Pole dancing: what is it, the variety of its types, what do they give and is it possible to start practicing from scratch? Pole Dance trainer's story

What is Pole Dance? Kinds

Pole Dance – pole dance. A young trend that is rapidly developing all over the world and gaining enormous popularity. The history of its appearance is connected with Indian yoga, when exercises were practiced on a wooden pole, circus art and the development of the dance industry. Includes several types:

Pole Sport – power and acrobatic elements on the pole, various interceptions, stands. The most serious type, it has rather strict rules for competitions.
Pole Art is a dance direction. The performance must have its own image and story that the dancer tells the audience.
Exotic Pole Dance is a dance with fewer acrobatic elements. Involves working on the ground and requires special high-heeled shoes.
Pole Fitness is a mixed direction. Pole tricks and dance routines.
Pole Contemporary is a mixture of Pole Dance and Contemporary. This type has become popular quite recently. Does not require good preparation. The pylon itself here acts as an additional attribute.

Pole Dance – a combination of strength and femininity

Is it possible to build muscle using a pole?

The expert believes that it will not be possible to “build up” and increase muscle size. You work with your own weight, and the main load falls on your arms and abs. Despite this, many girls have a fear of “pumping” their arms. Of course, the shoulders will become a little more prominent, but there will definitely not be significant growth.

Photo: Premium Pole

However, the changes will be visible to the naked eye. The body will become “drier”, muscle relief will appear, and the treasured cubes will appear on the abs. Pole dancing classes are one of the effective ways to a beautiful and slender figure.

My introduction to the world of Pole Dance

The first time I came to Pole Dance training was four years ago. Several schools had just opened in my city and I wanted to try something new. I remember how impressed I was by the girls who had been training for a long time. They did everything so beautifully and easily. I even envied them a little then, but for some reason I didn’t have the desire to do the same at any cost.

I came to the first training session with good physical preparation : before that I had been rock climbing for several years and my hands were already accustomed to the load. By the way, this later became a big plus for me. Under the guidance of a trainer, I performed a few simple elements and that was all. About such cases they say “it didn’t catch on.” There were no emotions. Yes, overall I liked it, but there was no desire to come again. I returned to the climbing wall and forgot about the pylon for several months.

The second time I went for company with a friend. And again by. I didn't like the way the instructor conducted the training.

Even now, when I have been training beginners myself for several years, I understand that they need to pay maximum attention and chew on every little detail. It's incredibly hard. Beginners are very energy-consuming.

Probably, the girl instructor thought the same and preferred to devote time only to those who were good at something.

It took me quite a long time to understand: Pole Dance is what I want to do

After the training, I decided that my friendship with the pole would never happen and I didn’t make any more attempts. Until a friend told me about the trainer she trains with and invited me to a training session. I put off going to the studio for a long time, there were always more important things to do, but in the end I signed up and came. And since then I have never regretted it. It was one of the best decisions of my life. I am immensely grateful to my coach for opening the door to the pole world for me and showing me how multifaceted it is.

What can incredibly load the muscles, skyrocket self-esteem, develop cat-like grace, plasticity and stretching? What can squeeze out every last drop, but make you load your body again and again, polishing it down to the smallest muscle? This is a combination of sport and dance, training the body and revealing the soul, this is a complex and multifaceted Pole Dance.

Editorial opinion

Elena Kalita

Magazine editor

I used to think that Pole Dance was just tricks, but it turned out that it is just an incredible mixture of strength, grace and femininity. And together it all turns into a dance that can be used to express anything. Using this example, I was once again convinced of how important it is to find “your” person. Be it personal relationships or the training process. To get hooked on Pole Dance forever, it took me three lessons from different trainers and six months of time.

From beginner to coach

Having convinced myself that the pole was truly mine, I began to devote all my free time to training. After work I ran to the gym. Weekend? No, I didn’t hear, I have something to do. It seems that then every centimeter of my body hurt, bruises and calluses appeared on my fingers, but I didn’t feel tired, I really enjoyed working out.

My progress in stretching my back and shoulders

A great desire and initially good physical shape did their job: my progress went by leaps and bounds, and very soon I became one of the strongest students at the school, surpassing even those who studied more than me. And then there was a series of master classes from famous pylonists, new knowledge, applying it in practice, trips to classes in other cities, participation in the school’s reporting concerts and the first public performance. Pole Dance introduced me to a wonderful girl, with whom we quickly became friends, formed a duet and still dance together. There were competitions planned, but we never got to them.

During one of the training sessions, I miscalculated the load and injured my knee . Dislocated joint, MRI, torn ligaments, long recovery. After the injury, I decided that I needed a break, and returned to classes after a couple of months. On the same day, my trainer came up to me, told me about moving to another city, that she would no longer be able to teach classes, and invited me to stay in her place. After thinking about it, I decided that this was probably where everything was heading, coaching would become a new level for me. And I agreed.

I still remember my first training session. I have never been so excited. It’s one thing to come to class as a student and trust the coach, but it’s another thing when the coach is you. This is a huge responsibility, motivation for the student and an example. It was then that I understood why the coach does everything better than the student. The coach always tries and gives his best, he can’t do anything bad or somehow, he must always be on top.

Six months after my first lesson as a trainer, I completed training and received an instructor certificate. Now I have several groups of students of different levels: from beginners to advanced. We have been training with some of them for several years now and communicate well outside the gym with the pylons.

I always welcome new faces and do everything possible to interest a person and show him that a pylon is not just a metal pipe.

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Pole Dance: striptease or sport?

Over the years of practicing on the pole and my teaching career, I have become accustomed to different reactions from people. From time to time I hear people say to me: “Ugh, this is a striptease! And how only your boyfriend, husband or parents allow you!” Previously, at such moments, I was simply speechless and did not know what to answer. Now I only say one thing: well, be reasonable in the end! Open the Internet, or even better, come to training. You don’t even have to study, just watch.

Yes, Pole Dance once originated from striptease, but now it has stepped far forward in its development and has nothing in common with it. Contrary to popular belief, we do not take off our clothes while dancing and do not strive to attract as many male gazes as possible. Pole Dance is, first of all, about expressing yourself, about emotions and feelings, but not about vulgarity. In any case, all beauty or non-beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Everyone sees only what he wants to see. It's difficult to convince people otherwise. Yes, this is not necessary.

Everyone understands the concept of “pole dancing” in their own way.

Can Pole Dance be considered a sport? I think yes. Performing elements on the pole requires strength and good physical fitness, which can only be achieved by practicing regularly. And it's not easy at all. There is even a special Pole Sport category at the competition, where competing pole skaters demonstrate all their skills and amazing control of their own body. But I still wouldn’t say unequivocally that pole is a sport.

And if not sports and not striptease, then what? Its own, separate, unlike anything else category. This is a mixture of dancing, gymnastics, acrobatics, and sports. I don’t know of any direction that would offer so many development options. Everyone can find something of their own in Pole Dance. That's what makes him so beautiful.

Pole sport (Pole sport) - pole acrobatics in Pole Dance

Pole sport, pole acrobatics or Pole Acrobatic - this direction is characterized by complex acrobatic tricks. The main emphasis in Pole sport is on strength, endurance and flexibility. Participants in this category complete a program whose main components are:

acrobatic composition;
elements on a static pylon;
elements on a rotating pylon;
dance on the ground.

Elements performed on the ground are, for the most part, inextricably linked with the pole. Participants are required to have high performance technique, the ability to perform acrobatic tricks connected in one long chain without touching the floor in between, while maintaining the integrity of the composition, which has a clearly defined beginning and end. Transitions between pylons must fit into the overall picture of the dance, and also have an acrobatic design.

One of the common mistakes of athletes preparing their first programs for performances is saturating the program with complex tricks. I urge you to abandon excessive haste: be prudent and consistent - use in the dance only those elements that you are confident will be performed perfectly.

In the Pole Sport direction, there are clear requirements for the presence and number of elements of various groups - stretching (splits), flexibility, jumping elements, flips, power tricks, cliffs, rotations and twists. When evaluating an athlete, the technique of performing tricks, their combination (connections), as well as choreography, artistry and integrity of the image are taken into account.

Often in the field of Pole Sport, the rules of the competition clearly stipulate certain requirements that affect the assessment (failure to comply with the requirements leads to the accrual of penalty points):

number of elements in a bundle (both on a static and rotating pylon);
number of floor touches;
the number of times the athlete can completely release the pole.

I would like to note that the men's nomination is equal to the women's category. Male athletes must also

demonstrate the ability to perform elements of various groups connected into bundles, while maintaining the integrity of the image. The difference is that in the men's category the requirements listed above are more stringent.

The Pole sport (Pole Acrobatic) direction is distinguished by restraint - there are no special requirements for shoes, but it is forbidden to use props, as well as remove parts of the costume during the dance. The performance of complex acrobatic elements determines the requirements for the appearance of the participant - hair is pulled back, no unwoven elements of the hairstyle, jewelry - stud earrings, clothing - top and shorts or a sports swimsuit.

However, you shouldn’t think that Pole sport is available only to trained athletes - minimal physical training and a desire to dance: that’s all a beginner pole dancer needs, everything else will come in training. Of course, you won’t do complex tricks right away; everything takes time. Very soon, having learned the first elements and combinations, you will be able to show your first dance.

If you want to compete and achieve success, my advice to you is - in addition to the pole, give yourself additional loads - go to the gym, do complex stretching workouts. Also alternate physical training with cardio exercise. This will develop the stamina necessary to withstand the pressure of a competition program, and will also add lightness and grace to the dance.

Who is it suitable for?

Anyone can practice on the pole. And that's a fact. The only exceptions are medical indications. In order to start classes, age, weight, height, gender and physical fitness are not important.

My oldest student is 48 years old, my youngest is 18. Both thin girls and overweight girls come to classes. I won't say that they do everything equally well. Everyone develops at their own pace and that's normal.

Much also depends on the purpose for which the student comes. For some, the pole is just a pleasant time spent in the evening after work, some really like performing, and others see themselves on the podium and are going to become a champion.

Anyone can do Pole Dance

It is important to know that during the first lesson the coach does not expect anything from the student and does not place any hopes on him. It is a mistake to believe that when you come to the gym and see the pylon for the first time, you need to immediately do something on it. Otherwise, how can it be: “Everyone can, but I can’t.”

There is no need to look at others, you can only compare yourself with yourself. Everyone fails at something and everyone started somewhere at some point. If you are not afraid and make an effort, the result will not be long in coming.

Often, when meeting new people, I tell them about my work and hear in response: “Oh, well, that’s definitely not my thing.” This phrase always amuses me. How can you understand that something is not yours without even trying it? It took me quite a long time to become convinced that Pole Dance is what I really want to do.

Popular myths about Pole Dance

Only girls practice on the pole. No, not only. Recently, more and more guys prefer the pole. Largely due to curiosity, but also for the almost limitless possibilities for development. In Russia there are quite a lot of world-famous male pole skaters who compete in competitions, judge championships and give master classes not only in our country, but also abroad. Some of them train only strength elements, excluding typical female ones, while others work on flexibility and add more dancing to their training.

The pole is the main tool of a stripper's work.

The balancer for striptease is a pipe, the surface and design of which are convenient for gripping with hands and feet. The diameter of the projectile is 4-8 cm, and the height is 3-9 m. There are rotating models for striptease; when using them, pole dancing becomes more spectacular, so they are more often used during solo performances.

It is customary to use stainless steel as the material for making the pipe, although some manufacturers produce plastic poles. They are more suitable for home use or amateur training. You can also use brass pipes for training, as they are easier to hold on to due to their tighter grip. For professional striptease, classic metal equipment is used, as they are the most convenient and safe, provide reliable grip on the skin and guarantee fast but smooth gliding.