Aerial Instructor specializing in pole, trapeze, and silks.

Group and private lessons, act development, and dance coaching available in Portland, Oregon.

Pole Dance

Sara James is an instructor at the Pole Palace in the Kenton district in Portland, Oregon. Sara is ElevatED Pole Level 1 certified and has completed Roz the Diva’s Plus-sized Pole Dancing for Instructors. With over 8 years of coaching experience, she has helped develop curriculum to make pole dancing accessible to students of all fitness abilities.

Sara is known for her dancey warm-ups, offering progressions and challenges, creative tangents, and silly humor. Sara teaches beginners through advanced, and offers private lessons and act development packages.

Current classes and schedule. Sign up online at https://www.pole-palace.com/

  • Tuesdays 11 am Floorplay (all levels)

  • Tuesdays 12:30 pm Level 2/3

Solo Act Creation (4-week Series)

Create a solo act from the ground up with Sara James, a pole, aerial, and burlesque performer with over 10 years of performance experience. Each week will focus on building the act to a performance-ready level and will include tools and consultation on topics including song selection, character development, choreography & musicality, costuming, stage presence, and more. If you've wanted to make an act but don't know where to start or you're an experienced performer looking to expand your current methods, this is the class for you.

Class will be run with a max of only 7 students, 1 person per pole ratio.  Spots extremely limited.  Early sign up recommended

At least 6 months experience required. Additional open pole or practice time highly recommended.

Early Bird Pricing (expires 2/18)
members $140
non members $150

After 2/18 Pricing
members: $150
non members $160

Aerial Arts

Sara began aerial after already having taught pole dance for several years - during classes, she was not only paying attention to what was being taught, but also how it was taught by her coaches. Sara began her aerial coaching career at Echo Theater Company, where a strong emphasis is placed on the accessible progressions and finding dance and creativity within a student’s abilities. This perspective has informed her coaching greatly (as well as other aspects of her own creative process!). Sara now teaches trapeze and silks at Afterglow Aerial Arts in Northeast Portland. She is available for privates for students of all levels at Afterglow Aerial Arts, A-WOL Dance, and Echo Theater Company.

Classes at Afterglow Aerial are series only.
Email for drop-in availability afterglowaerialpdx@gmail.com

Check the website for registration.

  • Thursdays 9 - 10 am Aerial Sampler

  • Thursdays 10 - 11:30 am Dance Trapeze

  • Thursdays 11:45 - 1 pm Fluidity and Flow

  • Thursdays 1 - 2:30 pm Silks 1-3

Workshops

Freestyle: Fluidity and Flow

Learn the art of flow and develop skills for improvisational movement. Freestyle dancing can help bring your performances to the next level by serving as a base for developing choreography, building confidence in audience interactions, and knowing what to do if it all goes wrong. This workshop will explore movement patterns, stylistic choices, and performance qualities.  Open to all levels of movers, whether you are new to dance or an established performer looking to move beyond existing movement patterns and develop new movement practices.

Floorplay

Expand your power, sensuality, and grace in this floor-bound class led by Sara James. Taught in a playful and accessible way, students will be guided through exercises to strengthen dance technique and movement patterns while exploring fluidity, flow, and stylistic choice. Perfect for dancers all levels, this class empowers you to integrate the movement into your body in a way that feels natural and uniquely yours.

Kneepads/coverings suggested. Can include chair play, if available.

The Chair Affair

Go beyond the traditional in this chair dance workshop with Sara James. Explore the multitude of ways to use the chair as an apparatus to convey power and seduction. Students will be led through technique-building sequencing followed by exercises to encourage them to add their own stylistic spin. Whether you are just beginning chair dance or are in a long-term relationship with it already, spice up the possibilities with Chair Affair!

Sturdy folding chairs or steel stacking/banquet chairs required.

Fierce Floorwork

Slink, twerk, and clack your way along the floor with some of Sara’s favorite floorwork moves! Sara will break down moves like clock legs, leg stirs and sweeps, sexy kitten, heel clacks, booty shaking, faux splits, and more. These will be put into choreography that will leave you feeling fierce! Suitable for all levels.

Stripper heels and knee pads recommended.

Student Testimonials

  • Sara is amazing very sweet and animated! She is good at pointing out how students can improve their technique or tricks. She has us share about ourselves during class which helps make you feel more connected and comfortable with everyone

    Clara C.

  • Class is amazing and Sara J is a gem! I always feel supported, get help with modifications when needed, and have so much fun.

    Sadie G.

  • Great class! Sara is an encouraging (and entertaining!) teacher! She does a wonderful job giving each student a challenge to meet them at their skill set. Highly recommend coming to class.

    Kat V.