What is Pole?

Pole is a form of dance that combines acrobatics, strength, and flexibility on a vertical pole. It now gained recognition as a legitimate form of artistic expression and fitness. It runs on a continuum from purely dance-based (erotic, contemporary, ballet, heels) to nearly all strength/technique acrobatics and everything in between. Moreover, it can be carried out on static (non-spinning pole) or spinning poles, and in some cases both within the same routine in competition settings. The dancer uses the pole to perform impressive spins, tricks, and inverted poses, showcasing their grace and athleticism. Pole requires a high level of strength and fitness, as it involves gripping the pole with various parts of the body while maintaining balance and control. It is not only a visually captivating art but also a great way to build confidence, improve body coordination, and increase muscle tone. Pole dancing is now attracting individuals from all walks of life. To me, the variety in genres of pole, as well as its "art meets sport" nature, is what makes pole particularly unique, interesting, and almost addicting to partake in.

Why take pole?

Pole is an amazing way to get in shape, but without the pressure to be in shape or chase an aesthetic. It facilitates gains in muscular strength, endurance, and even cardiovascular fitness and does so while being a fun challenge that connects you to your body. A common misconception is that you already have a minimal base of fitness to start pole. This is false. You gain strength by DOING POLE. While it is true that pole requires extensive activation of the entire body (particularly the upper body and core) to be engaged when attempting to master tricks, repeatedly applying muscular force while TRYING this fun and challenging activity inevitably leads to increases in muscular strength and associated improvements. And, unlike traditional ‘exercise’ (e. g. going to the gym), and because of the variety mentioned above, pole is far from boring! As basic elements are achieved, they can then be combined into longer sequences (or integrated with dance), which leads to improvements in muscular endurance and cardiovascular fitness. This was a very liberating discovery for me because I found pole ticked the boxes I had always sought in traditional exercise-based fitness outcomes, yet the emphasis had become pushing my body’s capabilities (what it could do) in a manner that was entertaining, as opposed to achieving an aesthetic (what it looked like) with monotonous/endless weights and traditional cardio. In addition, unlike traditional fitness culture, pole is an extremely body-positive space that instills confidence in all shapes and sizes of people and without judgement or shaming.

The act of practicing pole also leads to more than just improvements in physical fitness. There is something unique about the pursuit that also sees people become profoundly more connected to their bodies and emotions. You see, pole requires extensive practice of mindfulness - being completely in the moment - to execute skills. When on the pole, you must be completely in tune with your body’s position/orientation, connection/grip on the pole, what muscles are sequentially activated to carry out a skill, and also your form (to name a few). You must keep your mind cool, calm and collected with unwavering focus. If your mind is anywhere outside of the ‘right now’, your attempts simply do not work - yet, with repeated practice you train yourself to achieve this zone and simultaneously achieve a deeper connection with your body and better regulation of emotions. I truly feel that repeated practice of this imposed ‘mindfulness’ unlocks something within polers that changes them profoundly. We become masters of our bodies and minds - a very empowering feat that extends outside the walls of the studio. I regularly see students who were once awkward, shy, timid and unsure, blossom into coordinated, competent, and confident versions of themselves - and the only thing they originally changed was starting pole and committing to the journey.

The Artistic side of pole

Art is, by definition, the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination and that produces works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power. Because of the vast ways pole can be utilized (e. g. the continuum of pure dance to pure acrobatic tricks), it is an ideal outlet for people to exercise their creativity, unique experiences and strengths to create their own style of pole that is completely unique to them. Something I take great pride and joy in as a teacher is seeing students master a technical skill, and then proceed to put their own flare to it or use within a performance piece and really make it theirs. The mastery of solid technique and basics that comes with practice, no matter the genre of pole, opens the door to greater creative possibilities. I believe this is especially true when polers reach a place that they can convey emotion and feeling through their movement - a very powerful feat, and one that I take pride in as a performer or when I see it in come through in my students.

Does it take anything special to start pole?

Many people have the impression that you need to already be in shape to do pole, but as stated earlier, you get stronger and improve by DOING pole. The only thing that you really need is to be brave enough to start, try and continue. Starting out, a good instructor goes a long way in making sure that you are doing the right things, in a safe manner, and that is appropriate for your current level - taking you as you are right now and equipping you with the steps that will allow you to improve at your own speed. One essential thing you will need is grip product (such as Dryhands)- a specialized cream similar to liquid chalk (with a little bit of tac) that allow you to adhere to the pole. Otherwise it will be a very slippery and frustrating time. Although it is not essential, it is recommended that you should wear short-sleeved or a sleeveless top, and shorts. If you are doing more dance-intensive forms of pole, you can get away with wearing more. It is very important to remember here that the pole studio (especially when I’m teaching), is a very body-positive space and the suggestion for skin-baring attire is for functional purposes.

Is pole for guys?

I commonly get asked whether pole is for guys. Obviously, as a male pole dancer, the short answer to this question is a resounding YES. Currently, I would say about 30% of my students identify as male. Many started because they saw me perform in real life or on social media and wondered how they could get involved. While women make up the majority of those that participate in pole, the number of males has certainly been on the rise in the last few years. Because of the biological differences in strength between males and females, men often progress at a rapid rate in the acquisition of technical skills and really enjoy the physical challenge that pole presents. In addition, there has certainly been a movement in the number of males partaking in genres of pole that have traditionally been viewed as more feminine (choreography, heels, etc.). The facts are, men are also creative and artistic and enjoy pole as an outlet for this. In 2024 we are finally moving away from gender-stereotypes, and towards a place where anyone can pursue any type of pole and feel welcomed, encouraged and empowered by it. Which brings us to the longer answer which is that pole is for EVERYONE, and EVERYONE is welcome. Several of my longest-term students are transgender or gender-queer and do not subscribe to the archaic gender binary. Pole dancing has been an amazing outlet for these individuals because of how it connects them to their bodies and instills confidence, self-efficacy, pride, and an overall appreciation of their body’s capabilities (where there may have been dysphoria, disconnection and resentment previously). One of my goals as a performer and a teacher is, in fact, to demonstrate and create opportunities such that pole is regarded and pursued as an activity for all people - not just for CIS-gender females.

Why do pole dancers wear so little?

The lack of clothing when doing pole is mainly a function of safety. Our skin is what helps us grip to the pole. It sticks and adheres to the pole while fabrics tend to be slippery so more available skin (especially on the upper and lower limbs) is ideal when learning technical skills. The more skin you have available to the pole, the safer it is to hold complex tricks and transition from one skill to another. Furthermore, most pole dancers apply grip product to the hands, feet and skin to prevent sweating and increase the adherence of the skin to the pole. The type and amount of product required varies from person to person because of the variance in sweating, dryness of a person's skin, and the ambient temperature and humidity.