Bellydance and pole dance : The same fight!

Thank you Mélanie, pole dance teacher and artist in Mulhouse (France), for answering our questions so we can understand better the ins and outs of this activity in full development but still little known to the general public. 

What is pole dance and what is its story?

Pole dancing is an aerial art practiced on a vertical bar. It combines strength, grace, and flexibility by mixing dance and acrobatics. Pole dance originated in strip clubs in the 60s and then developed in Anglo-Saxon countries before conquering the rest of the world. The first French pole dance competition took place in 2009 and was created by Mariana Baum.

What are exactly the prejudices that pole dance is victim of?

Pole dance has always conveyed a scandalous image. And yet, when practicing it, we realize that it has nothing to do with what we believe.
For example here is a little story, a few years ago I welcomed a group of men in my pole dance school to celebrate a bachelor party. When they arrived, they'd imagined that I was going to perform a sexy dance for them and that they had paid for it! I smiled and asked them to put on some sports' clothes. Of course, they didn't have it so they all ended up in boxers. I started the session with an intense warm-up. Very quickly, after 20 minutes, they calmed down! ;-)Then, I taught them some basic figures and some involving strength. The lesson lasted 1 hour and a half and, at the end of the session, I was delighted to see that their way of seeing the discipline had changed. They realized how physical it was.
Mindsets are changing, but slowly and often only after there has been a real discovery during an initiation. Without this, prejudices unfortunately remain deeply rooted, this activity being still rather recent.

What are the physical capacities necessary to practice pole dance?

The advantage of pole dancing is that, contrary to popular belief, you can start at any age and without a particular build. Everyone can do it. Of course, there are predispositions for those who have a sports background (gymnasts or dancers for example) but it's still an activity relatively accessible to all.
Depending on your motivation and how often you train, you can quickly progress. The pole dance repertoire is huge so it never stops, we constantly evolve without getting bored and we practice indefinitely.

What are the pole dance's benefits (physical and mental)?

First of all, the practice of pole dance is very playful. We laugh, have fun and take pleasure without realizing that we are physically working. Each session is a true challenge! At the beginning, we do not imagine that we could do some figures then, during the lesson, we realize that it is doable. We don't think about anything, we stay focused on what we are doing, and finally, we have the satisfaction of having succeeded! It becomes addictive and we keep on wanting to start over and always go further.
As you practice, the body begins to learn the right gestures, it becomes more tonic and slim. We're built up to the tips of our toes!

How is pole dance really an art in itself and a varied discipline?

Pole dance has the advantage of easily lending itself to the game of merging with different activities.
We can then practice "pole sport", fitness style where we will perform acrobatic and dynamic figures.
You can also move on the bar by integrating movements of classical or contemporary dance, street jazz...
You can also do some "sexy choreo" and the "exotic" one. There, we are going to focus the work on more sensuality, with languid and glamorous movements which require suppleness in the legs.
The discipline can also be performed for special occasions such as birthdays, weddings, or different cultural events. Here, you let your imagination run wild and you can create real artistic scenes with a world and a story to tell to the members of the audience.

How can one ensure the safety of pole dancers?

When you practice pole dancing, you have a crash mat (a 14 or 20cm thick floor mat) to provide cushioning in the event of a fall. But usually, for more complex figures, the teacher parades her student. And during practice, the students also parade among themselves. There is a lot of mutual aid during the lessons with one another and it creates a great energy.

What is the most appropriate outfit for practicing pole dance on a daily basis during training?

The ideal is to practice pole dance with shorts and a sports bra because the more the skin is visible, the better the grip on the bar. In fact, it is the contact with the skin which allows you to hold the figures better.

What types of clothing can be used for a pole dance performance onstage?

To perform an act, you have to wear short panties and a top as open as possible once again for the grip. They can be decorated with rhinestones, glitter, feathers... to embellish the performance. Accessories can be used such as for example veils to optimize the staging.

How was your passion for the world of pole dance born and what is your background in this domain?

Body expression has always been essential to me. I practiced classical dance, modern dance and then GR (Rhythmic Gymnastics).
20 years ago I had my little rebellious period and worked in strip clubs. I liked the dance, show and sensuality. So I was a "show girl" for 2 years.
In 2009, while I was watching a pole dance competition video, I discovered Doris Arnold (who became French champion in 2013). This athlete, a former stripper, put stars in my eyes.
In 2010, I decided to train with international artists such as Michelle Shimmy, Oöna Kivela, Jenyne Butterfly…
In 2012, the Mulhouse pole dance founded with my sister was born. Nowadays, this dance studio has evolved and is called "Studio Cocoon", a place where you can practice pole dance but also Pilates and aerial arts.
Today, I am delighted to be able to promote pole dance, share this discipline with my students, and continue to change mentalities.