Pole Dancing is Not Just for Strippers

Pole for poledancing. Sophia von Seebach

Pole dancing, once a taboo and a fear of many parents, is becoming a de-stigmatized and legitimized sport, embraced by many people. Instructors and students alike say that pole dancing is a very empowering artistic expression, builds confidence, and, despite its history, is not sexual in nature.

Harriët Scharke. Photo by Rayan Rakibuzzaman

Historically, pole dancing has been associated with sex work, and therefore, the submission of women. However, Laura Penninga, a pole dancing instructor at G.S.P.V. De NoordPole in Groningen, says that pole dancing has the opposite effect on many of her students.

“Pole dancing, to me, is something very, very empowering and something that can boost your confidence a lot,” she said. “It can also make you realize that you don’t need to perform for someone else, you can just do it for yourself.”

The stigma that Penninga says is associated with pole dancing, is the connection between pole dancing and stripping. According to her, this association does not mean that all pole dancing should be seen as sex work. Harriët Scharke, the chairperson of G.S.P.V. De NoordPole, said that her family was initially not supportive of her choice to start pole dancing. “My family did not really approve of it- they didn’t really know what it was,” said Scharke. “My mom thought it was girls just being naked and dancing on a pole.”

Finding a balance between representing the origins of pole dancing, and bringing the sport into modernity for students is also important to Penninga. “There’s this one trick where you’re sitting on the pole, and then your hand comes under your butt, and then you just fully open your legs and this trick is officially known as the ‘Hello Boys,’” she said. Although she does teach this trick to her more advanced students, she has renamed it the seated-straddle rest support.

“On one hand, I’m trying to recognize where pole dancing comes from and that this is still something that is used by a lot of sex workers, but am also trying to make sure that my students don't feel like the sport is only sexual, or that it’s meant to be [done] for men.”

Penninga, who has been dancing pole since 2017, said that pole is both athletic and artistic, similar to other forms of dance. “Many students still seem to associate some form of shame with pole, because of that history we know,” says Penninga. “Letting go of that and just dancing, and doing powerful tricks regardless of that shameful feeling some might have, can be very empowering.”

Sophia von Seebach

Justine Rattz, a beginner pole dancing student at G.S.P.V. De NoordPole, similarly said that the sport can be very confidence building. “I rather see it as a very empowering movement and not really as doing it for the ‘male gaze,’” said Rattz. Although she has only been dancing pole for a few months, Rattz says that the combination of dance and athletics immediately interested her. “I did a trial lesson and was hooked,” she said.

Penninga also said that pole dancing is not only a sport, but an artistic outlet. “I like the beauty of being able to do so many things with your body, around one vertical pole,” she said. “It is a really beautiful sport.”