Getting in pole position
Olympian effort that scores a 10
POLE dancing has been recognised internationally as a sport, with the possibility that it could be included in the Olympic Games in future – a move welcomed by South African dancers this week who said it would help dispel the stigma attached to the sport.
The Global Association of International Sports Federation recently awarded observer status to the International Pole Sports Federation, along with dodgeball and arm-wrestling.
Observer status is regarded as the first step towards full association membership and federation president Katie Coates, who has campaigned for pole dancing to be recognised as a sport for eight years, said: “I feel we have achieved the impossible. Everyone told us that we would not be able to get pole dancing recognised as a sport.” She said she was confident it would take its place at the Olympics.
With Miss Pole Dance SA taking place in Johannesburg this weekend, founder of Pole Dance Association of SA and owner of BodyMind studios in Johannesburg, Natasha Williams, welcomed the announcement. She said pole dancing was already recognised as a dance sport by Sascoc (the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee).
“Sascoc has given us affiliate membership with the proviso that we are in five provinces and that we continue to grow. The stigma attached to pole dance is changing.
“As far as I’m aware, Brazil was the first to recognise it as a sport and then South Africa.
“The hope is there, but it’s a niche market. I’m not sure there would be enough of an audience at Olympic level.
“A lot of people who do gymnastics or ballet see it as the next challenge. I think pole dancing is graceful and sensual, more like ballroom dancing,” said Williams, adding that pole dance as strength training is “hectically intense”. “I do three pole classes and one fitness class a week and I am super fit.”
She explained women carried their bodies in a different way from men in that they were more flowing and moved in a circular shape.
“Men are more mechanical and their movement is an up-and-down motion, with many fitness forms available today focused on male movement.”
One of the country’s top pole dance competitors, Johannesburg-based Benita Bouwer, who won the Masters World Pole Championship in Holland this year and was voted 2017 Female Athlete at the championship event, described the decision as “fantastic news”.
“I’m elated. In the past eight years, federations across the world have worked so hard trying to get Olympic recognition.
“It’s a matter of time. Pole sports federations across the globe have worked hand in hand with the International Pole Sports Federation to gain the nod from the Olympic Committee.
“I’m proud to say that South Africans hold their own on international stages. We have incredible athletes, coaches, judges and organisers affording us opportunities to compete at national and international levels.” Previously a professional ballet dancer, Bouwer is from Pole Physiques Studio. She said there were many genres to pole, including dancing, fitness, art and sport. Durban pole dance instructor Bronwyn Whittington, from Nouveau Dance Studio, said the recognition of pole dancing as a sport would help to remove the stigma around it – it is not only to be seen in gentlemen’s clubs as erotic dancing. “There’s still a daily struggle around the stigma, and recognising pole dancing as a sport will make it easier to dispel this.
“It’s exceptionally good as a full body workout. It’s also an amazing experience in that it builds strength and helps a woman feel strong, empowered and confident.
“It will take a good few years before it becomes an Olympic sport, but it will eventually happen.”
Global Association president Patrick Baumann said: “We will do everything in our remit to help them realise their full potential as international federations within the global sports family and one day, maybe, be part of the Olympic programme.
“The new sports debuting at Tokyo 2020 and at the Buenos Aires Youth Olympics are evidence that the pathway is
already there.”