The Olympics of Pole Sports
Taylor Dalton, current USAF National Sport Pole Senior Women Champion
Tis the season… for Pole Sports! Well, really it is just starting to be the season. Let me explain. Like many sports the athletes train year round, but there are particular times when the different competitions happen. I am a US based athlete so I will be speaking more about the US, but it is much the same across the globe. The summer is when most of the national competitions happen for the athletes, then late fall and early winter is when the International competitions occur. One must first qualify on the national level, creating the US Team in our case, to go to Worlds. While we are not an Olympic sport yet, we are handled in much the same way.
Currently there are two main international competitions that when the sport gets recognized by the Olympics one of them will probably become the template that the Olympics will take on for Pole Sport. Internationally, we have the International Pole Sports Federation (IPSF) and Pole Sports and Arts World Federation (POSA). In the US the nationals for these two organizations are US Aerial Federation (USAF) and US Pole Sport Federation (USPSF), respectively.
Christine Hotchkin, current USAF National Artistic Pole and Flying Pole Senior Women Champion
So, what is Pole Sports?
A lot of things might come to mind when someone thinks about pole dancing. Let’s start off with the fact that pole dancing is this magical art/sport that loves to be inspired from all walks of life. It is acrobatics and dance combined on an apparatus. The particular dance isn’t defined so one can see any type of dance infused into a piece, which is very exciting. While modern and ballet have a heavy influence, I have seen some spectacular pieces that have included break dancing or tango. Sometimes there is even more of a theater influence where the artists will use the stage and poles to create an immersive story right before your eyes.
The versatility of pole art and sport makes it a very fascinating medium. In most countries pole dancers normally come from different backgrounds before going into pole, so this can be seen in their movements. There are different kinds of pole dancers. Some are extremely bendy, some impressively strong, some amazing dancers, and others who are just fearless in dynamic movement. I am personally one of the dynamic movers and as I’m obsessed with power spins, a way to fly around a static pole in just your arms, I can be referred to as a Flier.
However, to be a truly amazing pole dancer it is important to be as well rounded as possible. I, for one, am not very flexible, but as I wish to be competing with the best, I have been spending the last few years working on expanding my flexibility.
Jacqueline Harrell, USPSF Athlete
Let’s talk about the different categories.
There are two main categories – Pole Sport and Pole Art. However, the organizations are expanding to include flying pole and hoop. IPSF also has my favorite category – Ultra Pole! Ultra Pole is a pole battle where two pole dancers throw down their biggest and craziest tricks to out bad a** their opponent. Whoever wins goes to the next round and this will continue till there is only one winner on top.
Pole Sport is much like gymnastics, but using a pole as the apparatus. There are two poles, one static and one spins. There is an extensive Code of Points one has to follow and a Difficulty Sheet one has to put together. Here the athlete must choose ~10 tricks they will include in their routine. For an elite athlete these tricks must be high level and you must successfully achieve at least one trick from each category. IPSF and POSA have slightly different rules for this, but the main categories are: flexibility, strength, spins, and dynamic.
Roger Katz, USPSF Athlete
”This sport showcases creativity, dynamic movement, flexibility, strength, stamina and diligence. All that is Olympic. I am proud to represent USA in this sport and can’t wait for us to make it into the Olympics.” - Taylor Dalton, current USAF National Sport Pole Senior Women Champion.
Pole Sport can be very strict as athlete Christine Hotchkin, previously competitive and artistic figure skater turned pole dancer, comments, “in skating you may still get awarded points for an element even if it’s not ‘perfect’ but you will typically receive a deduction. Whereas in pole, typically you will get zero points unless it is to the code of points specific requirements.”
While Pole Sport expects there to be some art added to the pieces, it is not to the level you will see in Pole Art. Elite Pole Art still expects advanced tricks and clean lines, but now the judges want to see you get more creative. Tell a story! In Pole Art you don’t have to declare tricks from a list, you have a lot more flexibility to be more experimental. I personally love Pole Art and truly enjoy how people use the poles to tell their stories! I have seen beautiful pieces like an office worker dreaming of dancing, a naughty elf getting excited about her gift from Santa, an astronaut exploring space, and so on.
Kira Bucca, current USAF National Artistic Pole Masters Women, Ultra Pole, and Artistic Doubles Champion. Current IPSF World Champion for Ultra Pole.
In the US and some other countries there are also “Classique”, “Heels”, or “After Dark” competitions, which give credence to modern pole dancing’s origins. These are the traditionally more sexual in nature performances and often include the dancer wearing heels. While these competitions are not as focused to be on the path to the Olympics there are World Championships that focus just on this style. I have the utmost respect for these dancers as I can’t even walk in heels let alone do hard tricks in them! Basically, what is incredible about these performances is that a lot of the same tricks are done, but now they are done with stilts that are heavy on the feet (aka very tall stilettos)!
“I kind of wish people would really watch what dancers are doing and see that there is so much variety and style, and there are a million ways to express pole dance and a million ways to react. I mean even erotic pole dance is an umbrella with so many different styles underneath it! I think that more than anything helping people engage more fully would help everyone understand how amazing all aspects of it are - and how challenging even the “easy stuff” can be!” - Andrew Krueger, USPSF Athlete and Judge
Andrew Krueger, USPSF Athlete and Judge
Pole is for everyone
One thing that is very special about the pole community is how inclusive it is. With a wide range of tricks there is something for all body types. In addition to this, you will see all ages in pole. The US currently has multiple incredible athletes (world champions) over the age of 60. Pole involves so much of the body that it is actually one of the sports that one can do for years and years.
Shannon Daily, the current World Champion for Pole Art 50+ POSA and Hoop Art 40+ IPSF comments: “I was originally hesitant about having Pole in the Olympics because at the start I felt like it was more of an art than a sport and judging art can be subjective. But then I got into performing and doing showcases and I wanted to do more shows but I really wasn’t given much opportunity by event organizers so I tried competitions, and now I’m deep into the whole scene. Rules, regulations, and Codes of Points are intimidating at first but once you do a few competitions they become second nature when crafting a new routine.
I feel like the US is a bit behind a lot of European and Latin American countries when it comes to recognizing and supporting Pole as a Sport. Both Italy and Russia recognize pole as an official Sport worthy of being entered in the Olympics. Unfortunately, I don’t see it becoming commonly acceptable for quite some time, like maybe in another decade. I’ve been doing this for 11 years and really haven’t seen too big a change in the general attitude towards pole but I am surprised on occasion when an even older person responds positively to something on Pole that I’ve shown them on social media. Children should definitely be included in Pole Sport and Art. I think that is the wave of the future. Russia certainly treats it like any other sport they want to dominate and have training centers just for pole. Safe Sport training should be included for all coaches and other people involved to mitigate abuse like in any other sport or activity involving children.”
Shannon Daily, current USAF National Sport Pole Masters 60+ Women and Artistic Doubles Champion. Current IPSF World Champion for Artistic Hoop Masters 40+. Current POSA World Champion for Artistic Pole Masters 50+.
In places like Ukraine and Russia there are pole studios that are already more focused on teaching children. Just like gymnastics, these countries are priming their kids to be super pole stars from very young ages, and these kids will blow your mind. I often joke that my goal in life is to be a ten year old Ukrainian kid. Sadly, this is not the case in the US. With the stigma around pole and the heavily conservative influence, pole is not looked at as something parents wish to put their children into. However, the reality is that pole will eventually become an Olympic sport, and Ukraine and Russia will destroy us if we don’t start teaching our kids.
“Pole is a fun and engaging family friendly activity. With more kids doing pole sports, there will be more chances for it to be recognized.” -Polina Volchek “Pink Puma”, four time World Pole Sport and Artistic Pole Champion for Team USA.
Kira Bucca and Shannon Daily holding up the Olympic sign before starting their doubles piece for USAF.
Pole Needs More Support
“I think Pole Sport would be a positive addition to the Olympic Games. It has many similarities to gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, and figure skating. Like skating, it also combines artistry with endurance, plyometrics, strength, and flexibility. Skating is a very old and established sport. Pole is rather new in comparison.” remarks our athlete Christine Hotchkin when reflecting on pole dancing compared to figure skating being Olympic sports.
Pole Sport is not yet a recognized sport in the US; however, it is an internationally recognized sport through IPSF. Sadly, this still means that none of the athletes receive any aid. We need to help build the support for the sport to encourage more government funding and interest in sponsors. Don’t you want to see more ads with these amazing pole stars on them?
USAF’s president Tanya Christopher, encourages those curious in helping pole in the US to reach out through her membership program here.
To learn more about the author Kira Bucca please check out her website: www.kirabuccapoles.com and follow her on Instagram: kirabucca.
