Born from a birthday gift, a required MOQ and years of searching for kneepads made for a body like mine.

Moane by Milani Symoane

The Story Behind

Moane started with a birthday gift to myself.

It was June 2023. I just wanted a kneepad that actually fit — something that wouldn’t slide or dig in every time I hit the floor. The minimum order was 100, so I bought 100, even though I only needed one.

I wasn’t thinking about building anything. I was thinking about not wanting my knees to be the reason I stopped doing something I loved.

By the end of 2023 I was standing behind a vendor table at showcases and competitions, watching other dancers reach for the same relief that had gotten me through — and realizing I wasn’t alone in needing it.

2024 brought Pole Con, and with it, the Cinnabons — the original circular single strap kneepad, and the piece that became Moane’s signature. They were quick to put on and adjustable enough to fit just right, session after session.

Made for what dancers actually need on the floor, and nothing they don’t: enough cushion for repeated contact, with an open back that lets you transition straight to the pole.

2025 - Pole Con again.

The community kept showing up, and so did we.

2026 - Pole Con, and the next evolution: the 2.0 single strap, refined from everything the floor has taught us since Cinnabon. (Still deciding on her name. She’ll earn it.)

This is still just the beginning. Every session on the floor teaches us something we didn’t know we needed, and Moane grows right along with it. If you’re new here — welcome. I’m building this one piece at a time, and I’d love for you to stick around and see where it goes.

You Shouldn't have to choose between feeling Protected and Feeling Confident. With moane, that stops now.

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The Dancer Behind Moane

I have been part of the pole community for over a decade, growing from student to instructor, performer, competitor, showcase curator, and entrepreneur. My work is especially rooted in floorwork, low flow, sensual movement, flexibility, and helping dancers build confidence in how they move and express themselves.

my pole journey Began in 2013 and I quickly found a practice that would become a lasting part of my life. Over the years, I trained across multiple studios, eventually stepping into teaching in 2019. Since then, I have taught flexibility, sensuality, Liquid Motion, floorwork, and low flow, as well as classes and private experiences for groups ranging from intimate sessions to large bachelorette and birthday parties.

My teaching and movement style have been shaped by continued education through certifications including XPERT Level 1 and 2, Liquid Motion 1.0, 2.0, and Heels, along with workshops and intensives with respected artists across the pole industry. I have also had the opportunity to travel and train through Black Girls Pole, with experiences in Hawaii, Bermuda, and South Africa that expanded both my artistry and connection to the global pole community.

Performances have always been one of the most meaningful parts of my pole journey. I have performed in studio showcases, traveling productions, virtual events, and at Pole Con five times, including with Black Girls Pole and in Dangerous Curves. I also competed in Kiss My Curves and Sexy vs Trixie, earning first place in my category in both and second overall in Kiss My Curves. One of the projects closest to my heart was the Opulent Affair, the first plus sized showcase in Atlanta., a showcase I curated to celebrate plus-size polers and create the kind of space and representation I wanted to see more of in the community.

In 2023, I was invited to speak at the Beginner Pole Summit, where 25 instructors presented across five days to an audience of more than 1,300 polers.

In 2024, I taught through pregnancy until I was nine months along - a season that deepened my relationship to movement, body awareness, and adaptation.

That lived experience is also what informs my kneepad business. Because I come from the world of floorwork, performance, sensual movement, and real studio training, I understand firsthand that dancers need support gear that protects them without compromising confidence, comfort, style, or movement. My goal is to create and contribute to products that reflect the actual needs of pole dancers - especially those who want to feel both supported and seen.

I am currently in a season of transition, motherhood, and continued growth in floorwork and flexibility. Even away from a home studio, pole remains an integral part of my life and a central part of how I create, connect, and serve.