Candace Cane: “I Have A Leg Up In My Field Because of My Sexuality”

By Jennie Roberson

May 26, 2020

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We all look up to someone in our lives — and sometimes I mean that physically. Exotic aerialist and go-go pole dancer extraordinaire Candace Cane has blazed her way through the Los Angeles pole & aerial community to create an inimitable brand of sweetness and strength. Recently I sat chatted with Candace to discuss her turn on My Name Is Dolemite, running away to the circus, and all things queer.

JENNIE ROBERSON: How did you come to identify as bi?

Candace cane: I realized I was bi when I was young.

I’d say my first official crush in third grade [was] on this really tall, beautiful tennis player girl. I told my mom about it, and at the time she was like, “Well, honey, you can only be bisexual if you’re having sex.” And I wasn’t having sex, but I knew I had these feelings, that I felt the same looking at this girl as when I was looking at a boy. So I’d say I was nine years old when I discovered that I was bisexual.

How do you see yourself as an artist, and how does being bi fold into that?

CC: I feel that I’m a multifaceted artist. I’m not in one singular box, both as an artist and sexually, clearly; I’m not just hetero and I’m not homo, I’m in the middle.

I feel that being bisexual I can placate more — especially since I’m in the go-go dancing field and entertainment — I can really placate more to my audience: not just men, but the women. And I know how to make them feel good and appreciated, make them feel seen with what I’m doing. So it’s equal. I have a little bit of a leg up in my field because of my bisexuality.

What has your experience been like being out as a bi artist?

CC: My experience has been pretty chill. I’ve been involved in the LGBTQIA+ community since I was young. I’ve always attended Pride and either been a part of the floats or some event, singing and dancing and whatnot. So I generally feel pretty accepted. Outside of the community, I don’t think it’s brought up so much as far as my sexuality, so I don’t feel it makes a big difference; no one really treats me any sort of way.

The only thing that would be somewhat questionable is when I’m teaching classes — I offer pole dances and flexibility and twerking and all of that. I don’t know if I’ve ever had students that may have felt uncomfortable because of my sexuality. If they have, they haven’t said anything to me.

But yeah, I don’t feel like it’s been such a big deal. I do my art, and people leave me alone. [Laughs]

Editor's Note 5/25/2020: Candace Cane is currently teaching classes on Zoom if you want to use this time to perfect those twerking skills or finally get into the splits, check out her Instagram for more info. 

Anything you’d like people to know about you that maybe isn’t part of your public persona?

CC: I’m such an open book, I don’t know. I feel like most people know everything about me! [Laughs] But that’s all in my head.

I’m really just a chill person. Outside of even Instagram, or people seeing me and whatnot, I’m gonna make you feel great and all that. But the moment the lights are off, I’m so calm and collected and usually really high because I enjoy cannabis; that’s how I soothe all the aching muscles [for the work] I partake in.

I’m even more chill in person than people would think. I’m also a lot shorter. People who have only seen me on the internet and then meet me, they’re all, “You’re — you’re not tall!” I’m like, “I know; I never said I was.” But people have this conception that I’m this giant because I’m in heels.

So you say you’re more chill. Would you say you’re more introverted, then, when you’re not working?

CC: Yeah! When I’m not on stage, I don’t like to be around people. I’m not a people person. I’m an entertainer, I’ll entertain a crowd, but when I’m not entertaining I don’t care to be around people... So I don’t do a lot of socializing outside of work.

How did you first get involved in pole & aerial work?

CC: I first got involved by taking a pole dance class in 2012 after seeing another pole dancer perform at a dance club. She was the ambiance performer in the dance club for the night, and I thought what she was doing was super strong and sexy, and I wanted to be that.

So I sought [out] classes and started taking classes 2-3 times a week, [then went] 3 times a day. And through getting into pole, it made me open up my eyes to other forms of circus arts, such as lyra — which is the aerial hoop — and trapeze and silks and hammock and hanging pole and ropes and strap. I tried pretty much everything.

So I think the initial seeing someone do something I was fond of was what made me want to try it. Then, after I got good at it and realized I am now the person inspiring other people to do it has kept me going.

How does it feel having gone from observing to becoming the observed in that specific line of work?

CC: I think it’s fantastic. I think being able to fulfill what the other person had done for me — as a matter of fact, I’ve had people reach out and tell me I inspired them to start training and inspired them to start getting more flexible. I feel like that’s what you’re supposed to do it for — whether it be for the entertainment of other people or to inspire other people. There are other people outside of music and even dance [that do it]. I dance, but I dance with an aerial apparatus, so it’s a little bit different than people who dance on the floor. 

Since so many of your skills are focused in the circus arts, have you ever wanted to run away with the circus, or perform with Cirque de Soleil?

CC: Totally! I’ve always dreamed of being in Cirque du Soleil, especially now that pole dancing is more prevalent. They have a pole dancer in the Michael Jackson “One” show. I actually know some of the people who have performed that piece, and I’m like, “Man, I want that job.” Even just to swing around where you can sing.

I think the circus is a wonderful thing. People assume if you’re running off to the circus, [either] you’re a weirdo or you’re running away from your problems. I’m like, “Nah, I’m running away to the fun.” It looks like they have so much fun and enjoy their lives between the cities, the songs, and entertaining the guests and inspire someone to do that. If given the opportunity, I would fucking run away with it. 

You describe yourself on your social media as an exotic aerialist. What should someone expect to see if they come to one of your shows with aerial work?

CC: You can expect to see a mix of sensuality, flexibility, feats of strength. You can expect to see jaw-dropping tricks [that] might make your heart jump out of your chest — all while I do it with a smile. [Laughs]

I pride myself on being a well-rounded entertainer, and the fact I showcase my flexibility but I’m also strong, so I’m able to hold myself up in these positions. I’m also fun and flirty. So I would be doing a trick that requires a lot of strength and flexibility you might feel is super hard, but I do it with a smile on my face and look you in your eye and make you feel good as hell while I’m doing it.

Do you have a favorite show-off move? As an observer, my personal favorite of yours to watch is the death-drop, but maybe you have a different one you love performing.

CC: My favorite show-off move would be tumbling down the pole, which is a series of tricks I do descending down the pole and then eventually land in a split. I can take it from the top all the way to the bottom just going through these motions, and then wham — drop it like it’s hot into a split.

So I think that’d be my favorite, although I think the crowd’s favorite is when I do the nosedive from the top of the pole. From the floor, people go crazy over that. 

You’ve also moved from performing to teaching your craft — I took a twerkshop from you myself!

What surprises you the most about teaching your skillset to others?

CC: I am surprised at the number of people who doubt themselves before they even try. A lot of people will come to class and they kind of give me this forewarning of “I’m not good, I don’t have much butt. I don’t know if you’re gonna be able to help me.” And I’m like, “Well you’re helping yourself out by showing up, firstly. And secondly, you’re gonna be able to do it. It may not look the way I do it or the girl next to you, but I will be able to help you utilize and move whatever you’ve got.”

So I feel like, as a whole, women and men have this idea they have to apologize for not performing at a certain level, even though they’ve never actually tried to be there yet. I’m like, “This is why you’re in class! To learn.” It’s okay — you don’t have to be sorry if you get it wrong. That’s why I’m here, to help you and adjust you so you can celebrate the subtle victories instead of worrying about what you’re doing that’s wrong.

You also do acro yoga. How did you get involved in that particular form?

CC: I’ve been doing yoga and acro yoga since I was eight or nine years old. I used to be part of a traveling troupe called the YogAngels. We’d do demonstrations of yoga and partnered acro-yoga at different schools and events. That’s something I’ve been doing for almost twenty years — specifically going out to Santa Monica Beach, to the original Muscle Beach where the green grass is. That’s where a lot of the acro people will meet up. In 2017, my husband and I won the US National Pole Champions doubles category.

So once I got into pole dancing and then realizing there’s such a thing as partnered pole dancing, I was interested in trying to combine the floor acro and seeing what you can do to add that into a combination for a pole routine with the doubles. 

You’ve danced for AmBi in Pride multiple times. What’s it like to be a public face in such a huge queer event?

Photo/Jennie Roberson

CC: I love it. Honestly, dancing on the float for AmBi is one of my favorite things in the whole wide world to do, because I’m there celebrating me, my love for people, and everyone else’s love; just the fact we’re equal-footed to go forth and be with whoever we wanna be with, and that we’re being recognized. The amount of energy I feel when I’m up on that float with the people around me — I mean, there are thousands and thousands of people lined up [on] the streets who are all there for the name of love and celebration.

And I love that AmBi is a thing to begin with because there is so much bisexual erasure, and people feel like you’re just undecided until you “pick a team”. I’ve had people say to me, “Well, you’re married, so you must be straight.” Well, my web browser says something different. [Laughs]

But in all fairness, I think people need AmBi, and celebrating the fact that we are here, we are queer, and giving us a platform to showcase it. Bi people come in so many shapes and sizes and colors and ages — there’s not one box you can put us in.

I love dancing for AmBi and being with my people. It’s a beautiful thing.

My Name Is Dolemite (2019). Tell me everything about that experience.

CC: That was a really fun set to be on, working with people who are so famous and well-respected, artists and actors and musicians.

I didn’t get to spend too much time talking with Eddie [Murphy] himself — he was pretty busy on set [and] kind of kept to himself — but I did have fun moments between takes with Wesley Snipes and Craig Robinson. And those guys are both equally hilarious.

Wesley Snipes actually used to hang out at Century Club years ago, and was friends with my mom at one point. That was the first thing [I mentioned;] I was just like, “Hey, you know my mom!” And he was like, “I ain’t your daddy.” [Laughs] I wasn’t gonna say that. It was really great talking to him; he instilled in me some knowledge as far as acting and what it’s like to take it seriously, the things you have to do — you don’t wanna ever doubt yourself, and just go for it.

Craig Robinson I probably spent most of my time with on set. He is very musically inclined, and I didn’t realize that before — I just didn’t know. He was playing the pianist in the movie and I was the dancer, so while I’m dancing on stage, he was the one playing. And between takes, he would play a random song and I would start singing, and the guys on percussion would start jamming in, and then we were having a full-on session. And the director would turn around and be like, “You guys’ve gotta be quiet!”. So we’d shut up for a second. And then [Craig] would look at me and he’d start playing another song and said, “Go ahead and sing,” and I was like, “You’re gonna get me in so much trouble, dude.” [Laughs] But it was fun!

I just had a lot of fun singing and dancing on set. It was so cool to see how much camera time I actually got. For a moment I sat down with Craig Brewer (the director) and spoke with him, and he gave me cool pointers as far as being respectful on set and just doing your due diligence to make sure you’re doing what you’re supposed to. And people take notice of that — you may not think they’re looking, but they’re looking. I was like, “Well, that’s good, ‘cause I’m always on my p’s and q’s.” 

What would surprise the average person that is really common in your line of work? Is it the training? Behavior while you’re working? Unusual tools or supplies you need?

CC: That is a deep question. I mean, there’s a lot that people don’t know!

I’d say [they don’t know about] the aftercare for what we do — especially after as a pole dancer and an aerialist... People know how much we train — it’s obvious because they see what we can do. But it’s the taking care of your body after the training — the after massages, the foam rolling, the soaking in hot baths with epsom salts, wearing compressions on your wrists — that is the stuff that isn’t commonly talked about. Including the use of CBD oils and CBD topicals to help minimize the pain.

I do everything with a smile, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt.

Do you feel like CBD products are really prevalent amongst dancers like yourself, or were they rare and have become more common to use? 

CC: I mean, I love them. I have a specific brand I work with that I like; I use their drops and topical oils for physical aches and pains.

I think it isn’t as popular in the pole community. Most people reach for Tiger Balm or something of that nature. I believe in the power of CBD, and it helps me specifically in certain injuries I’ve endured. I believe it’s a godsend, and I feel that if more people were aware of it, they would probably use it and find the right [one] for them.

A lot of people who work in the industry — the CBD industry and the cannabis industry — are trying to target people who are working and working out with these products. However, a lot of the products out there don’t have the full amount of CBD that is actually going to help. Yes, it has some CBD in it, but it’s not enough to do what you got it for, so it’s kind of pointless.

Do you have any upcoming projects you’d like to talk about?

CC: In the fall, I have the 2nd annual Pole Candy, a fashion show I’ll be producing. It’s a polewear/streetwear fashion show, pretty much for people in the aerial community. It’s a lot of clothes that are tailored to people who do pole dancing or other types of aerial arts, as well as casual stuff you’d wear stretching out or working out.

The reason we do it with the pole is we show the functionality of the outfit. “Look, your lips won’t fall out,” and “Look, your tits stay in.” A lot of pole outfits are so cute, but you put them on and can’t dance in them because you’re gonna fall out all over the place, and most of the time people don’t want that to happen. 

Finally: Any advice for people who have newly come out as bi, and/or any advice you wish you could have given yourself before you came out?

CC: Don’t take the jokes people will make about you so seriously. People tend to make jokes about things they don’t understand, and allowing your feelings to get hurt isn’t gonna do you any justice. Instead, either just laugh at them being so small-minded to make those jokes, or brush it off — water off a duck’s back.

People are always going to challenge your sexuality with things like, “Oh, you must like one more,” or “Do you like people evenly?” They’re always going to try to say you’re one way more than the other. But people say things regardless of what sexuality you are.

I mean, just don’t let what people say deeply affect you — as long as you’re happy and living your truth, that’s all that matters. People can’t stop you from being you. Only you can.

*** This interview was conducted on 3/12/2020 and has been edited and truncated for brevity and clarity.

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