As an old-school 1970’s style feminist, I never in my wildest dreams thought I’d ever attend an exotic dance class. But attend I did, and what’s more…I had a great time and an even better workout.
Probably the only thing that got me there was the fact that it was being taught by my favorite instructor, Susan Peach of SoulSister Studio (that’s Susan in the photo at left). I’ve taken Latin dance classes from Susan for years, and I know that she’s a truly woman-positive person.
When I heard Susan was installing exotic dance poles in her studio, I was at first surprised and then curious. I’ve since taken several 12-week sessions of exotic dance fitness, and I find it a challenging workout.
Challenging on two levels: physical and political. The physical is straightforward: I mean just think of some of those moves and you realize that exotic dancers have to be really strong and flexible.
The political is a more complex. I’ve been thinking about what it means for women to be jumping on the bandwagon (or should I say on the pole?) of the exotic fitness craze. Are women perpetuating “stripper” stereotypes when participating in the classes? Or are they expressing their sexuality in an empowering way?
These questions are explored in an article about pole dancing by Jessalyn Keller, who writes:
Dr. Becki Ross, a sociology professor at UBC, has been studying the history of stripping and burlesque in Vancouver for several years…Ross suggests that pole dancing classes have the potential to expand understandings of female sexuality beyond the “good girl/ bad girl” images that often saturate the media.
When a woman who is assumed to be a “good girl” goes to a pole dancing class or sets up a brass pole up in her living room, she is suggesting that her sexuality need not be limited to a simple “good girl/bad girl” understanding. She is challenging norms and subverting mainstream notions of how a woman should act.
I like that way of looking at it. And if you’re a plus-size woman like me, I think exotic dancing has an additional political component. Large women have traditionally not felt entitled to move their bodies in public, never mind move them in a sexy way. Reclaiming that power is a radically transforming act.
Bottom line: I did enjoy my walk on the wild side! If you want to try out it, ask around for a local studio that has a good reputation. Or if you prefer to gyrate in the privacy of your own home, there are several decent DVD’s available to order. Here are two of the best…
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I really enjoyed reading this. I thought it was really brave of you to take a pole dancing class and to deal with those odd feelings that must have come up.
When I first began reading this I imagimed strongly, the image of a may pole and the history of pole dancing and female sexuality suddenly became more interesting to me.
think I’ll have to jot down some notes for later reading!
Thanks
Hazel.
Comment by Hazel — February 28, 2007 @ 10:46 pm
Thanks for your kind words of support Hazel! I am intrigued by your link to the May Pole dancing – very interesting!
Comment by Barbra — March 9, 2007 @ 1:50 pm