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The Pole Stars ; How Exotic Dance Class is Making Fitness Fun for Women

Posted on: Thursday, 11 November 2004, 18:00 CST

AS the shapely, tanned thighs twirl around the silver pole, the audience bursts into cheers.

But the legs do not belong to a professional dancer and the applause does not come from the usual appreciative males.

The graceful limbs belong to a 52-year-old mother of three grownup children who is learning to pole dance for fitness and fun.

Margaret Anderson, a housekeeper at an Edinburgh hotel, is one of a dozen women in the class and men are barred from attending.

The group gather in the back room of a city bar, which sets the perfect mood with its plush scarlet sofas and deep red walls decorated with pink roses and pretty butterflies.

Two gleaming floor-to-ceiling poles catch the light of the diamante straps on Mrs Anderson's high heels as she and her new friends learn a variety of moves.

Instructor Jill Anderson, 26, and her colleague Becky Johnson, 23, have been pole dancing for nearly ten years between them.

Jill, who trained as a teacher when she gave up dancing in clubs a few years ago, whoops constant encouragement: 'Saucy shape, very nice.

Hook your ankle on that pole.

Point that toe. Beautiful.' In a mini pink-and-white polka dot jumpsuit, with cerise-tinged blonde plaits, Mrs Anderson is in her element.

'It's something I've always wanted to do,' she says. 'It's really exciting and sexy. I'm doing it for fun; to get upside down on a pole at my age gives me a real buzz.

'My husband thinks it's great. I've got three kids in their 20s and they agree, although they've said if they went to a club now, they might not view it in the same way because it's something their mum does.

'It was like forbidden stuff before, the stuff of fantasy. It's the thought of being able to do something like that that makes it special. Every woman wants to be sexy and feel sexy and this helps you do that.' The class attracts women from all walks of life.

Debbie Cross, 22, is in her fourth year of medical studies at Edinburgh University and wants to be a surgeon.

She has a bruise on her thigh from last week's class although she told friends it was from yoga.

She says: 'I wanted to do something a bit different. It gives you good muscle toning, strength and stamina and makes you feel good about yourself too.

'I'm sure my friends will be amazed when they find out I'm not at a yoga class, but I want to make sure I can do the tricks well before they ask for a demonstration.' Karen Taylor, 30, works as a secretary and gave birth to a daughter in June 2003. She says: 'I want to get fit and lose this belly. My boyfriend thinks it's a bit of fun. All the celebrities are doing it now.

It's good exercise and something new.' Classes like this one, run by London-based firm Polestars, have blossomed since such stars as Madonna and Jennifer Aniston were revealed as fans.

A performance by model Kate Moss in the White Stripes video for I Just Don't Know What To DoWith Myself further boosted interest, and Star Wars' Natalie Portman is set to try out some tricks in her upcoming movie Closer.

Jill says women of all ages sign up for lessons, with one even installing a pole in her kitchen because it matched her chrome kettle.

She says: ' It's becoming more mainstream now. Hats off to Kate Moss who helped take it away from sleazy clubs and make it more accessible.

'It's about having fun and keeping fit and testing your limits. On our questionnaires, we ask women why they come along and the answers are always the same fun, fitness and a confidence boost.

'After some exercise classes, you can feel punished and want to go to the chippie. But here, you feel vibrant and want a bottle of water.

' Women from 18 to their mid-50s have been coming along, from sizes eight to 20.

Even if they aren't interested in the sexy side of it, they take pleasure in learning an art.

'It's all about learning new skills with a sense of glamour without anyone watching who doesn't understand that.' A course of six lessons costs Pounds 110 and classes will also start in Glasgow in the new year.

Source: Daily Mail; London (UK)

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