The Sensualist: Kennady Schneider on Training Mikey Madison for Anora, Migration Stories and the Banality of Sex Work

Words: Ramona Slick | Photographer: Andrea Riba | Production coordinator: Sofia Riba | Stylist: Valeria Semushina | Hair and Makeup: Caitlin Krenz for Exclusive Artists | Videographer: Hannah Ceisler | Gaffers: Dylan Doren and Jonah Garland

Make it stand out

My first time on the club stage, I was like a deer in headlights. Afterward, I studied the seasoned dancers as they shimmied on stage, seducing customers with a perfectly timed hair flip, a slow grind, and a twirl through the air on the shiny pole. These goddesses were a perfect mixture of confidence, strength, and softness. For 6 minutes, they made what I thought physically impossible appear effortless… all in 8” heels. There’s a reason strippers are considered the rock stars of sex work. Like athletes and other working-class laborers, our bodies are our instruments, how we use them is everything. By watching the OGs, I learned that seductive movement is not just a meal ticket, it is an art form with precise intention. 

No one knows that better than Kennady Schneider, pole dance coordinator for Anora. Based in Los Angeles, Kennedy is a stripper, pole instructor, and multi-disciplinary artist. Through months of preparation, Kennady transformed Mikey Madison into a pole princess fit for the night shift. Kennady's training and attention to detail shone as we watched Ani move through the club floor like a well-oiled machine. By building the titular character’s movement with the help of a working dancer, Madison’s prowess lent the film authenticity. As we talked, Kennady’s immense love and respect for the craft were palpable, her eyes lighting up as she talked about performing and coaching. Passion and drive get you far in this world, and Kennady is busy hustling her way to the top. 

Before we begin, can I see your nails? They are so cute.

I go to get my nails done by another sex worker. I only trust strippers with my nails.

Same! We just have a vibe. How did you get into sex work?

I got into stripping when I was a graduate student. I knew that I wanted to strip, and I was so scared. I took a pole dance class and became part of the pop-up strip clubs that happen around LA. My career as a stripper started at the same time as my career as an entertainer in live performance, film, and TV. As I was learning this craft and becoming a part of this industry, my identity as a performer blossomed. My identity with both industries speaks to one another; how I understand stripping and the entertainment industry. 

JACKET: DOLCE & GABBANA | SHORTS: MM6 | GLOVES: HERMES VINTAGE | SHOES: MANOLO BLAHNIK

Was that how you got connected to Anora?

I teach clients on the side how to pole dance. I have a wide range of clients, from strippers to soccer moms. I was approached directly through a referral to Mikey, who I initially thought was just interested in the craft of pole dancing. I didn't know this was for a film. I was just really focused on teaching her the craft. A couple of sessions in, she opened up to me and told me more about the project. And I was like, “Oh my gosh, that's so amazing”. That's when I was asked to be brought on in to choreograph and consult Mikey. We had a great connection and rapport. We're both very empathetic individuals. That's when the world of ANORA opened up to me.

SWEATER: COMME DES GARCON | SKIRT: JUNYA WATANABE | TIGHTS: WOLFORD | SHOES: STYLIST’S OWN

What was your creative input on ANORA?

My job was to understand Anora and how Mikey embodied this character, who Anora was through movement. We had been prepping for her role for months. I helped Mikey build who this character was and how she moved. Where is Anora from? Where is she going? What are her sensibilities? What moves would this character be doing in the club, and what seems realistic to club culture? We talked about how polished versus how raw this movement should be. That all impacted the way that I was going to choreograph and build with Mikey. 

What would be your perfect stage set?

For my first stage song, I like anything slow and sensual, like Crew by Gold Link. Princess vibes when I'm on stage! The second song has to be, like, a money-throwing song. I love Stick Talk by Future.

“I was able to take these systems and manipulate them in a way that I could monetise and thrive.”

I think Future operates at a frequency only strippers can hear. In or out of the club, what part of Ani’s story feels the most relatable to you?

I relate to Ani’s immigration story and how she wasn't confident in her ancestry. Ani says her grandmother never learned English, so she speaks Russian poorly now. I was thinking about Migration Stories and how immigration happens for various reasons, whether it's forced immigration, fleeing from something, and how people's stories get fractured. I related to it because my ancestry is extremely fractured, and I don't have that direct lineage to grasp. I admire Ani’s ability to ground herself in this contemporary space and feel self-possessed and self-assured. 

How has being a sex worker impacted your worldview?

It's so complicated, but it's so informative to how we view the world. I live in my head, and I'm very analytical. I'm always very critical of the systems around me. Becoming a sex worker almost magnifies these issues. Racism is going to be tenfold inside the club. You're going to experience sexist interactions like no other. When I realized that, it became an acceptance because I couldn't run from them. They are part of this. I was able to take these systems and manipulate them in a way that I could monetise and thrive. How can I exploit this? How can I exploit the racism that exists in and out of the club? How can I play into these sexist remarks? How can I make this into a tangible dollar? 

Nothing will politically radicalize you more than working in a stripclub. There are so many systems of oppression that are up against us. You have to put up with some terrible people for a bag.

On the flip side, the positive parts of the industry are the other sex workers I’ve met. I feel so held by the community for real.

“I'm always very critical of the systems around me. Becoming a sex worker almost magnifies these issues.”

In this industry, you must be community-minded, considering we are honestly all we have. How does ANORA reflect our lived experiences?

I feel like this film does a great job of painting sex work as being a working-class job, which it is. There isn't a huge glamorization, and it shows the banality of the work. I felt the anxiety that I feel when I have to approach a client. I felt disappointed when she got rejected. It’s important to feel seen as sex workers because we don't get a lot of realistic representation. Someone was comparing this film to PRETTY WOMAN- if this is being compared to that, there needs to be more representation.

“I feel like this film does a great job of painting sex work as being a working-class job, which it is.”

Critics and civilian audiences love the film. Do you think that’s going to spark conversation about being a modern sex worker and the nuances that it holds?

I do think that it will spark helpful conversations because it humanizes sex workers. And while I do appreciate that, I get very skeptical about what happens after the conversation. We can fall in love with Ani on screen, but how is that implicated in real life? Are these admirations for sex worker stories going to be put into everyday practice? Hopefully, this will inspire a bigger cultural shift.

What adds joy to your life outside of work? 

Storytelling is what I was put on this earth to do- to direct, support talent, and create stories. Outside of that, I'm a soft baby. I love doing soft girl things like picnics and reading. Anything that makes me feel “baby” brings me the most joy. Softness is resistance and so important for people like us.

What's coming up on your schedule?

I'm working on season 3 of P VALLEY in my first role. It helps me understand what kind of space I want to create as a future director and as someone who wants to work with sex workers for the rest of my life. I am taking in every moment.