Free pole dancing lessons at your local library

[sisterbrute]

This: www.midlothian.gov.uk/news/article/777/grab_a_book_and_a_free_pole_dancing_lesson
Having lurked on a recent 'pole dancing for fitness' thread and been thoroughly convinced by the arguments against it, I find this use of a library quite shocking - what were they thinking?

[TheDoctrineOfSciAndNatureClub]

Excellent point Lurcio.

[GreenShadow]

Have you detractors ever actually watched non-sexual pole dancing?

It is an incredibly physical sport akin to gymnastics or acrobatic circus skills. I find it entertaining to watch if you can put aside it associations with strip joints and the like. That male example up thread is a prime example.

What I don't like is to see the 'dancers' wearing high heel shoes like in the Jesus example. Now that to me is putting the accent on the sexual side.

I genuinely don't see men or women should be denied the opportunity to learn and take part in this as a general physical activity.

[CuriousMama]

Exactly GreenShadow. There's no writhing around it's all to show strengh and suppleness.

[CuriousMama]

or even strength

[DadDancer]

Why not just hold (or watch) a gymnastics or circus skills demo/class then?

because some people think pole dancing rocks! and it is different to the other gymnastic styles, with a whole variety of different moves. Did you not take a look at the video i posted with the male pole dancer? Can you not appreciate the skills involved?

Here's another one with Jenyne Butterfly.

The whole performance is amazing but check at 3 mins 20. Wow!

[SabrinaMulhollandJjones]

Daddancer don't you prefer them with their knickers off?

[CuriousMama]

Thanks DadDancer, that's the link I was looking for. I'd shared it on FB but didn't want to put FB link on here. She's unbelievable!!

[LurcioLovesFrankie]

As a matter of fact I have seen pole dancing and can see that it requires enormous gymnastic ability and strength. But that's completely irrelevant to the point I was making. To carry on with my earlier analogy, someone could come along and say of the Black and White Minstrel Show that the singers were technically excellent and the dancing impeccably accurate - that would not alter the offensiveness of the whole enterprise.

[DadDancer]

Lucrio, yeah but the black and white minstrel show is seen as offensive because it is deemed racist. What exactly is offensive about pole dancing in the format that i have shown in the two clips or when it is being done for fitness? isn't it being narrow minded and prejudiced by saying it can only ever be associated with lap dancing clubs/ striptease? (which i can sense is your issue here)

[rosabud]

If it's not sexual, why does she strip off during the dance and do it in her bra and knickers? Why isn't her hair tied back in a bun like nearly every other gymnast I've ever seen?

It may be about supplenss and strength, but it's quite clearly about sex too. The giant pahllus she is wrapping her legs around whilst clad in her knickers is also a bit of a giveaway.

[DadDancer]

If it's not sexual, why does she strip off during the dance and do it in her bra and knickers? Why isn't her hair tied back in a bun like nearly every other gymnast I've ever seen?

I think you will find that to perform a lot of those moves there needs to be a high level of skin contact with the pole, otherwise there wouldn't be enough friction to stay on it. Also it's not as if she is wearing Ann summers lingerie, it's more like sports wear. Some of the leotards the gymnasts wear are far more revealing.

The giant pahllus she is wrapping her legs around whilst clad in her knickers is also a bit of a giveaway.

Er no it's just a metal pole, but thanks for sharing your fantasy interpretation.

[feministefatale]

Do you pole dance daddancer?

[rosabud]

Yes but she takes the dress off during the performance, so it's a further link to the sex industry, it's a bit like stripping, do you see? I don't recall any gymnasts removing their tracksuits/dresses etc as part of the sport - because it's not lnked to the sex industry, do you see that? Gymnasts have their hair tied back because it's sport not, sexual pole dancing, do you see? Most gymnasts wear all in one leotards, quite often with long sleeves, because, in gymnastics, being a sport, the strength and suppleness is easier to observe through the smooth lline of such a sports outfit. The pole dancer is wearing her bra and knickers because she is not doing a sport where the main emphasis is on strength and suppleness, she is performing a dance which has close links to the sex industry which is why there is a tendency to do it in bra and knickers, do you see?

I do agree the fact that pole is a phallic symbol may require insight rather than just the abiity to spot the obvious, so I will let you off that one.

The fact that you do have trouble grasping obvious lines of argument, however, does rather suggest something about the level of intelligence of people who enjoy pole dancing.

[DadDancer]

Ah Rosiebud, are you still not convinced yet about pole dancing? i can really sense you are sitting on the fence with this one. Well I think what you need, is to see another pole dancing video just to make sure.

Now this one is from Russian pole dancer Anastasia Shukhtorova and i am sure you will agree her performance definitely has a more ballet vibe to it? Incidentally she is also wearing an all in one leotard and her hair is tied up nicely too, as you desire.

[CuriousMama]

DD interesting you mention ballet, I've seen some ballet that's made my eyes pop They don't wear much do they? But then again I imagine like pole dancing it's best not to?

Yere are some pole dancers that are doing it for different reasons. It is slowly changing though and beginning to be seen as a good way to exercise, which is fun too. Not everyone's cup of tea.

I've never thought of the pole as phallic before? More a necessity for the dancing/exercise.

I have seen a pole dancer in a bar just once, in Barcelonetta. We didn't go in to see her on purpose she just came on. I was mesmerised. The men in the bar were hardly looking as she wasn't really that sexual, just so bloody fit! Then a dancer came onto another platform, she was more very erotic. Their gaze changed as did mine and we left.

[CuriousMama]

Yere should say 'Yes there'

[SabrinaMulhollandJjones]

Mmm, I watched DD's link - certainly the strength and agility required are impressive.

Unfortunately, on the Youtube sidebar is a clip of US XFactor with a girl doing a pole dance. After her act the host has a little turn at the pole - and then one of the judges runs on stage and stuffs a dollar bill in the waistband of his trousers.

Is that funny? Maybe I'm having a classic feminist sense of humour failure, but pole dancing seems to be inextricably linked to the sex industry. I've never seen anyone try and stuff money into a ballet dancer/gynmast's leotards 'for a joke'.

[BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack]

God, not yet another pole fitness thread. The last one was done to death.

I am into pole fitness but there is no point explaining in this section, it will be villified anyway.

Personally, I think all this pole is phallic symbol is a load of tosh, I had never looked at it like that until I came onto this board.

What can you say, some people have filthy minds who see the bad side of everything!

Plus, I don't pole dance I do pole fitness :)

[BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack]

and yes, the more advanced you get you have to wear smaller shorts as you need to do what are called skin grips!

[SabrinaMulhollandJjones]

I just googled 'pole fitness classes' and the top result was a picture of a girl on the pole in silver high heels. I just can't, in my mind, separate it from the sex industry.

But since posters like DD post on MN to endorse the sex industry (and not a lot else), I wouldn't expect him to see it.

[BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack]

Ok she has silver shoes on but she is doing a difficult move (superman) which requires strength and skill.

You see what you want to see though.

I assure you, in our pole class, there is no sexiness going on but lots of laughing - not sure how that can be a bad thing!

[SabrinaMulhollandJjones]

In a public library??