Defy Gravity started as a Registered Student Organization at the University of Illinois in 2012. “We had four people in a class and barely knew anything about anything,” owner and Head Instructor Sarah West said. “We slowly kept growing and growing.” West is currently finishing up her PhD in Latin America Literatures and Cultures at the University. “I’m quite bifurcated right now. I have two very separate lives.”
Sarah West
Defy Gravity offers classes to suit any taste. In addition to pole fitness, West and her instructors are ready to teach an array of aerial and dance arts including Trapeze, Aerial Hoop, Yoga, Salsa Dancing, and even Burlesque, just to name a few.
While any of the workout opportunities they extend would prove to be intense, Defy Gravity offers more than just physical conditioning. Defy Gravity promotes an atmosphere of acceptance, not only of others, but also of one’s self. “Defy Gravity is kind of a magical little space,” says West. “People are extremely inclusive. We promote body positivity, so we don’t ask you to lose weight to join. We don’t ask anything along those lines.”
West says her studio is more of a community center than it is a gym, and its culture has made a positive impact on many of her clients. “I think everyone here has found that pole (fitness) has been very transformative for them. A lot of people have found that they truly can accept the way they look and feel. People have found that their self-esteem has gone up, and that has bled over into their jobs or other parts of their lives.”
While everyone is certainly welcome at Defy Gravity, West says that the majority of her students have some type of affiliation to the University. “It varies from undergraduates, to graduates, to staff, and even professors.” West’s studio is currently the only one of its kind in Central Illinois, the next closest being in Peoria. “We attract a lot of people from within a 30-50 mile radius.”
West understands that there exist some preconceived connotations about her craft, but much like the various body types she trains, they are embraced. “We don’t pretend that we are not sexual beings, and we celebrate that in many of the classes.”
While the training is available year round, Defy Gravity hosts two productions each year: the Halloween Showcase and the Graduation showcase, respectively. “Each semester, pole students prepare their own choreographies that highlight incredible feats of strength, balance and flexibility,” West advised. “While last Sunday’s event (November 8tj) marks the second Halloween-themed showcase, it is the first that included the aerial arts component.”
It would be natural for the participants to feel competitive in a performance such as this, but that is not how the students at Defy Gravity operate. The encouragement they give one another is infectious. All levels of ability participate, and each artist is cheered on as though they were on their way to winning an Olympic Marathon. One won’t find any compulsory grade school like talent show clapping here.
Defy Gravity is located at 24 E. Green St., Suite 11, in Champaign. West encourages any who are interested to come check the studio out. “I promise it is more fun than going to the gym.”