choreography at a video/photoshoot studio to make it look like a music video. I’ve only done it twice thus far, but the first time was the best. The students were so excited & eager to learn, they worked so hard on shoot day (we filmed over 10 takes!) & then we went out to a beautiful lunch afterwards:)
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I’m a Dominican American born & raised in New York City. I got involved in dance back in 2014 when I decided to try beginner pole dancing classes. I stuck with it, & broadened my knowledge when I began taking street jazz/heels classes in 2020 when studios started to open up again. I have been performing since 2016, competing since 2017, & teaching since 2021.
I want my students to feel like they can do anything through dance. I guide them through a full warmup, discuss our goals for the class/project, & break down the choreography in parts with lots of explanation as well as demonstration.
I am most proud of getting through performances or projects that did NOT go as planned (this has happened a few times), & that I pulled through every single time & never gave up even though it was hard.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of people out there that label dancers (especially pole dancers) as “attention seeking” or “slutty” or that we only do it for the male gaze. This couldn’t be more wrong.
We do it for US ; to be comfortable in our own bodies, in our own skin. It empowers us because we see how amazing our bodies are & what we can do, all the strength we have worked so hard for.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
I’ll share two! One is linked to what I said above about people judging dancers for what we do : a couple of years ago an acquaintance viewed my Facebook story of me pole dancing in a crop top & leggings. This woman sent me long messages that what I was doing was wrong because my dancing was too “sexual”, that “everyone” spoke badly about me & that I bring shame to my community. I told her it was fine if she didn’t like my work, that she should unfollow me if it bothers her so much, & that I actually have tons of supporters . She didn’t respond & I just unfriended her. Funny thing is she started following me on IG!
Another story was a video project that did not go as planned. 2 students canceled at the last minute & the videographer arrived 40 minutes late. Once he arrived, Me & the remaining 2 students shot all the takes we could, & I apologized & offered my next project for free if they decided to return. One of the students got angry with me, telling me I wasted her time, I was unprofessional & that my choreography wasn’t that good. I again apologized but explained people coming in late or canceling was out of my control, & that if one doesn’t like my choreo (which is fine) one shouldn’t come to my class! 
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Ciara_Ulloa
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@ciararulloa3353
Image Credits
Pole Sport Organization Artekai Productions