All Pole Dancers Are Whores!

August 28, 2010

Pole Dancing For Fitness

Someone once declared that title statement on Facebook. So we thought we should set them straight with this article and educate them a little. Please read and freely share this page with all of your friends and on all social network sites. One by one we can all slowly but surely educate the world on some of the many wonders of pole dancing as a sport and a form of fitness.

Pole Dancing Myth busters 101.

As pole fitness continues to gain international notoriety I watch this increase in popularity with mixed feelings of fascination and regret. One of the most striking things about pole fitness is it has not become mainstream. Only the pole dancers of the world have come to understand and appreciate the athletic talents of the people who choose to embrace pole fitness as a part of their lifestyle. I am of the opinion that there are many misconceptions that need to be addressed before the mainstream population will accept this sport.

Myth#1: Pole Dancers are trashy people trying to make a quick dollar.

First of all, what difference does it make if someone chooses to make a living as a pole dancer? Live and let live. People live their lives according to the things they understand as “normal”. This misconception is ignorance at its best. It’s completely false. I know people of all ages and backgrounds who enjoy pole fitness as their primary source of exercise. I work out at lrustudios in Denver, CO. Most of the people in my classes are professionals, married with children. Ages range from mid 20s to mid 50s but the average age of the people in class is mid 30s. I’m 34 with 3 college degrees including a MA in Social Anthropology from Goldsmiths College, University of London, UK. No one in my class is there to make a dollar because all of us are financially secure. We choose to pole dance for the physical challenge. There is a sense of accomplishment that comes when you achieve these goals such as learning to do a helicopter into angel. Knowing that you have achieved these physical goals pushes you to want to achieve more.

People who choose to take up pole dancing as a form of exercise are not afraid of the things they don’t know and they are not afraid to ask for instructions because they want to learn more. Many of the people who compete like Amber Richard and Steven Retchless have a BA in dance and have devoted their entire lives to studying dance, not just pole dance. These people have a lot to contribute. They can inspire others through their hard work and dedication to sharing an art form with the world. Others are self-taught like David Owen. He can appeal to those who feel under-represented.

If being educated, professional, athletic, hard working and dedicated = trashy pole dancer…I’m shameless and unapologetic when I say I’m the trashiest pole dancer you will ever meet. If you’re willing to think outside the box and join the worldwide trashy pole dancer community you will be pleasantly surprised. You will find a worldwide network full of support and encouragement from fellow dancers. You may even become a pole fitness addict.

Myth #2: All Pole Dancers are whores.

We have all heard this one before. No one is going to deny that there are pole dancers that have chosen to use their sex appeal to their advantage to gain in financials situations. Some pole dancers have performed as pole dancers for a living and many have got an extra step and gained additional exposure by performing sexual favors. I hate to point out the obvious but this behavior is not exclusive to the pole-dancing world. There are many people in the corporate world who have performed sexual favors to gain exposure in order to benefit in financial situations. Sometimes ignorance is bliss but this is not one of those occasions. Pole dancing began as a traveling side show act in the 1920s. It gave women a place in the entertainment world and the working world during a time when women did not have the same rights as men. Pole dancing is an art to those who know and understand it.

Myth #3: All Pole Dancers are strippers.

Pole dancing is not stripping. Anyone can shake their hips and take their clothes off. Pole dancing requires years of athletic training. Most people don’t understand that there is a functional purpose for women performing in a bikini and men performing topless with only boy shorts on. I found this out the hard way when I went to class and forgot my boy shorts one day. I showed up on my Nike livestrongs. Bad idea! I couldn’t grip with my inner thighs and transition into a waterfall. For anyone who doesn’t know what a waterfall is it’s where you’re gripping with your inner thighs lying upside down with your hands free from the pole. Your only point of contact with the pole is your inner thighs. Pole dancers are not required to take their clothes off but as you become more advanced you need that contact with your skin in order to transition into those more advanced moves.

Myth #4: Pole dancing is for women only.

Some women may disagree with my perspective but this sexist attitude needs to be thrown out the window. Some women think that men shouldn’t be allowed to pole dance. This sexist attitude is one of the major reasons that pole fitness has not become mainstream. It is these shallow minded perspectives that prevent pole fitness from being shared with the rest of the world. Why create a battle of the sexes when you can marvel at the athletic talents and personalities that separate men from women? The men who pole dance will always have a distinctly masculine style that counters the femininity of women. If you don’t know what I’m talking about find a video by Josiah Grant. He continues to push the pole fitness world into a new realm by using his hip hop influence and attitude in his pole fitness routines and creating his own signature moves without sacrificing his masculinity.

Myth #5: Male Pole Dancers are gay

Think about the millions of people, women and men, who pole dance. Are you really going to suggest that every single man worldwide that pole dances is gay? Statistically this is impossible. I have spoken with many male pole dancers, straight and gay. The straight male pole dancers all had one thing to say, “Learning to pole dance is very humbling. I’ve never had more bruises from any other sport than I’ve had in pole dance class.” There is nothing emasculating about pole dancing. Until people can learn to appreciate the hard work involved in pole dancing it will always be viewed as a feminine sport.

Myth #6: Pole Dancers have personal insecurities

It’s not a bad thing to have insecurities but when I signed up for pole dancing classes I never imagined that I would come across so many women who brought their sexual insecurities into a studio. It was emotionally draining for someone like me who dealt with my personal insecurities years before I made the conscious decision to be a pole dancer. It is true that there is a certain level of vulnerability that needs to be overcome before you can fully immerse yourself in the pole dance/pole fitness culture but this is a personal choice. Not all pole dancers have insecurities. Many of the advocates for pole fitness radiate confidence like Caterina Gennaro. She accentuates her moves to show her athletic abilities. She is a performer who can attract an audience and she knows it. There is not an ounce of insecurity in her body and it shows when she dances. It is people like her that are going to continue to educate the world and make pole fitness a mainstream sport.

Myth #7: The stereotypical pole dancer

Anyone thinking of Motley Crue right now? “Girls…Girls…Girls…” I’m a product of the 80s and can remember when Motley Crue single-handedly shaped the stereotypical pole dancer image and lifestyle for the rest of the world. The reality is there is no such thing as a stereotypical pole dancer. The beauty of pole dancing is anyone can do it. I have read some truly inspirational stories about women who have struggled with their weight and chose pole dancing to drop weight and have fun while exercising. Some people find inspiration in music. Some people find inspiration in athletic challenges. Some people find inspiration in erotic expression. Some people find inspiration in sensual expression. Some people find inspiration in previous interests such as other styles of dance and martial arts.

I’m not the tall, thin type. I have the short, stocky, condensed, muscular body that is typical of a gymnast. I personally find inspiration in music, personal expression, athletic talent and most importantly physical therapy I have received from pole dancing. I use Parkour, also known as free running, as a means of pole dance strength training. With the help of my Parkour instructor, I am now in the process of taking my pole dancing training and trying to incorporate it to my Parkour lessons as well as looking for ways to bring my Parkour inspiration into the world of pole fitness. No one is going to tell me that I fit into the mold of the stereotypical pole dancer. People find inspiration in different places and it is impossible to hide your personality in front of an audience. Creativity and inspiration is the key. As a pole dancer you should let your individual personality shine.

Still having doubts? If so click here to attend and witness the best of pole dancing as a form of sport in New York City, October 23, 2010. The best of them (men & women) will compete for their gender category championship titles at the American Pole Fitness Championships. Pole Spin Magazine, along with Mighty Grip, Lil Mynx and Thepoledancingshop.com are proud sponsors of the event. Subscribe HERE to the high gloss print magazine debuting in October at the championships

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This is a Pole Spin Magazine exclusive, written by our staff writer Mindy Armstrong.