-
Beauty Standards and Pole Dancers
-
Hopefully Joel Lessing won’t mind me quoting him, but he was an online round judge for the Florida comp a while back, and when I talked with him about that experience afterward he remarked that one of the things judging really did show him was that, while many performers of many body types are capable of delivering absolutely amazing PERFORMANCES, there is a “body type” for the really high level aerial acrobatic pole work and that’s the general aerialist body type- a relatively thin but muscled frame with a very strong upper body and good overall flexibility. I don’t have a problem with that. If you look at the US women’s olympic gymnastic team, there’s very little variation in those ladies on height and general build. (Same for weight lifters, or any sport really…) In the more performance-oriented pole world or competitive circuits that aren’t just about gynmastics and acrobatics there is much more body type variety in pole. As a cast member of Girl Next Door Chicago I can tell you there is a definite wide range in body types in GND, although they all have tricks that suit their body types because they have fantastic training.
Within the “high level” pole competitions, I really think there are some people out there who are bucking “traditional” beauty ideals in how they perform. Danielle Romano is a FANTASTIC example of this…her whole look and style bucks the norm. I also think in some senses people like Patti Zikmund and David Owen buck beauty norms in the pole world by telling their story with their bodies without obsessing over what conventional wisdom says the pole aesthetic “should be”…in other words they aren’t out there trying to look like ballet dancers or do things the “conventional pretty” way, they feel free to go out there and be creepy and stompy and interpret feeling and movement without trying to fit it into a particular dance technique.
In general I think in many ways many people are attracted to pole specifically because we enjoy rejecting some of those norms. Even those of us who are the trained dancers are certainly doing something that the traditional dance world tends to push against. And those of us who are the “sexy style dancers” on first appearance might have a “look” that reflects western beauty norms, yet the western beauty myth doesn’t allow for us to be respected for our looks if we “look like strippers…” we can’t just be “normal” and pretty, we’re whores! (so they say) And since we all had our own reasons to come to pole…I truly believe we are all fighting for something with our dance, and we all reject norms somehow…so I have learned not to judge a pole dancer from her outward appearance, and try to see each dancer for what she fights for.
-
At the end of the day after spending much time with a few champions and high ranking professionals I can tell you they struggle like we do. They have fear, insecurities and also feel the need to keep winning to stay on top. It’s a lot of pressure for them too.
Consider the day in the life of a champion. You aren’t just poling for fun anymore, you’ve spent money and lots of it to compete, train, be outfitted, etc. You’re struggling to be better than your last performance, especially if it was award winning. You are working to stay in top of every new move and innovate new things, the things you’ve already showcased are being done now worldwide amongst your peers, you have to come with something new now. Your value as a dancer has become your market, read financial, value. Not on,y are you training for your competitions but now you’re marketing yourself for workshops once you get to said city for said competition and that’s only if that competition will even allow you teach workshops. Workshops take time away from your practice but you need them to survive and pay for your competition. Now you’re being asked to judge smaller competitions. One more thing to balance. If you’re not super known yet few people will book you. That means you might be trying to balance a real job and pole like Natasha Wang or Nadia Sharif did. So now, you’re working, training at night…and not just pole. Contortion. Dance. Yoga. Gym. Pole. So now you’ve gotten known enough, you’re in a world comp, you’re paying for that trip. You’re training others on pole and trying to fit in your own practice. You want to win because who doesn’t? Your hard work should mean something, right? You go. You dance. You don’t place well. Now you’re back to the grindstone wondering if the loss has cost you anything financially. Are you still great? Does this change the way you are viewed?
It’s all the same feelings no matter where you’re at. Am I good enough? Am I talented? Can I make a living doing this? What did I do wrong? Why don’t the judges like me? I’m working harder than ever before but not getting better. What else do i need to do? Am I pretty enough? Is my body strong enough, good enough, bendy enough, etc?
We are all women.
I’m the community theater of pole dancing. Not good enough to be an actress but this is what I love to do so I teach some classes, share my love for others and pole, find some small performances or comps and try. I keep trying because community theater has value too. I’m doing the same things the pros are just on a much smaller playing field.
I hope that perspective helps.
-
All that AND….factor in that underneath all of that struggle they are in constant, never-ending pain. Pain from overuse of the body in general, extreme physical fatigue…but also injuries. Every single pro I’ve met must constantly work around one or multiple permanent and painful injuries. Many of us pole for health and wellness…but the pros sacrifice that, and give up the general health and wellness benefits in order to make their bodies do those incredible things. Any professional athlete sacrifices the health and balance (what many amateurs seek by practicing) to make their bodies function a certain way. Most of us aren’t physically able or emotionally capable of making that sacrifice…that’s partly where the good genetics come in, many of these people are made of tough enough stuff to train through injuries that we would not and could not train through.
-
And I’ll say that one more time so it sinks in…I have NEVER met a “professional” pole dancer who does not have to work around at least one permanent injury. Not because they are necessarily reckless but because that is the nature of the choice they have made to do this professionally…it means you can’t just quit to rest, and you also have to make it look good no matter how much that hurts.
-
For the record, Charley… I totally consider you a professional. You professionally perform, you professionally teach, and you professionally compete. Regardless of any ‘prestige’ involved… you are a professional in this industry. 🙂
-
Daniele so true there are many ways to be a polefessional that don’t depend on competition titles ! I don’t think anyone would deny that Veena is a professional and I don’t think she’s ever competed or held titles though she has coached people who have won titles! Similar to Kelly Yvonne who has also been on the front lines of pole for years now coaching, promoting pole as art regardless of level AND pole as high level sport.
-
Honestly I even consider myself a professional. I’ve been instructing now for 2 years and I enjoy performing publicly. I feel what I have to offer to the “normal” (i.e. non-pole) world is substantial and unique, especially in my own city. Here I am definitely one of the resident polefessionals. I may not have won any major titles and I’m not pole-famous… but what I do with the pole I try to do as professionally as possible. I don’t think I’d be striving for nearly as much if I hadn’t adopted this mindset.
But anyway this is rather off-topic. 😛 Sorry about that, OP!
-
Thank you Danielle! 🙂
I think it’s like acting. I remember listening to an incredible interview with the woman who played the oldest aunt on the Sabrina teenage witch show. She’d been acting for 20 years or something, steady but hadn’t achieved “fame.” She considers herself a working actress. I can tell you she was pleased with her career and had a lot of fun doing what she loved. Her take on “fame” was not that she wasn’t pretty enough or talented enough but just had not found the role that would catapult her to beyond kardashian level fame. She also tended towards stage work which is its own demon and rarely provides great fame since its only accessible to the audience, it’s not televised. She did what she loved and made a life for herself with her talents and desire. That story will always stick with me,
So in regards to beauty and pole, I think that you will find that is common amongst all upper echelon of performers. I mean we wear lots of stage make up and sparkles so of course everyone looks gorgeous! I think everyone looks beautiful when they perform with their eye lashes and outfits and shoes! And that goes for all body types. That’s just performing. We all look amazing. Nobody goes on stage with no make up in sweats, lol!
I also think you can be a pole model and not be “famous”. I look around here and fb and see so much beauty and under rated dancing its amazing. There isn’t enough time in the day to watch all the great performers. When I did GND Chicago, I hadn’t heard of many of the girls and I was freaking blown away and am sad I didn’t get to see every performance through its completion. They made me laugh and cry.
Th thing I love about pole is that there isn’t a particular beauty mold. There is a recipe for championships no doubt. It not because of an agenda but because at that level you kinda need to tough and strong.
Ill also add our high ranking dancers all love pole and women. They want to empower all of us and each other. At no point would any of them feel good thinking we are feeling bad because of their skin deep beauty. Each champ I’ve met or worked with has made ME personally feel great.
-
Everyone makes wonderful points! I too consider myself a Professional, however I would not say my dancing is at an Elite competitive level. You can totally be a Professional but not compete.
-
Danielle, I was going to mention you because you to me do not fit that mold as you have a very different look, and considering you placed at Midwest this year I would consider you holding a title. I also want to mention Michelle Mynx and Katrina Dohl. They have won numerous Burlesque awards and Michelle has judged countless competitions. Both are very well known and do not fit the mold. I will however say that I do think that some of the competitions are looking not only for ability but someone who will be the face of their competition for the next year, but that is also me having a bad taste in my mouth for many of the comps.
-
I hope that’s not true chemmie. Omg! Chemmie is in my auto correct! Love!
I do think for some comps they may desire sue sky clean winners or more all American looking but everyone should have a fair shake. I believe in my heart we are getting away from this. I know one comp for sure wants a spokesperson/awesome poler and they have a q&a round like a pageant. I see no harm in this as its put there as part of why they do, it’s when you don’t know that it’s an issue….
-
Love that Chemmie is in your autocorrect, too!
-
This is a really enlightening discussion for me, and I’m glad I posted this. I’ve been poling for under 1 year, so some of this information is also new to me. It’s nice to hear from people who are more experienced, and who are immersed in the community in real life.
@Charley, thank you for sharing your thoughts. I honestly never thought in detail about all the sacrifices pole stars have to make for their career-probably because I have the luxury of rolling out of bed and poling whenever I want when I’m at home, for however long I want. I’ve been wondering how all the business stuff works for professional pole dancers, and that is very eye-opening but it all makes sense.
-
I think this a great topic. If we don’t continue to question things as the community we could find ourselves one day with a broken system. For as big as it is, pole is still really small, small enough to know everyone, it keeps most people honest but one day it won’t be.
I’d never have realized what the pros go through either had I not worked with a few. I’ve had a few stay with me during events and they’ve been so open and awesome about their lives and even pole. They all really love the pole world even if they don’t have time to come on here. They do read what we write and are aware. So do pole companies and a thread like this might inspire them to sponsor an unknown or even question their own marketing methods and maybe take on performers who are more artistic and less fonji,lol. This is a great topic for keeping marketing methods in check. I think on a smaller level this beauty standard that gets pushed everywhere in our lives has led me to personally want to showcase and promote dancers with different body types and abilities. I run a yearly showcase in Michigan that features about 50 everyday dancers and a few pros. It’s such a love fest and so inspiring.
And one more thing I thought of. At one point, and I’m not sure what the relationship is now, but Lulu aka minicoupergirl was a sponsored athlete with Platinum Stages. I loved that. Lulu inspires me because she continues to compete and perform right along side the teensiest of girls. She puts on a show! Extremely entertaining and very bendy, she also blogs about her life here sometimes about competing in high level comps and making costumes. She’s been on tv spreading pole love and spreading the message that you don’t have to be a size 2. I really admire her both as a performer and a spokesperson.
-
For anyone who has never been to a Detroit Showcase, it really is a special place. I cannot tell you how many have walked in those doors disenchanted with pole in general and walked out with their passion renewed. It is a crazy, stupid, silly, amazing, emotional, inspiring weekend and I have been in tears from emotion and tears of laughter….I think during Layla’s performance last year I was in both! I hated for the weekend to end. There is a reason that “stars” come back year after year after year….it really is a magical weekend.
Log in to reply.