Why poledancing is no longer a dirty word

Aug 12 2004 By Annabel Williams

Forget the image of seedy Soho clubs and men in dirty macs - women have reclaimed the art of poledancing and turned it into one of the fastest-growing exercise options in the country, albeit one designed to make you feel sexier than the average aerobics class. As a new training course for would-be pole stars gets underway in Reading this week, Annabel Williams digs out her heels and hits the floor.

Pole dancing - if ever there was an activity bound to stir up a whirlwind of images and emotions, this is it. Curiosity, excitement, glamour, perversion, beautiful women wearing very little, lecherous men, disgust...

One image it probably doesn't conjure is a group of women of varying ages gathered in the basement bar of the Purple Turtle in Reading, wearing some very strange clothing combinations.

It seems decades of women's lib has got us to the point where wrapping yourself suggestively around a large metal pole is actually seen as a legitimate method of keeping fit. Great.

From a personal point of view, I volunteered to take pole position because I was really keen to show off the next time I was in a club with a pole on the dance floor, including Reading's very own Reflex; a 'check this out, step aside and let someone who knows what they're doing at it' type of vision.

What I didn't bargain for was an aerobic warm up, even though it is actually a good idea, and being told to bring "high heeled shoes and short shorts, preferably hot pants".

Any sane woman knows that unless you've got legs like Elle Macpherson, hot pants should only be worn if you're 15, stick thin, and the onset of cellulite has not yet started.

I compromised with cycling shorts, though it did feel highly unnatural paired with my spangliest going-out shoes with three-inch heels.

As we got changed, some of the early arrivals enthused about how happy they were to finally find classes outside London, and showed me their bruises from the session the week before.

One would only tell me she was 33 and that she was from Reading "because if the lads at work found out, I'd never hear the end of it".

She added: "I think it's a great way to keep fit and it makes you feel good about yourself. It's sexy too and fun."

What wasn't quite as sexy or fun was 20 or so minutes of aerobics, crunches, stretches and the like that followed.

But once all the proper hard work was over, our instructor Maxine gave us a brief demonstration of the moves we would allegedly be able to do by the time the course was over.

Wow, you would never think there were so many possibilities of things to do around a pole. She glided from one bar to the other, looking calm, controlled, elegant even, swooping and writhing around like the best of them.

Then it was our turn. It was fun at first, we were shown how to 'hang tough' (hold on to the pole and gently let ourselves slide onto our knees, to get used to the metal), and how to do a carousel (spinning around but be careful, physics come into play and if you go too fast...).

My favourite, and probably the most difficult if you have no upper body strength whatsoever like me, is the Wonder Woman. This is where you gently fall past the pole, grabbing it at the last minute to glide round and down, body curved back and legs bent slightly.

Difficulty? Put it this way, I had a very large bruise on one knee and a scrape on the other that any seven-year-old would be proud of, from where I kept landing in the same position.

By the end of the class, my arms were getting extremely tired and trying to glide slowly became more and more of a challenge.

If you're going to do this well, you'll need to buy some weights and do those press ups. But all the students were keen to support each other, cheering whenever one of us did a move well and offering advice if we didn't, which is something I've never come across in a fitness class before.

There was a good atmosphere throughout and the loud music helped anyone who might have felt self-conscious, and no-one bothers to look at how much orange peel you've got on the back of your legs.

Afterwards, speaking to a few more students gave a better insight into just how enthusiastic my fellow dancers were.

Michelle, 38, told me she had been waiting 15 years for classes to come nearer her Earley home, ever since a visit to Stringfellows, and that she wants a pole installed in her house. She added: "All my colleagues want me to text them to let them know how it's going."

Another called Abi, 42 and from Caversham, was attending the same course in London at the same time.

She said: "I can do things now I would never have imagined three weeks ago."

And that's the thing, because not only will you get fitter and stronger through pole dancing, but you're actually getting some kind of skill at the same time.

Not exactly the kind you'll want to put on your CV, but it's a whole lot better than circuit training.

Reflex, here I come.

* The next Polestars taster session is 6.30-8.30pm on Wednesday (August 18) at the Purple Turtle in Gun Street, Reading. The six-week course costs £110 for six weeks.

The pole truth

* According to Polestars, pole dancing is a lot more strenuous than it looks: a good session on the pole can burn more calories than a good session in the gym, and will certainly provide more muscle tone.

Some moves are trickier than others. Imagine having to support your entire weight with one arm, or supporting your upper body weight with your stomach muscles to get an idea of the level of effort involved. You can expect increased muscle definition and toning all over especially in the arms, thighs, and buttocks.

You can expect to burn about 250 calories per session.

You will need to wear trainers for the warm up session but, after that, you will need to feel the part to get maximum benefits from the class. You need to be able to grip the pole effectively, have freedom of movement and feel a bit sexy while doing the class.

Bare legs are essential if you want to grip on to the pole (you will slip with tights or trousers on). The ideal outfit is a pair of fairly short shorts or hot-pants, and something comfortable and attractive, but not restrictive on your top half.

High heels are also an advantage to give you that strut. The ideal shoes have high heels and a plastic strap across the top of the foot.

* If you want your own pole for your home then you can order one through BCL or Kitten Kit. The BCL poles are the same poles that Polestars use in the classes. The poles are removable and can be used on carpet or on hard flooring. The fitting is very easy and requires just a drill and a screwdriver. Full instructions are included with the pole.

You must have a secure beam in your ceiling to drill in to (false ceilings may not have this). When ordering, you will need to tell the suppliers the height of the room, where you want to put it and whether it has hard floor or carpet. BCL poles cost £200, including postage and packing and will be delivered directly to your door. The Kitten pole comes in three standard sizes but can be made to measure for really tall ceilings. They come in two parts and can be neatly packed away in their very own bag (good for transporting and storing). They are slimmer than the BCL poles, for details visit www.kitten-kit.com, they are £145 (+£3 per inch for every extra inch ordered).

To order either of the poles, or for more information, call 020 8678 1269 or visit www.dancepole.co.uk

* Pole Dancing Shoes. The shoes that professional dancers and most Polestars teachers wear are available to buy. They cost £45 (+ £5 p&p) and can be ordered by talking to your teacher or calling your course coordinator.

* For more information, visit www.polestars.net