Dancing round the Pole
by Shona Gosh
Leather boots in hand, I sidled furtively into the room advertised on a leaflet posted through my door. Like some clandestine, arcane witchcraft society, there stood a small circle of nervous women. And in the middle of this gathering? The shiny necessity to this unusual sport – a pole.
Up and down the country, a small but significant revolution in exercise is occurring. Pole-dancing may not rival the celebrity-starred popularity of yoga just yet, but it’s certainly making its mark. Pole-dancing classes are popular with anyone who wants to boost their self confidence, as well as tone their physique. Maybe its popularity has something to do with Kate Moss’ dramatic sex appeal in that White Stripes video too. I took lessons with Liz Dixon of Pole-Positions to find out more
The class consisted entirely of women, most of whom looked as though they would be a library than in shorts and leather boots (the leather boots, incidentally, help prevet friction on your legs). We collectively eyed the Pole as though it might sprout fangs.
Wisely, none of us had come unaccompanied by that essential accessory for all new territories – the Best Friend. I, in my trepidation, had even brought two. I took a surreptitious glance around the class, which consisted of Voluptuous, the Naturals, the Leaders, the Fashion Queen, Shy, Curious (me) and my two friends - the Blonde and the Model.
Our conclusions were interrupted by the arrival of the willowy Liz, our instructor, who explained she had taken up pole-dancing to bring her out of herself, as well as improve a body she was less than comfortable with. To hear this latter information coming from someone a surfboard stomach and thighs to die for was surprising and encouraging for the Bridget Joneses among us. She had by now been a professional pole-dancer for two years.
Suddenly pole-dancing seemed more alluring than terrifying. Much to our collective surprise, Liz commenced the class by stretching. I hadn’t stretched since sixth form netball practice, and it was easy to forget that pole-dancing is physically demanding as well as sensuous.
To build our confidence - or more probably to put those high heeled boots to good use – the first move didn't involve the Pole. The Sexy Walk is a move with which most women are familiar (though perhaps only with the accompaniment of some vodka and extremely loud dance music), and was relatively easy to pick up. There was some very professional sashaying going on. The Naturals in particular (two annoyingly beautiful blondes carefully decked all in black and lace-up boots) could have given the regulars at Stringfellows a run for their money.
Next it was time to tackle the fearsome Pole: The Fireman - a relatively simple move, it required us to Sexy Walk around the pole before jumping and wrapping both knees around it and sliding downwards. A yellow helmet and red plastic suit are optional.
Of course, pole dancing is not for everyone - a few found the bruises off-putting (the friction of the metal leaves some interesting marks), but little Miss Shy could now easily give the Naturals a run for their money. Pole dancing is exceptionally rewarding in this respect, since the majority of the moves are relatively simple, and consistent attendance at lessons means it’s surprisingly easy to become impressive. The real skill lies in building up the confidence to look sexy (exaggeration is the key here) and not to shy from feeling a fool.
Draping yourself on the floor provocatively isn’t everyone’s idea of the Friday afternoon workout, but it certainly makes a change from that netball practice… The phrase ‘pole-dancing’ comes attached with its own set of unwelcome stigmas. Yet the reception to my new hobby was overwhelmingly positive, albeit discussed in slightly shocked whispers - even my parents regard it with more bemusement than shock.
Pole dancing is mainly practsied by women but but one of the best amateur dancers I’ve seen was a man whose fusion of break-dancing and pole-acrobatics was impressive to say the least. The dearth of male pole-dancers is perhaps unsurprising however, considering the debate as to what the pole is supposed to represent. but it is important to remember that the art is exactly that – dancing. Pole-dancing for fun is by no means about being a stereotype. The most fun I had was developing my own style with the pole. After perhaps two months of learning, we have all started to build up our own brand of dancing – from retro jitterbugging up to the pole to the slinky sidle. How you regard the pole itself is also a matter of personal taste – I prefer to think of it as an accomplice for sensuality. The Blonde during one lesson asked me, rather wide-eyed, whether I thought of it as a phallic symbol. I don’t – I didn’t dare ask if she did. As for an audience? Well, if the White Stripes are hiring…