Pole dancing parties for eight year olds - starting a bit young?

[nemoni]

So, whilst trawling the internet for a suitable party venue for one of my children I was fairly surprised to see pole dancing parties listed under 'children's party venues in Manchester' on the local netmums page www.netmums.com/manchester/local/view/parties/venues/pole-dance-and-beauty-party

So, 'Caters for adults and children's parties from 8+' - pole dancing parties for eight year olds? Am I missing something??!! Or, am I being unreasonable in my assertions that this is a bit inappropriate and perhaps takes girl's make-over parties to a whole new level? Surprised to see it advertised as a children's party venue, even more surprised to it it on said website.

Over to you fellow mumsnetters...

Depends how it's done, I doubt they're going to dress the children as tiny strippers. Without the seedy clothes/surroundings it's just dancing/excersise isn't it?

The earlier you start them pole dancing the better strippers they will become.

Well it depends how they use the pole I guess.

If in the usual manner then YANBU.

TBH though, I don't know what else one can do with a pole except roll up and down it!

Oh , and lean back and fling your arms up.

I'd not let my dd go.

athing that is also true.

and in a competitive job market...

Would I let my DD (if I had one) go to a pole dancing party at age 8 - would I fuck!

And my judgy pants would be giving me the biggest wedgie if anyone I know did have a pole dancing party for their eight year old.

Wonder if the boys at these parties pole dance too. Or watch? Nasty, nasty

Yuck.

Depends if it is sporting or sexy. Like a lot of things, I'd have to see how they were doing it first before passing judgement.

Makes me feel very uneasy.

I'm hoping its Pole as in Polish country dancing.

of course it is wrong

is this party aimed at boys too? no of course not

pole dancing should not been seen as fun for children it is a form of dancing that is strongly connected with the sex industry and they will soon become aware of that even if they are not at 8

what fucking twat would think this is a good idea

Well my daughter wouldn't be going to one.

And I'd be happy to state why to anyone who invited her to such a party.

That's really nasty.

On one hand I can't imagine letting an 8 year old go to a pole dancing party.

On the other hand, I have friends (adults, obviously) who regularly take pole dancing lessons. They absolutely love it. The focus is not at all about acting like a stripper, it's about being comfortable with your body and gaining strength/working out. Some of the moves that they are able to perform require a huge amount of stength and take months/years to master. So in that regard I think it could be positive but I still would have trouble sending an 8 year old, I think.

I've had a look and the website says...

Birthday Package (kids)
For up to 8 children from age 12+ 1 hour pole dance session manicure makeup application photoshoot (1 hr session) Disc to follow Price below based on 1 person.
Price: £35.00

YANBU, It's disgusting.

"The focus is not at all about acting like a stripper, it's about being comfortable with your body"

Yeah, being comfortable with your body like a stripper.

Oh dear.
I hate the whole pole dancing empower yourself bullshit.
Having a pole party for kids is just beyond the pale.

Jesus H Christ, what is WRONG with some people?! No wonder childhood now ends at eight if that's the sort of thing some kids are doing.

Jesus H Christ, what is WRONG with some people?! No wonder childhood now ends at eight if that's the sort of thing some kids are doing.

I deliberately kept pros and cons/arguments about pole dancing for adults out of the first post as appreciate even that can be a hot topic, but clearly pole dancing has become more mainstream and requires significant upper body and core strength, coordination and flexibility to do it well. You also need to have minimal clothes on to do it well, as you need the grip of skin against the pole to not slip around/off. There's a french male pold dancer (whose name escapes me at the moment) who is the most amazing gymnast on the pole.

Still don't think it's something for a kids party though. Even in the sportiest classes I've been to the moves are pretty adult in nature really.

athing and feminine made me chuckle

is there some overwhelming post-feminist irony here that I am just missing ?

naah, it's just whorey stuff for little kids.

I meant no wonder childhood now ends at 12, not 8 - as per that report the other week.

I hate that whole 'empower yourself' claptrap. How does acting like a bloke or a pole dancer 'empower' you?

Tbh, I can think of anything less 'comfortable' than sliding down a pole with the shriek of the metal between your flabby thighs (that's me anyway) and getting stuck halfway with the mother of all wedgies.

DN is a firefighter and she gets to slide down real poles. Now jumping into burning buildings, climbing up ladders, flinging blokes over your shoulder and running with them, cutting people out of cars, saving life and limb... that's something 'empowering', not swinging round a stupid pole (which basically is a form of entertainment for the boys).

Too young to do what??

Would you feel it was too young for an 8 year old to go to a gymnastics party??

It wont be full on strip pole dancing you know, it will be a bit of fun a few spins, get them upside down, I dont think they will sprout horns or anything!

My DS is a whiz on the pole but I dont think he has aspirations to be a stripped and the world hasn't fallen in just yet.

Fucks sake. Sexualisation of children. Moronic and offensive.

Poppet48 I'd missed that, putting aside the pole dancing the price per child is enough to make me p**d - £35 per child?!! Manicure, make up and photo shoot - and a pole session. Bonkers.