Plus Size Pole & Aerial Presents:
The Big Fat Weekender
08.05.26 - 10.05.26
The Big Fat Weekender
The UK's first Weekender by Plus Size polers for Plus Size polers.
Plus Size Pole and Aerial (PSPAA) is a community group set up in November 2024 by Velvet Summer with the intention of creating spaces and opportunities that centre plus size folks within pole dance and aerial arts.
When attending our spaces, you are invited to show up exactly as you are, and our hope is for you to experience freedom in the exploration of joyful movement and unconditional support. The Big Fat Weekender is no exception.
The Weekender is your opportunity to connect with yourself and others in the plus size community. We aim to create an experience where you feel seen and supported, while taking up space and existing as the boldest, most unapologetic version of yourself. This is a judgement free space where you can not only exist, but thrive, exactly the way you are.
Workshop Hosts
The gorgeous Asteria Studio in Manchester will be hosting us for our Weekend.When curating this event, we wanted to make sure that you are hosted by people who:
✨ are experienced in teaching people of all sizes and abilities,
✨ are mindful and intentional with their teaching practice,
✨ can hold space, and provide the level of care and guidance that you deserve along this journey, and,
✨ have lived experience pole dancing in a larger body.Over the weekend, you will have two workshops from each host.Our hosts, Beanie the Jet and Shillo Amari, are two instructors who we have truly admired over the years and we are incredibly excited and honoured to bring them to Manchester as our Weekender hosts.
Beanie The Jet
Beanie is the creator of the Filthy Friday platform. She is a self-confessed Sexual Liberator, and erotic mover. A perfectly titled Filth Queen - you'll always find her holding space to uplift others whilst advocating for Black, plus sized, queer, and sex worker angels. Beanie has not stopped using her voice pretty much since forever, but is also passionate about giving people the space to speak, be heard and be seen.
Her movement is a gorgeous blend of embodied sensual movement and fuck me style FilthyFlow. Watching her move feels totally ritualistic and captivating as fuck!
Shillo Amari
Shillo Amari is a performing artist based in Chicago, IL, originally from Detroit, making waves coast to coast and internationally. With a dance background that began in high school and a career that includes her time as a midnight ballerina, Shillo brings a deeply rooted, authentic connection to movement. With over a decade of pole dance experience, she is not only a dancer but also a performing artist, coach, judge, and medaled competitor. Known for her captivating stage presence, flowing sensuality, and unwavering advocacy for fat, midsize and curvy bodies, Shillo inspires and empowers audiences and students alike.
Community & Connection
Community & Connection are at the core of our beliefs.Being able to dance and move your body can be the most joyful and freeing experience. We want to be able to provide a space where people can start or even continue to feel this way.Our Weekender features some more social based activities for you to connect further with the group. We hope to provide the time and space for you to form lasting bonds and friendships that will continue beyond these three days.
Schedule & Packages
| Time | Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11:00 - 12:30 | BEANIE WORKSHOP | SHILLO WORKSHOP | GROUP BRUNCH |
| 14:00 - 15:30 | BEANIE WORKSHOP | SHILLO WORKSHOP | POLE JAM |
| 19:00 onwards | LIFE DRAWING | MINI SHOW | - |
Please note, schedule is subject to change.We will be keeping our group to a small intimate number of 14 people. Our weekend will be hosted at Asteria Studio, a tram ride away from Manchester City Centre. Whilst we are not organising any linked accommodation we are able to offer recommendations and help you with deciding the perfect spot.Once your spot is secured, we will ask for a deposit payment of £150.Thereafter there will be installments.
6 hours of Workshops from our 2 hosts
Life Drawing
Studio Showcase
Pole Jam
WEEKEND PASS:
£625.00
Low Income Spot
As part of our commitment to creating community spaces, we acknowledge that not everyone is in the same position or comes from the same background despite all having fatness in common. To make sure that we remain accessible to as many people as possible, we will be offering 2 low income spaces on the Weekender. These spaces will be discounted to 50%.Our low income spots are not means tested. All you need to do is to fill out our form with some brief information, and we will then enter all names to a randomised draw.This form has now closed.
How To Book
We have officially released our booking form which you can access below.We have a very limited of spots so be sure to grab yours and be a part of the first Big Fat WeekenderIf you have any questions at all, please just email us on [email protected]