What does “ugly” tell us about what we think is “beautiful?”

Pole movement artist Callum Stevens is known worldwide for his incredible flexibility and expressive, fluid routines. In this episode, Siân travels to Edinburgh to take Callum’s signature “Ugly Pole” workshop and explore his specialist subject: the huge range of things you can unlock in movement, dance and creative work by focussing on “ugly” instead of trying to force it into “beauty.” Callum uses “ugly” in his own practice and with other artists to open more creative possibilities, question what is “beautiful” and play with all the interesting material around the edges.

We talk about the joy of collaborating with artists across different mediums, what you can learn from the most undignified onstage performance mishaps, and balancing pole around another full-time career. Siân is delighted to find out she’s not the only poler who’s been massively overshadowed by seagulls and whose playlist includes unhealthy quantities of Lana Del Rey.

Taking this workshop was part of Siân’s QUEER NATURES Artist Residency with University of Exeter, funded by Arts & Humanities Research Council, with in a performance at Venus Pole London on 24 May 2025.

Find Callum on Instagram @callumspoledance

Thanks for listening! If you're enjoying the show, you can help us keep making it by becoming a a Patreon or leave a tip by buying us a Ko-Fi !

Pole the Other One! was created by Siân Docksey, edited by Beth Crane with original music by Amelia Bayler. Find us on Instagram: @poletheotherone