My legs have been strong from those years of ballet and now fire within those legs have been reignited and even stronger. Those weak arms are only almost getting there where I’m able to now lift my entire body up, at least compared to before. I love to see those cuts on my arms when I wear sleeveless outfits. I still have a long way to go. Just finished a Pole Power class from my usual weekly Intermediate 1 classes. It’s alot about power on the pole, using the pole as a tool to lift my body up, strengthening the arms, upper body and legs. Thanks to the free class pass I obtained from joining a slogan writing contest at my pole dance studio on “5 Things I Like About The Studio”. Saved me at least AUD$35 or so for that casual class.
Tomorrow, I’ll be going for a two-hour session class Intermediate Level Booty Camp with Kylie J, this year’s Ms Pole Dance Victoria 2009.
I came to realise that in Australia, pole-dancing is considered as a sport. It’s like an acrobatic activity. When you see someone who has learnt it before, you’ll see that they have pretty strong arms. When I asked a friend in Malaysia to join, she was concerned about what the professionals in her field might think of it if she were to do it as a sport. I must admit that in Malaysia, the notion of pole-dancing still is not acceptable. Even I thought that pole-dance was something quite sleazy because:
1. It’s used to entice.
2. Alot of gyrating and rubbing against the pole.
Well, it’s really beyond that. While it’s a sexy dance, it is also a test of mental and physical strength. Why I say mental, is because for every trick that I am taught to attempt, I always have too loosen up and just go for it. In last Tuesday’s class, I had just overcome my greatest fear of doing the handstand. I still cannot do it well, but I can do it with the help of the pole.
It’s funny how pole-dance is referred to as sleazy while people always find something sexual in every sport activity. Like girls wearing short white skirts while playing tennis (upskirt?), the flexibility in gymnastics and ballet, revealing cleavage, legs and skin in swimming, bouncing boobs in athletics and so much more. Human in general just have dirty minds.
The classes start with normal warm-up (aerobics-like activities like jumping jacks, running on the spot, etc), learning tricks and spins, the dance routine (testing how fast you can pick up steps, move and groove) and finally cool down session on the floor mat (like pilates / yoga with push-ups and stretches).
Not only that, only females are allowed to join the class. Husbands, boyfriends, male-relatives and friends who want to pick us ladies up from the studio will have to wait outside and are not allowed in. Performing on a commercial basis is up to the individual themselves for example, eventually becoming a stripper or a showgirl.
Here’s Kylie J’s performance at the Miss Pole Dance Competition, Victoria 2009 recently.
And if you think that pole dancing is for women only, think again. Check this out:
In some countries, people treat POLE as a tool, like for weight training or like monkey bars, incorporating other dance moves like capoeira.
This one’s purely strength. Check out her ripped body – Ms Pole Dance Barcelona 2009
Warning ahead: 18SX
In Japan, pole-dancing is quite an entertainment.
The ultimate is here: Felix Cane from Australia, Miss World Pole Dance 2009. For this one, you have to turn down your speakers.
Hope you enjoyed that.
I always thought that pole dancing was not sleazy. It’s quite tough to do I think. Cause you have to find your way up the pole and imagine all the friction against the skin and the pole!!! Must be painful at the start
Wow! thanks Kim for this wonderful post, it really open up my eyes to the world of pole dancing. hmm somehow after looking at all the videos, never for once did i link pole dancing to something sleazy. instead i think it’s a wonderful human body art =) way to go Kim, you can do it!
Hi Kim, long time didn’t catch up with u. I m also doing pole but I think malaysian are more acceptable of it as a sport now after they started to realize how difficult to do all the tricks.
There are stil slot of people having negative perception on guys doing pole dance because they are not aware that guys can do a hip hop pole dance that is so macho. There is this guy named Adam Tan from my pole dance pioneers won 3rd in the recent Pole Idol KL.
People who pole will get addicted with it. I have. Hope u r enjoying it too. Happy poling.
Pole dancing is coooool! I have strong arms but weak legs. Eww..
Have fun pole dancing
Totally agree with the 1st impression of pole dancing. In M’sia, pole dancing = ‘nightclubs’ hence the sleazy impression. I guess we have to disassociate it from nightclubs in order for it to be an art performance like gymnastic or ballroom dancing.