The Wenson Straddle, explained
The Wenson Straddle pole dance move, often just called the Wenson, is one of those shapes that makes people stop scrolling. Your hands and arms hold the pole, your legs leave it behind and open into a wide straddle in the air. It is a big milestone in the advanced part of your pole journey, and getting there is a journey worth enjoying.
What is a Wenson Straddle in pole dance?
In the Wenson Straddle your connection to the pole comes from your hands and arms, while your legs open wide into a straddle without leaning on the pole. It looks light and almost floating, and behind that lightness sits a lot of strength and practice. The exact grip, the body position and how you get into the shape are something the tutorial and your coach take you through step by step, because those details are what keep you safe.
Is the Wenson Straddle for beginners?
Not yet, and that is completely fine. The Wenson Straddle is an advanced move. It builds on strength you develop over time through climbs, spins, inverts and conditioning, and on a grip you can trust. If it feels miles away right now, you are in good company. Every dancer you have seen do one started with their first Fireman Spin, too.
What the Wenson Straddle builds: strength, grip and control
With no leg on the pole to share the load, your shoulders, arms, back and core do most of the work. You also train your grip and the control to hold your body still in the air. Flexibility in your hips and legs makes the straddle look wide and open, but it is not what holds you up. Feeling heavy or shaky at the start is part of the process for almost everyone. Clean, dry hands, a clean pole and no body lotion on training days help your grip, and if something hurts, stop and come back to it fresh.
Static or spinning pole?
Many dancers get to know strength moves like this on a static pole first, because the pole stays still while you get used to the shape. On a spinning pole the shape travels with the pole, which looks beautiful but adds movement to think about. Explore the spinning version with your coach once the static one feels steady.
How you learn it at POLEPLACE
Like every move here, the Wenson Straddle follows the Floor-Stand-Air Method™. You start on the floor, building the shape and strength without height. Then you work on the preparation standing at the pole, and only then do you take it into the air. Breaking it down like this lets you feel each piece before you put it all together, at your own pace.
Wenson Straddle tips and what comes next
Patience is your best friend with this move. Celebrate the small wins, like holding the preparation a little longer or feeling your legs lift more easily. Regular conditioning for your upper body and core makes a big difference. Other strength shapes such as the Iron X, the Handspring and the Ayesha train similar qualities, and floor work on your straddle and the Pole Straddle at the pole help the line look long and open.
