Pole Dancing Will Need a Makeover For the Olympics

You may have heard the buzz about certain committees that are petitioning to get pole dance recognized as an Olympic sport. If you are laughing at this idea, then you're probably not familiar with the athletic pole dance competitions that are taking place all over the world. Yes, there is such a thing as athletic pole dance! And no, they do not have tailgate parties for this sport yet. Several years ago, pole dance became the new fitness craze, and husbands all over the U.S. were thrilled. Pole dance has clearly moved beyond strip clubs and is moving on to more prestigious things.

I recently spoke with Collette Kakuk, who is the founder of the Pole Fitness Association -- one of several organizations petitioning to get pole dance in the Olympics. A realistic goal for pole dance to be recognized is for the 2028 Olympics, but she is encouraging everyone to get on board now. And it looks like a lot of people are paying attention. The Pole Fitness Association's petition currently has signatures from supporters all over the world including Australia, Germany and the UK -- to name a few.

However, in order for this activity to be taken seriously by the Olympics committee, pole dance will need a significant make over. Or make-under depending on how you look at it. The pole dance community is in its infant stages of the quest to the Olympics, but one thing is clear according to Kakuk, and that is the stigma associated with pole dance needs to change.

Everyone is aware that pole dance and sexuality go hand in hand. In fact, I find it next to impossible to separate the two. Sure, you can put a pole dancer in spandex shorts and a spots bra, but when she is performing a vertical over-split, the word 'conservative' does not come to mind. I personally am a bit reluctant to get behind the idea of toning down the image of pole dance because I find that the raciness is half the fun.

It seems though that the sterilization of pole dancing's image would be mostly present when associated with the Olympics, and not necessarily for all of pole dance as we know it. Some of the things that would change for pole dance -- the Olympic sport -- would be:

• First, in the context of the Olympics, pole dance would be referred to as pole sport.
• Potential competitors can save their stripper stilettos for the Olympic after-party because Olympic pole competitors will probably compete barefoot. Stilettos are considered too risqué.
• And definitely no g-strings! Figure skating inspired costumes might be acceptable though.
• Potential competitors will also not be allowed to gyrate their hips or try to tempt the judges in any way. Which leads me to believe that rolling around on the floor could get a girl shamefully disqualified.
• Men's division? Yes!
• Under 18 division? Maybe. It is vertical gymnastics after all.

In addition to transitioning pole dance into pole sport, the Pole Fitness Association is working with several pole dance federations and fitness studios worldwide to create common terminology for pole maneuvers, the criteria required of a pole sport competitor, and so on. The Pole Fitness Association and other international pole dance organizations certainly have a long road ahead of them in their mission to have pole dance recognized as an Olympic sport. The current pro pole dancers seem to already have the strength, flexibility and stamina equivalent to Olympic gymnasts and rhythmic dancers, so pole dance in the Olympics is a no-brainer in my opinion. I just hope there will be a lenient policy regarding tattoos, or the pole sport competitor population may dramatically decrease!

If you want to join this cause and sign the petition for pole dance to be recognized as an Olympic sport, click here

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Comments

[violet76]

The women who pole dance competitively have a tremendous amount of strength, grace and stamina. It takes a lot of work to do the tricks and make them look effortless. But I worry about taking the sexiness out of pole dancing for the sake of turning it into a "real sport". One of the things that I think is so wonderful about the rise in popularity of pole dancing is that it offers women a creative outlet for their sexuality. By taking a very sexual, very feminine movement that has traditionally been associated with "the fallen woman" and making it into something to be admired and celebrated, pole dancing is giving women the nod to put not just their strength and grace on display, but their sensuality as well. In a culture where women are either demonized for this behavior, or lack the skills to connect with their bodies , pole dancing could offer women with a very empowered way to explore their sexuality. After all sexuality is primarily felt and experienced through the body, and dance is an excellent avenue for exploring the overlap between body and psyche.

[Diane Passage - Huffpost Blogger]

CORRECTION: Sign the petition here http://apps.facebook.com/causes/156462

[Jakgaph]

Badminton and Curling are Olympic Sports...The strength, balance, stamina and difficulty level of professional Pole dancing FAR exceeds that of these and many of the other sports. Pole dancing is NOT something anyone can just do...Similar to most gymnastics events it takes years of training and many many bumps and bruises to perfect.

Gymnastics is currently one of the PREMIER Olympic events, They have horizontal bars etc. Pole dancing is the equivalent only using a Vertical Bar. So if it were called say Vertical Gymnastics the appeal would be more mainstream.

[Sinick]

I'm begging you to kill me. Baseball is out but Pole-Dancing may be in.

Why can't female sports fans be content with the established ultra-subjective sports of figure skating, ice dancing or pixie gymnastics for chrissakes? Why can't they be content with sports that use goals scored or a stopwatch to measure excellence? Skin, hair, "charisma" and costumes rule these "sports." What's next, nude synchronized swimming? IMO the Olympics have degenerated into a commercial scam--athleticism may not be required.

BTW. averygard, I'd bet that the men HAVE TO wear clothes--the women, not so much. Same goes at the local pub where men are not allowed entry if they are wearing sleeveless shirts and women can show up half naked with nary a protest.

Where am I going with this? Anybody?

[BespokeEventsbyJKS]

I think that Pole Sport would be a breathe of fresh air at the Olympics. These women who do those daredevilish moves on a 10+ foot pole that's only 2" in diameter are just as athletic, graceful, strong and competitive as any other partaking in the O!

[whateverblog]

Hmmm...not sure what to think about Pole Dancing at theOlympics. It could be interesting but I agree with all the olympic rules it could take the fun out of it.

[averygard]

Ick. It's bad enough that in Olympic "volleyball," the men get to wear clothes--the women, not so much.