Why Pole Dance Shouldn’t be Deemed Inappropriate

An Introduction from Amber:

This article was inspired by a recent interaction that we had with a dance teacher convention that wouldn’t consider allowing us as vendors at their event simply because we have pole dance imagery in our portfolio. This is the response I received when asking for clarification why our application was denied: “We work with dance studios who primarily serve children and therefore avoid the promotion of adult content like pole dancing. We recognize that it is an art form, but it is not the right fit for the culture of our client base.”

This response was frustrating not only because it assumed something about this form of dance, but also because our association with it disqualified us from participating in an event we were really excited to have saved up for. It is very short-sided to judge an art form purely because there is a pole involved. Having led competitive children’s dance groups and competed myself in the past as well as watched Brooke compete masterfully at Pole Sport, I can assure you that there is a wide range of sexuality present in both. Just as we don’t want to assume that dance is inappropriate, we shouldn’t assume that pole dance is either. It’s all dependent on how you approach it.

Fun Fact

Exposed skin is a must when working intermediate and advanced pole moves. Exposed skin allows you to stick to steel or chrome based material.

From Brooke about her journey with Pole Dance:

I started my journey into pole dance back in 2017. I had a picture in my mind prior to taking my first class of all women attending being young, conventionally attractive and comfortable with moving sensually which at the time intimidated me so I asked a friend to go with me. During our first class I was surprised to find many of my classmates were women of varying ages and sizes. We were all women seeking an exciting new workout, community and connection. A surprising number of women were moms looking for ways to break out of their comfort zone and carve out time to celebrate after long days of caring for their families. It was a space of acceptance and liberation.

After a year, I inevitably found myself enrolling in showcases, performance troupes, and competitions to show off the tricks and flips I had mastered. However, I realized I had held back from openly sharing this sport with the outside world due to the stigma attached to it. While many of my friends offered unquestioning support, a few expressed disappointment that the performers of sensual pieces didn’t fit the younger, thinner beauty standards. To them, I say: you’ve missed the essence of this art form, and perhaps you’re the reason why we seek the safe haven that this sport provides. Pole dance is about using the body as a medium for self-expression, regardless of age or body type.

It’s not uncommon for many people both men and women to seek this sport as a creative and emotional outlet after sexual assault as a way to reclaim their bodies back. Many studios train their instructors to be sensitive to this possibility and provide a safe, welcoming space for everyone.

While pole dance is often associated with sensual movement, this aspect only scratches the surface of its potential. The beauty of pole dance, along with other aerial arts, lies in its versatility. Whether you prefer a sensual, creative, comedic, performance-based, spiritual, or athletic approach, pole dance accommodates a wide range of expressions and styles.

My doubles pole partner and I have leaned into the athletic aspect of the sport and while we won second in the state, she was unable to celebrate that achievement with her family for fear of rejection from religious upbringing. There are murmurings of this sports future inclusion into the olympics, I hope others can cast off its taboo nature without the need to prove its legitimacy.

Regardless of the stigma attached through religious, corporate or societal associations, the sport continues to garner more widespread interest and participation.

Seven years after starting pole dance I’ve seen cis men taking the strength based classes like they ARE training for the olympics, queer communities offering LGBTQ specific classes as means to embrace their gender fluidity and women upwards of 70 years old taking private lessons to stay fit and embrace their sexy bodies when modern societal standards fails them.

This sport should not be cast aside as taboo but embraced as another facet of therapy, self love, body celebration, and a damn good workout like many other ‘accepted’ dance forms.