sports
‘We risked our lives for £250’: how pole dancing exploded out of strip clubs and became serious art
With abs like Olympians and skin like hide, pole dancers are besieging the Edinburgh fringe. We meet four high-flying, physics-defying acts tackling everything from New York’s underbelly to neurodiversity
TL;DR
- Pole dancing has moved from strip clubs to theatre stages, showcasing athletic feats and storytelling.
- It has gained recognition as a competition sport with a campaign for Olympic inclusion.
- Performers like Gina Alm and Yvonne Smink highlight the physical exertion, strength, and artistic potential of pole dance.
- Artists use pole dancing to explore themes such as personal health journeys (HIV diagnosis), neurodiversity, and the realities of a performer's life.
- The discipline requires intense physical conditioning, leading to toughened skin and calluses.
- Performers utilize various pole types, including static, spinning, and hanging poles, often at significant heights.
- There's a continued effort to challenge public perceptions and the stigma associated with pole dancing's origins.