Len's News, Notes, and Stuff

Pole Dancing: A Feat of Athleticism & Strength

What do you think of when I say the words “pole dancing”? Chances are, you’re thinking about sleazy “gentlemen’s clubs” with women of dubious repute dancing around a pole to titillate men (and relieve them of some of their money). There is, however, nothing intrinsically sleazy or even sultry about dancing with a pole. Pole dancing is slowly coming into the mainstream consciousness as a fitness activity, which is something it truly is.

The first time I came across a pole dancing exhibit was actually at a wedding show. A local pole dance fitness club was trying to gain awareness amongst brides-to-be who want to be fit, svelte, and sexy for their big day. I have to admit, I felt odd around that booth and walked by it as fast as I could without looking like I was trying to get the hell out of there.

Pole dancing can indeed be used to seduce, arouse, and titillate. Sure, I won’t argue against that. But have you actually seen a pole dance performance? Indeed, some of the hold positions can have sexual connotations, but my overriding impression is “Holy cow, that is incredibly athletic!”

I think that performances with high heels on are pretty stupid, but take a look at the following video and consider the strength, endurance, and flexibility involved.

It can be artistic and graceful, feminine without being crude.

I think that it is entirely reasonable to state that, if done with such intent, pole dancing is as much a sport as competitive dancing is a sport.

Pole dancing will never be fully divorced from its sultry associations, and it does not need to be. Dancing of any kind can be sexualized because dancing by its very nature involves physical movement and expression. It is the intent behind the performance that determines its impact. Sometimes the sultriness is a good and appropriate thing, and sometimes it is a competitive, athletic endeavor – just as even ballroom dancing spans both ends of that spectrum.

Here’s pole dancing – or more appropriately, pole acrobatics – as pure performance:

The roots of pole dancing are in acrobatics and gymnastics. Indeed, such acrobatic & gymnastic performances are known as chinese pole performances. Like gymnastics in the Olympics, the chinese pole – dancing with and on a pole – is an activity pursued by both men and women. The movements & hold positions are different – for women, the emphasis is on lines & femininity, and for men, it is on strength and power.

Pole dancing comes from the world of gymnastics and acrobatics, and however it is presented today – as exercise, as general performance, as private seduction, or as sultry adult entertainment – it remains a feat of athleticism and strength.

I hope that if you dismissed pole dancing – like I used to – as something necessarily smutty, that you can now admit at least to yourself that it is not necessarily so.