Get in Shape and Feel Sexy with Pole Dance Class
Combine Dance and Fitness to Burn Calories and Boost Confidence
Dec 15, 2008
Pole dance (dance and acrobatic tricks performed around and on a metal pole) used to be associated exclusively with nightclubs. However, thanks in large part to the efforts of the World Pole Dance Federation (WPDF), pole dance is gaining legitimacy worldwide in the fields of dance, athletics, and fitness. Founded in 2003, the WPDF promotes pole dance as an art form and sport by organizing the annual International Miss Pole Dance® Competition, regulating classes, and training and certifying instructors.
Believed to have originated in Canada in the 1980s, pole dance in its modern form has spread as far as England, China, Venezuela, and the United States. Pole dance was featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show, and celebrities such as Kate Moss and Kate Hudson have admitted to taking classes. Argentina recently caught on to the craze after pole dance was added as a category to a popular dance competition program.
The Benefits of Pole Dance
Many pole dance instructors, such as Daniela Shmoll, 29, have a background in physical education and are drawn to pole dance because it has “the perfect balance between dance and fitness.” Classes burn between 300-500 calories, and tone arms, legs, butt, and abs. Pole dance also improves posture, and emphasizes strength, flexibility and creativity.
The benefits of pole dance extend beyond the physical. Classes help women to relieve stress, explore their sexuality, and build self-esteem. Paula Bellona, 33, is a former dancer and the founder of Unicas Art Dance Studio, which offers pole dance classes in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Bellona opened Unicas earlier this year because she "wanted to create a place where women could feel liberated, attractive, and good about themselves.”
The goal of pole dance is not just to elevate heart rates and sculpt muscles. Equal parts dance and fitness, classes are a way to exercise, play with sensuality, and improve self-confidence. People looking for nothing more than a good workout may be better off with a traditional aerobics class.
What to Expect From a Pole Dance Class
Pole dance has three levels: beginner, intermediate, and advanced. Classes tend to be small, between 5-10 students depending on the size of the studio. Students should wear tight shorts and avoid applying creams and lotions before class. Wrist guards can help protect against bruising.
Pole dance is done to music, usually pop, R&B, or hip-hop. Classes last approximately one hour and are divided into four sections: warm-up (stretching, crunches), tricks (such as the cross leg fireman spin), choreography (a combination of tricks and dance), and cool-down. Relaxed and informal, classes leave room for improvisation and freedom of expression.
Who Should Learn to Pole Dance
People wanting to exercise their confidence and sensuality in addition to their body should try pole dance. Classes are typically for women only, though classes for men do exist. All shapes, sizes, and ages are welcome (students under 18 with parental consent). No prior experience is necessary, but dance or fitness experience helps.
Although it is transforming its image, there is still a stigma attached to pole dancing, with some people viewing it as vulgar. Thus, an open mind is essential.
Pole dance is a great option for people who want to get in shape but are bored with conventional workouts. “Many of my students are doctors and lawyers,” notes Bellona, “they come here because they don’t like the gym and, because of their jobs, they are looking for a way to unwind and decompress.”
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