Would you send your child to a pole dancing class?

Although a growing fashion for sending children to pole dancing classes has not yet reached Ireland, Nuala Wolfe asks Irish experts whether they would welcome the trend in this country

POLE dancing, which has its origins in strip clubs, developed into an activity that women did at home for their own or their partner’s pleasure and has most recently evolved into a ‘fitness’ or sport. But is Ireland ready for the latest twist in pole dancing — pole dancing for kids?

From Australia to the United Kingdom, pole dancing for kids is splitting parents into two camps; those who are in favour and see pole dancing as aerial gymnastics and those who are upset and feel the activity is sexualising young children. In the UK this summer a father made headlines when he stormed out of a primary school where a child was pole dancing describing the behaviour as ‘inappropriate’ but other parents say there’s nothing wrong with children spinning and turning upside down — it’s just another form of acrobatics.