Pole dancing has turned into a budding competitive sport and top pole dancers from around the world gathered in Tokyo for the International Pole Dancing Championships. Read more after the jump…
(AP)
“I’m self taught with Chinese pole, which is probably the circus equivalent of what we do here and I was getting a fair few girls and women coming through the class saying ‘you should come and try this. You should come and try this.’ And I eventually did and they talked me into entering the Australia Pacific Pole Championships earlier this year,” said Duncan West, Male International Pole Dance champion 2010.
Performers got four minutes and two poles, which were about 12 feet tall, to show what they could do.
Stiletto heels were checked backstage and rules required outfits to be “dignified and appropriate for athletic competition.”
Organizers hope pole dancing gets included in the Olympics ultimately.
But, there are concerns about how much of its trademark sexiness and suggestive creativity should be allowed to stay.
“I think because, you know, women can be very feminine and men can be very muscular and everybody can be just themselves. They can create their own style. I think as well because the rules are still creating in the process so people can be very creative and this is what is opening a door to making a great show, which is not boring,” said Ania Przeplasko, head of the International Pole Dance Fitness Association.
At the Tokyo Championship, Japan’s Mai Sato defended her title as the women’s champion, while Duncan West of Australia won in the men’s category.
