Pole dancing - the art of erotic dance

What do you think of when you hear the word pole dancing? Dimly lit bars where scantily clad women snake around a chrome pole in front of tipsy men and strip for money? Yes? Far from it – pole dancing is much more than that. Striptease is not the same as pole dancing – we'll explain why.

Pole dancing, or Stangentanz in German, refers to an acrobatic performance on a vertical pole – a mixture of dance and gymnastics, you could say. The poles can be of varying lengths; some are even free-standing in the room on their own small platform without contact with the ceiling. In aerial pole dancing, the poles even hang from the ceiling and have a gap to the floor – this is a particularly difficult form of the sport, as you have to constantly hold on to the pole. The diameter of the poles is usually 45mm. The surface of the poles is very smooth to protect the skin in case of contact. There are also static poles, which are simply fixed, and spinning poles, which rotate on their own axis. In pole dancing, there are official competitions with compulsory figures and freestyle routines.

Pole dancing can, of course, be performed by both men and women. Since dancing on a pole is a real feat of strength and requires a great deal of agility and coordination, acrobatic dances on a pole are often performed in circuses and enjoy great popularity. Because many movements and figures are so graceful and appear as if they could defy gravity, this sport amazes and fascinates the viewer.

Pole dancing has been a recreational activity since the 1980s; there are numerous pole dancing studios and countless YouTube videos for learning this exotic pole dance. Basically, anyone can learn pole dancing – regardless of age or fitness level.

Although pole dancing is very popular, it is a very demanding sport. It requires a lot of strength in the hands, arms, legs, and core to hold your weight on the pole using pure muscle power and still look graceful. Pole dancing requires a lot of practice and dedication; sore muscles are completely normal, and scrapes and bruises are simply part of the experience. Acquiring some basic skills, such as generating contact pressure using pure muscle power, takes some time. Fundamentally, however, it's all about having fun and not putting too much pressure on yourself—frustration has no place in pole dancing.

Pole dancing is perfect for developing a good body image. Performing it makes you feel strong, graceful, aesthetic, and sexy.

For some time now, the International Pole Dance Federation has been trying to have pole dancing recognized as an official sport by the International Olympic Committee and included in the portfolio of the Olympic Games.

Does this all sound interesting and appealing to you? But you don't know where to start?

Well, first of all, you have to decide whether you want to go to a pole dancing studio or whether you'd rather train at home. Both are possible, but that's up to you.

If you decide to train at home, you'll need a pole. Since the space required is relatively small, practically anyone can set up a pole in their home. The best poles are those from X-Pole, the market leader for all types of pole dance poles and accessories. I recommend a pole that can be used both statically (fixed) and in spinning mode. You should buy your training equipment directly from X-Pole. Simply click on the banner:

If it helps, I personally have this bar:

The X-Pole Xpert – static and spinning, easy to assemble, absolutely robust and durable – CLICK HERE!

Now the question arises: what should I wear? In my opinion, one-pieces and bodysuits with exposed arms and legs are best. Free arms and legs are quite important in pole dancing, as you'll have to partially stick to the pole. If you want to wear sexy outfits right from the start, even for training, I recommend the following pieces:

For women:

• the top Elixir , together with the Panty Mysteria - The advantage of the outfit is the PU coating, as it sticks slightly to the pole
• the Lingerie set Helena - in this outfit you have maximum freedom of movement and arms, legs and stomach remain free
• the Vinyl bodysuit Kendra - with it you have maximum freedom of movement, plus the PU coating adheres to the pole
• the Body Paparazzi - it also offers ultimate freedom of movement and is quick to put on and take off

For men:

• the Hoodie Frenzy , together with the Pants Frenzy - Legs and arms remain free and the PU coating adheres to the bar
• the Pants Mayhem - here you also have a PU coating, and the perforated design offers good ventilation
• the Shirt Leandro , together with the Pants Leandro - looks ultimate sexy, doesn't sag and the mesh inserts offer good ventilation

If you're sensitive or want to reduce the "pain" that can occur when your skin adheres to the bar, we recommend leggings with an adhesive surface (PU coating or patent leather). Personally, I'd prefer to train bare-legged to lower your personal pain threshold through regular training right from the start. But that's a matter of opinion and your own decision. My recommendation from my own experience is that, as a beginner, you wear something that covers your stomach, as you might slide along the bar, which could be a bit uncomfortable.

Very important – what footwear? Basically, you can do pole dancing barefoot or with flat socks – highly recommended for practice or as a beginner. However, it looks best when you wear high heels. I recommend ankle boots, boots, or over-the-knee boots with a patent or PU surface, as these materials adhere well to the smooth pole and provide good support when performing exercises. As a beginner, I would tend towards slightly flatter models at first, as dancing in high heels also requires practice – here I recommend the following models:

• Pleaser Delight 1020 - "only" 15 cm heel, the platform height of 4.5 cm results in a balanced heel of 10.5 cm, the high heels are super comfortable and also suitable for beginners, the patent surface adheres well to the pole

Pole dancing looks truly elegant in truly high heels, of course. However, my recommendation is to keep the heel height to 20 cm, as excessively high heels simply look silly in my opinion. For pole dancing, I consider high heels with an 18 cm heel and a 7 cm platform to be the optimal height—for me, these are the most suitable shoes. Here's an example:

• Pleaser Adore 1020 - patent leather surface, many colors for different outfits, good wearing comfort

But feel free to take a look at our "Shoes & Heels" category and find what suits you.

Have you acquired a taste for it? Then start your pole dancing journey and experience for yourself what this form of dance can do for you, your body awareness, and your expression!