Courtesy of IPDFA

Pole dancing picks up momentum for women - and men

By Dan Grunebaum

TOKYO —

My pulse quickens as I’m about to meet up with the coordinator of the International Pole Dance Fitness Association to talk about the organization’s upcoming Tokyo championship. And when Ania Przeplasko sits opposite me, it’s clear there is a shapely, toned bod inside her no-nonsense blouse and skirt.

But friendly as Przeplasko may be, she’s all business, and — ahem — so am I. For this is pole dance 2.0. Banish those fantasies of shimmying buttocks and come-hither glances; replace them with images of sixpack abs, women’s lib and celebrity appearances on Oprah.

Building on years of momentum that have seen pole dance repurposed by a new generation of women as a form of exercise and self-expression (global pole fitness classes are up 4,000% since 2003), the IPDFA held its first international championship in Manila last year. The event, says Przeplasko, was transformational.

“At first it was difficult to get sponsors,” she explains. “But after the competition, the image of pole dance — which in Manila was still strongly associated with prostitution — changed drastically. We were surprised by the media response.”

After viewing dozens of performances, judges selected winners from the U.S., Philippines and Japan in three categories: Pole Dance, Pole Art and Pole Fit. Performances are judged on both technical and creative merits, and dancers must also adhere to a strict set of guidelines forbidding them from conversing with the audience or giving “the effect of excessive nudity and explicit content inappropriate for an athletic dance sport.”

Przeplasko herself first got into pole dancing when she arrived here from Poland — hold the puns, please! — to design clothes a decade ago. With a background in gymnastics and a love of fashion, it was a perfect fit. As IPDFA coordinator, she says the decision to hold the second championship in Tokyo was a natural one.

“Tokyo is Tokyo, and it excites the competitors,” she says. “The pole dance trends here are the most artistic, and the studios are the most professional. Japanese girls have a problem with shyness, and pole dancing has helped their confidence. I can see the change.”

The 2009 finals will see performers from Brazil to Moldova converge on Tokyo — and, for the first time, men will be among their ranks.

“As a leisure activity, it appeals more to women than men because some movements are inspired by exotic dance elements which embrace strength in femininity,” Przeplasko explains. “However, the Chinese Pole, which has begun to cross over into mainstream pole dancing, has been dominated for centuries by all-male Chinese state circus troupes. This has led to a rise in men undertaking pole dancing.”

Images of muscled men and bossy women don’t exactly excite the libido of this insecure male, but apparently all is not lost. “While pole dance as an erotic dance is shying away, and increasing as an exercise and art, it doesn’t mean that it is losing its sensuality,” Przeplasko insists, offering comfort. “As a performing art, pole dance is an esthetic dance where the artist makes graceful movements in a sensual style.”

International Pole Dance Fitness Championship Tokyo 2009

International pole dancing event with various dancers competing, this year including men. Dec 4, 7:30 p.m., free. Christon Café

Levels 8 and 9. Oriental Wave building. 5-17-13 Shinjuku Tokyo Japan, for more information: www.polechampionship.com

This story originally appeared in Metropolis magazine (www.metropolis.co.jp).

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Latest 15 of 35 Total Comments Show All

Hephatsheput at 10:03 PM JST - 1st November

"I don't know which is more pathetic, the women who sell this to other women, or the women that buy into it."

Or any women not yet involved.
Sarge at 10:05 PM JST - 1st November

"What's the name of the girl in the photo?"

Her name is I'm So Hot, I Can Make This Pole Melt If I Stay On It Too Long.
Hephatsheput at 10:06 PM JST - 1st November

Sarge, is that supposed to be a joke?
WhatMeWorry at 10:28 PM JST - 1st November

Hats off to JT for using a photo. Perhaps listening to its readers and good journalistic timing to start with this article. Keep them coming!
Sarge at 10:31 PM JST - 1st November

"Hats off to JT for using a photo"

And of a female pole dancer, no less!
onewrldoneppl at 11:27 PM JST - 1st November

her name is YUKO. she's IPDFA's 2008 champion. she's also japanese. apparently does capoeira and samba, too.
onewrldoneppl at 11:32 PM JST - 1st November

you can watch YUKO's championship performance @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFgb6BqSUxE
memyselfI at 11:53 PM JST - 1st November

i don't want to see men pole dancers. please i feel sick
koneko22 at 04:03 AM JST - 2nd November

This picture will keep the all the men on the train real happy, smiling and dreaming...hmmmm....Lap dancing isn't quite so dangerous...
sydenham at 06:19 AM JST - 2nd November

Anomaly Jr.

They're buying the BS.

Here's an example of what happens: An old high school friend recently got into this and posted her video on her Facebook page. Nobody commented directly on her page (of course, that's Facebook for you), however, every single guy I talked to that had seen her video had nothing but negative thoughts about it. Most said something along the lines of it being unbelievably stupid that she thought imitating strippers was "cool," or "sexy," and how it's just more evidence of the dumbing down of what constitutes dance, or sport, or even fitness, for that matter. People buy into any crap these days as long as it's pushed to them through the right messenger, be it websites, magazines, or the boob tube.

Frankly, I agreed with them. It's no less stupid than middle class white men imitating like inner city gangsters. They'll defend themselves by saying they like the "music."
DarkKnghtZ at 07:57 AM JST - 2nd November

That video... has confirmed everything I thought poledancing was. My image of poledancing= strip club atmosphere. Dimmed lights, disco balls, shitty music, etc. I watched the video and it showed dimmed lights, disco balls... not sure about the music since im at work, but yeah... they may as well call it competitive strip club...ing.
Mittsu at 02:09 PM JST - 2nd November

Too many pole dancers in Japan already.
Junnama at 02:25 PM JST - 2nd November

Even the JT picture looks like it was taken in a strip-club....

I wonder were that girl works when not dancing???? Possibly the Black Rose...
Junnama at 04:57 PM JST - 2nd November

That Youtube video was too much...oh yeah it's not like stripping at all (lol) :0
whatsgoinon at 05:41 PM JST - 8th November

i dunno....it is seriously great exercise. It's great for core strength arm strength and all round toning. I think i'm in! I'm gonna find me a class (or more likely a DVD)