Would you send your child to a pole dancing class?
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.
A quick flick of ‘pole dancing kids’ on Youtube will show children playing on poles (having a quick spin in normal clothes), children getting instruction at pole dance class or children dancing bare foot in competitions while wearing crop tops and shorts or leotards with cut outs exposing skin. Most disturbingly, some children behave in a clearly sexualised manner, sliding down poles with fingers in their mouths, Lolita-style and doing provocative moves.
So is pole dancing a child ‘exercise’ that will inevitably be hitting our shores sometime soon? Terri Walsh of Fierce Fitness Dance Studios, Dublin, Maynooth and Portlaoise, who came to prominence pole dancing this year on Britain’s Got Talent, is one instructor who believes pole dancing for children is, “not a big deal”.
“Mums have said to me if you ever set up a class for children I’d put my kids in it.”
The Cork woman says although children in pole competition might dance in leotards with skin exposed this is purely for grip not tease. In her classes she emphasises the focus is on fitness — not tease. Occasionally mums, who may have nobody to mind their children at the time, have brought children to class and Walsh has let such kids have a twirl on the pole, but she says this is under supervision, that she has crash mats, is Garda vetted and has previously taught dance to children.
“Pole dancing is acrobatic; I don’t see how it could become sexualised.”
Anyone who wants to see what child pole fitness is about might watch a performance by Russian, Olga Trifonova, 2013 winner at World Pole Sports, London, before they rush to judge, suggests Walsh. “If you see a kid on gymnastic rings or a child on a beam doing the splits you don’t think it’s raunchy.” Walsh says she’s never personally seen a child grind on a pole. “All they want to do is climb it,” she says.
Brenda Collins from Mi-Fitness, Cork also confirms that parents have asked about child pole dancing recently. “I think it could be good. I was a gymnast myself and did some coaching years ago; there’s not much between them (pole and gymnastics)”. Collins agrees that there’s always been a “stigma” around pole and, “if pole is ever to take off for children in Ireland you’d have to have parents who are very secure.” Most likely she sees children of pole dance mothers as the first possible junior pole dance candidates in Ireland.
Not all instructors are comfortable with the idea of pole dancing children though. Arlene Caffrey of Irish Pole Dance Academy says child pole dancing is a “hot topic” in the instructor community, but she’s concerned about the longterm effects of pole on children physically. ‘It’s an extreme sport, it’s physically demanding. “I was a judge at Miss Pole Dance Germany this year where there was a kids’ section. For me it felt strange watching kids on poles because their bodies are so small.” Caffrey says none of her adult clients have asked about kids’ classes yet, “having said that, a lot of our clients would have a pole at home and they might post pics (on social media) of kids doing twirls on it. That’s really cute as well, there’s nothing sexual about it,” she says.
Expert in child and adolescent behaviour, consultant psychologist, Dr David Carey is adamant that pole dance for children is not ever suitable. ‘I think we’ve lost a grip on what is normal and what is developmentally appropriate for children. Children need exercise, but does it have to be an activity associated with sexualised behaviour?” Dr Carey says he’s against pole dancing kids even if it’s presented as fitness or subject to tighter controls. He says this is just an attempt to ‘sanitise’ an activity which is still inappropriate.
“My professional opinion is that this is not developmentally appropriate. If you want your children involved in sport, get them down to your local community centre,’ he says.
CARI, Children at Risk Ireland finds the idea of children pole dancing, “deeply disturbing”.
“We must as adults make healthy choices for our children as they are young and vulnerable and unable to make them for themselves,” says CARI chief executive, Mary Flaherty. CARI warns this worldwide junior dance trend is the latest indication of the growing sexualisation of children.
“Young children don’t understand the sexual overtones of the moves and this activity could leave them vulnerable to exploitation. Children need to take exercise, but when did pole dancing become an acceptable sport for children? Children should be encouraged to run in the school playground or sports field in normal shorts and a t-shirt instead of pole dancing, something which has overt sexual connotations,” says Flaherty.
When Galway circus assistant administrator, Dervla O’Riordan is asked if she thinks there is no real difference between pole dance and acrobatic activities she says: “Acrobatically, we would see pole dancing as being a bit tame compared to what we do. We don’t really see pole dance as a part of circus, the closest thing to pole dancing is Chinese Pole but it’s still very different. Pole dancing has the tag of being smutty; we offer children aerial work and aerial dance, we do hoops and ropes and silks,” she explains.
O’Riordan says if parents have children whom they think have acrobatic ability but they feel pole dancing is a bit too controversial then the best option might be to introduce them to a youth circus. ‘Kids who come here wear shorts or leggings and t- shirts; we offer an alternative that is in no way seedy. There are so many circus schools and camps in Ireland there is lots of choice,” she says.
