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Thread: Chinese pole origins

  1. #1
    Senior Member Vesper's Avatar
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    Default Chinese pole origins

    There's a thread about strippers being unwanted at pole dancing classes but have you come across non-strippers who pole dance and somewhat desperately always right away say that:

    "pole dancing is actually originally from Chinese circus" and then go on explaining how it's acrobatics and body control, but never say anything about the "sexy side"...they actually seem to want to "strip" pole dancing from strippers!

    However, the moves they teach and practice in classes are totally the same as in strip clubs instead of this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJVO3UCN9FU

    I find it amusing that these women are so keen to be in denial although it's clear that this whole pole dancing craze started from porn being mainstreamed and music videos having strippers etc. And that, yes, the origins of pole are in circus, but in Western circus that had scantily clad girls performing for men only and they used to have the stage in the centre of the tent so that as many as possible could see the girls and the girls could grab the tent's centre pole if someone tried to grab them or pull them down from the stage. Then I guess circus girls were replaced by burlesque and for a long time pole wasn't used until it came to modern strip clubs.

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    Senior Member Empyrean's Avatar
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    Default Re: Chinese pole origins

    Chinese pole...I love it! What strength and agility!

    Many instructors try to say that their classes are not about sensuality and insist it's all about fitness and make a big fuss about bringing sensuality into their classes. I don't agree and feel that ALL forms of dance are about sensuality and celebrating the beauty of the movement of our bodies.

    Also, there are various origins which pole dancing, both in clubs and in a typical pole dancing class, has taken some of their moves from. If you look back at "Mallakhamb" a form of pole competition from the 12th century, you will see many similarities in the two styles.

    To me, it all blends together. Someone see's something on the Chinese pole and incorporates that into pole dancing - for example, I use the Chinese grip to do my handspring.

    Cirq de Soleil, Silks, etc...all crossover into pole dancing. Yet I agree that the majority of today's pole dancing interest is due to it's development within strip clubs.

    I had a "fitness pole dance instructor" bend over to do some hip movement in her "fitness class" and standing behind her told her that it all looked sexy from my angle and she burst out laughing!

    I had another fitness instructor tell me that "I was kidding myself if I belived that my students wanted to learn to be sexy that women today just want to learn a new style of fitness"

    Right! You can package it any way you want and try to build excuses but we don't dance (any style of dancing) to show off our eyes!

    For anyone to deny another form of pole or sensual dance and try to say "we're different" is as wrong as one race to say they are different from or better than another. It's all really the same.

    Again, I must emphasize that the majority of my students are not in denial and I address sensuality from our first class so they have no reason to be ashamed of it. Of course, not all instructors are like that.

  3. #3
    Senior Member Charlee's Avatar
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    Default Re: Chinese pole origins

    Here is the problem with likening modern,feminin pole dancing with Chinese acrobats - um, most of us will never get to the level the chines pole guys are. My students aren't 5'7 or under and 120lbs max. They've not been training their whole lives to be able to do something like this and we don't have 30 ft pole and teach them how to flip betweem them (although that would be awesome.)

    Chinese pole, while has showmanship, doesn't have any real dance aspect is a medley or performed tricks and acrobatics.

    Pole DANCE - involves actually dancing and moving. A pole performance is put together with flow, dance and tricks so in my opinion it's very different from Chinese pole which while fluid isn't graceful and flowy.

    I think Chinese pole dancers are the most kick ass tricksters out there and I would love to learn how to do the tricks they do but I would hate to leave the aspect of actually dancing behind.

    I've used chinese pole in arguement once - only when having an issue with a venue who had a problem with me filming in the studio after hours when someone called and complained about "what they saw" and how it was "very inappropriate." I was accused of basically putting on a strip show at the studio with the picture windows open (I'm a pole dancer I must have done something offensive and can't keep my clothes on right? - I was wearing a full tank and work out shorts and ballet shoes at the time of said complaint.) I was also not even dancing but shooting a tutorial for some of my said students who help pay the rent. SO the studio made things very difficult for me, have removed my classes from other classes - there is an hour break between me and the other instructors because I am so offensive. At any rate, I told the owner - no one would be offended if I was a chinese guy on a pole - but since I am a woman I can totally see how this changes everything and is so disgusting that others must speak out against it.

    Actually, the more i think about it the angrier I get at the idea that based on my gender the idea of me on a pole offends people - but if I were a chinese guy people would pay big bucks to see me in Cirgque. So I guess I see a huge difference between the two arts and society's opinion of them - it's hypocritical.

    Said complaint came from mother of two sons (on the other hand I have had wee ones watch with complete awe at the fitness studio I teach at. No one was offended or bothered - and the kids were excited and wanted to come play on the poles.)

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