So this group of ladies…sexy militant ladies, are now on a crusade to get this pole-dancing business into the Olympics. Wow…have the Olympics been that boring?
KT Coates, a leading pole dancer in Britain and director of Vertical Dance, is spearheading the effort to make pole dancing a “test” event in 2012 and foresees a more formal pitch in 2016, when the Olympics go to Rio de Jeneiro.
“After a great deal of feedback from the pole dance community, many of us have decided that it’s about time pole fitness is recognized as a competitive sport, and what better way for recognition than to be part of the 2012 Olympics held in London,” Coates wrote in a petition she is readying for the London organizers.
“It has the wow factor,” she told The Associated Press in an e-mail.
But this gift from the heavens (or the IOC, which I’m told are not the same thing) would come without a handful of modifications. So sayeth Takeila Fox, who won the US Pole Dancing Federation’s East Coast regional event last fall.
Ok so they are saying that if we compete in the olympics we have to wear the bodysuits and no heels… ummm that was the point anyway. We are trying to open minds of the close minded and show that it takes strength and stamina just like any other sport. Urrrrgh… I am out of turkey bacon!
Okay, so that last tweet was pretty pointless and not relevant to the Olympics at all.
I got ya turkey bacon right here, if ya know whattimean!
Brazillian pole dancing…yes.
I wrote this story (as a parody) eight years ago for the Sports-Central.com Web site. I had a group of Chicago construction workers judge the women’s competition (and then go home and lie to their wives about where they’d been) and the cast of “Queer Eye” judge the men’s event.
Why not? It’s where the gymnasts, figure skaters, swimmers and other non-professional sports atheletes are going to end up anyways.
Just because someone pole dances does not necessarily mean they are a stripper!
Athletic pole dancing is actually closer to circus preformance – somewhat of a hybrid between Lyra (Aerial Hoop), Chinese Pole (an actobatic performance typically performed by men using a tall, slightly flexible pole) and Indian Mallasthamba (meaning gymnastics pole – speculated to have been invented approximately 250 years ago, this is a meathod of training for male wrestlers utilizes an iron pole).
Athletic pole dancing requires strength, grace, flexibility, and, more often than not, a high tolerance for pain.
I have been training under one of the top international pole dancers (Tammy Morris)in for 2 years now as an alternative to going to the gym – I am NOT a stripper, nor have I ever aspired to be or ever will. I am a young professional who has met plenty of other business professionals of all age groups who have become simply addicted to this art form.
It is so sad to see some people out there judge so quickly but, from what I understand, advanced pole dancing in exotic night clubs in the States is a rare find as most dancers make a majority of their tips from private dances. The few acrobatic pole dancers in the States are amazing – their talents, as well as many other talented performers from around the world, have showcased this at the annual World Pole Dance competition. Though some of you may laugh at the thought of such a competition, please note that the competition rules strictly ban nudity, eroticism (i.e. mimicing sexual acts or gesturing in a sexual manner during the performance), and removal of clothing of any kind – in fact, during the 2005 competition, the woman who scored first place (a former ballerina-turned-pole dancer)was disqualified because during the first part of her performance she removed her ballet slippers and tutu (she was transitioning from a ballet inspired routine using the pole to a pole dance routine). Competitors typically wear bikinis or cropped tops and hot shorts – not because they want to look sexy, but because many pole moves require skin in order to assit in gripping the pole. This also makes the transition from one move to the other a bit safer.
To those who may think this sport is degrading, keep this in mind…
There are few sports out there that allow women to retain their femininity. Pole dancing is a feat of immense strength and agility that embraces the way women naturally move (i.e. walking with hips swaying).
So to all who mock pole dancing, please consider that not all pole dancers are created equal…
better yet, look up Felix Cane, an amazing pole dance acrobat who performs in Zumanity with Cirque du Soleil. She won Miss Pole WOrld 2009 and is an amazing acrobat. I hope seeing her work helps you understand what REAL pole dancing is (and maybe inspire a few to try it out as well!)
Cheers!
Peppy
Bring ‘em here and I’ll show them how to dance on a pole!
Pole dancing is strictly linked to strippers and is in no way an athletic feat that allows any woman to maintain her femininity. Comparing things such as this to gymnastics or cirque de sole is just an outright shot at those athletes. If you can’t see that, then you sir are more of a doosh than you already appear to be.
If I gave Peppy a dollar he/she would show me thier genitals
i just wanna be the glitter lotion dispenser guard. maybe towel off the pole every once in a while.
I don’t see ‘contract STD’ anywhere in those instructions.
Olympic judges should grade the way I do: breast size and shape, length of cesarian scar, level of soulless expression, buffet variety/freshness.
Correction, Karol Helms was the first place winner of the USPDF East Coast regionals. I understand if you don’t agree with it. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion but try to do your research first ;-)
there is going to be murder over who will be the judge of that event, here is a joke I saw about pole dancing in the Olympics and demonstrative sports, [ponderingstuff.com]