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Children and Pole Dance on Anderson Cooper
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I think it’s more than unfortunate that the media in this country have such a vulgar misunderstanding of their profession. They feel their obligation is not to report facts but, rather, to stir emotions. If there’s no controversy, there’s no show. No show, no advertisers. No advertisers, no money. Unfortunately, we, the viewing public, must share the blame. We eat this crap up, let it upset us, and demand nothing of substance from television producers, reporters, and advertisers. Shame on them. Shame on us. Can’t blame Anderson Cooper for trying to make a buck. It’s obvious he’s reporting on a topic he hasn’t researched. He’s just the pretty face reading the teleprompter. If I made my money as a daytime television producer, I’d dig up all the controversy I could to keep my job, and I wouldn’t worry too much about research or facts, because my viewers aren’t interested in facts. Choose any topic: everyone holds and maintains their own opinion, regardless of the facts. They just tune in to watch pretty people argue. The ladies did a good job answering the questions posed by Anderson Cooper. Unfortunately, the only people who understood their answers, were those who already agreed with them.
To my fellow Veeners, please don’t be upset by pole controversies. It’s a waste of energy. Energy that you should spend on acts of love and kindness. Go dance with your kids instead. And, remember, if love guides your child-rearing decisions, those decisions will always be right. No matter what Goldie Hawn says. -
"I get that it could be good exercise and stuff…"
Yeah… clearly Anderson doesn't get it.
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Thumbs up to the ladies who are safely teaching our sport to the next generation of polers! In my experience the media are only interested in selling stories and controversy not facts. I have been teaching children gymnastics for over 20 years. A couple of years ago the studio I was teaching at asked me to pilot a childrens pole play class. My team of wonderful children opened a local (Wellington) pole competition. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2cTq4O3z8s. I was so proud of them! An Auckland newspaper got wind of it and published this article http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10654748 I was never contacted about the performance or what I was trying to achieve. The reporter was only interested in selling newspapers not truth. This article did however have a bright side – the demand for my classes grew and we needed to offer more childrens classes…
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I hate how combative the media, the system, or whatever we want to call it has us with ourselves. I stop and think to myself all the time, "Why can't I just like something?" without it having to be such a big deal. I allow my nieces and nephew to play around with the pole. They truly have a great time because they are super competitive and will try their best at whatever they can come up with. I feel and think that it's great that they offer a childrens class considering that a few years ago we were told that u.s. citizens were overweight (gasps.). So more fitness alternatives at early ages would be a good thing right? If you ask me some of the hand raisers on the first question anderson asked to the audience @ 3:30ish bandwagoned their responses. I say this because honestly I have bandwagoned a response to something before and it left me feeling terrible about myself afterwards, but in that moment i just didn't want to be that odd man out. In time I have learned that being the odd man out is not so bad after all. It's hard but little by little I am breaking away from that projected line of thinking so I can do the opposite of what HotelChick said and not eat this crap up anymore.
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I note the article link is not working so here is the article itself…
Kids' pole antics just 'a sport'
By Kieran Nash
4:00 AM Sunday Jun 27, 2010
Family values campaigners are concerned about a pole-dancing competition that opened with a display by young children.
The Central Poledance Championships held in Wellington last night featured a performance by five children, aged between 8 and 13.
Organiser Sarah Metcalfe said the event focused on exercise and sport and there was no sleazy element. Spectators were encouraged to bring their children along, she said
"There's no reason why it can't be a family event."
She said competitors weren't allowed to touch themselves or remove any clothing and had to wear items that covered sensitive areas. G-strings and see-through clothing were banned.
"It's a sport for all ages," said Metcalfe.
The display was by members of the Kiwi Pole Kids group, part of Kiwi Pole Fitness, formerly Sensual Movements.
Owner Sonia Hendry said her children were not taught sensual dance. "We do not teach them anything inappropriate. It's fitness, it's not pole dancing.
"It's not about the striptease side of it. That's completely different. We don't want children looked at it in that light."
Family First campaigner Bob McCoskrie said pole dancing had sexual connotations and he had concerns about the children's involvement.
"My initial response was if it's based around exercise and sport it's a good thing."If it's around skimpy outfits and sexualised positions then it's dodgy and the last thing we want 8 or 9-year-olds doing."
National Council of Women president Elizabeth Bang welcomed the exercise aspect of the activity but said the erotic links were hard to shake.She was concerned about the age of the children involved. "It would be interesting to see what they're wearing."Bang also questioned what sort of people were watching."Hopefully they're watching for the right reasons."
Owner of Pole Fitness New Zealand Casey Green, who teaches the activity in Auckland, thought "children should be children"."It's not something I would welcome. I personally wouldn't allow it in my studio."What's wrong with playing on the jungle gym?"If I had children I don't think I would even have them coming to the gym with me," she said.She said pole dancing was about fitness and fun, but children should wait until they were older than 13 before taking it up.
Christchurch Women's Refuge chief executive Annette Gillespie said there was growing concern about increasing sexualisation of children."It's very concerning that New Zealand parents are encouraging their children to participate in a traditionally sexual activity in the name of sport," she said.
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Many in the pole community may not agree with me on this… but while I don't think there's anything wrong with children pole dancing (there are poles on playgrounds) I don't think it's neccessary to fight for the right for them to do so. Pole doesn't have to always be sexual but it can be very sexual and it does have roots in exotic dance. I think it's difficult for the average person to separate the two. When most people hear about pole dancing they still think about strip clubs. That may take a long time to change and may never change. Pole dancing has gymnastic elements but it is not the same thing as gymnastics… Like I said, I'm not against it, it's just not something I would fight for.
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That may be exactly why starting to offer strictly fitness children’s pole classes is the best way to combat the stigma traditionally associated with pole. If it is advertised, and eventually accepted as something in the gymnastics field, we will finally prove to everyone that poles aren’t just for strippers. You win the parents over, and get a jump start on the next generation at the same time. It’s now a family friendly activity where people can appreciate the pure physical strength and artistic expression that goes into the routines.
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The battle's been fought with belly dance too. When I first started dancing 12 years ago, it had a 'dirtier' reputation. Seems more mainstream now, although I still don't see it offered as a kids dance class. But it is more public… here anyway.
Honestly I think costuming makes a huge difference. Especially with pole.
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Educate yourself, then make up your own mind. Every one has a right to their oppinion but know what you are talking about before you criticize.
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This makes me so angry. I hate how judgemental people are. Its like omg just because you pole dance doesnt mean your going to be a stripper. Its the influence that they are put under. If a kid is told its excercise and thats it they will see it just as that. For gods sake people need to be more open minded and learn poles arent for strip clubs anymore. Honestly sad fact is ther will always be debate because people are to scared to try it. I know most if they tried it would not have the same view. its so frustrating its people like that I just want to shake and say you are so blind to life. Welcome to the future. Like was said the world is changing and evolving and if you dont get with it you will be left behind.Ill let my daughter excercise on the pole and teach her that its an art. Because if you think about it it truly is. It teaches you to be graceful but at same time strengthen your body and stay fit.
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If we are going to bring children into mainstream studios then I think it's important to rebrand it.
Rebranding means removing heels and bikini's from websites and creating a yoga type image for the place of business, it means not having hot pink walls and animal prints, it means taking down sexy silhouttes, removing sky high platform shoes, it means putting forth a fitness image, no sexy videos, lingerie links or slutty outfits.
It's not about what WE think it's about the perceptions other have.
I am cool with kids pole dancing, infact my friend let her niece try on my "bond girl" heels as the girls call them and they fit her – she's only ten. The girls had a blast playing dress up and dancing around the pole – but how does that look? To us – hilarious and fun, to others who don't understand? Like we are sexualizing little girls.
So, kids and pole dancing – go for it, but lets retune it a little so we're not calling it pole dancing and so that it's "family" acceptable to majority of the population.
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Interesting points Charley. I agree about the rebranding. The thing is, I like the sexy elements of pole. It's healthy to express your sexuality in this way. And although pole isn't always sexual, it can be. I don't think it's possible to have one side have the sexy stuff allowed and then also have the public respect it as a serious form of fitness with absolutely no sexiness. Can we have our cake and eat it too? I don't know…
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Yes, it's SO much healtheir to teach kids to beat the crap outta one another in football or hockey.
On Toddlers & Tiaras, when they shake their booties, they get a brown!
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Irmingard – I think I feel like at this point in time if a studio is going to offer kids classes then they need to take stock of their public image, does that make sense. Like if you offer kids classes don't post the fun slutty dancing on your main page – maybe move it to an adult section of the website. This coming from someone who LOVES heels and tiny booty shorts!
My fear is that the image of stripping combined with kids will just make US look worse than perhaps we already do to some, I fear it makes us look stupid, I fear that it makes us look like we don;t have any taste.
It's a business at the end of the day so business owners need to tread carefully into this. It's not just about money, it's about perception too. We need to create a "family fitness" environment before they even walk in the door.
For me, personally, I can't see ever wanting to teach kids, I'd rather focus on women and help them with their journey of self discovery – but that's just me.
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I think it's great for boys as well. Look at mrverticle (I think thats his name) and klaus and other guys on this site. They are great. My friend lets her little boy pole and he has a great time.
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