It's too bad it has to be an issue, because it's probably a good, fun form of exercise. However, given it's origins and associations, I wouldn't sign a daughter up for it but that's moot since I have a son, not a daughter.

Mendalla

I think that if it's being taught with an emphasis on acrobatics and strength, completely avoiding the "stipper" connection, then I have no problem with it.  If it's sexualizing girls - I have a problem.

Could you really avoid the sexual element though? I mean as soon as you tell someone your daughter is doing pole-dancing, the first thing that will come to mind is "strippers" even if it's that's not what is being taught.

Mendalla

I guess it shouldn't be billed as "pole dancing".  There must be something better...

propped gymnastics

acrobats on a stick

dancing for fire fighters

I (obviously) don't have any good ideas, I only mean that I wouldn't have a problem with it if there were some way to avoid the sexual stuff.  Also - I don't have kids, so maybe I'd feel differently if my daughter asked to sign up for it.

Dancing for fire fighters=AWESOME.  I laughed a lot when I read that thank you hilary.

Peace

Joel

P.S.

as to the actual conversation I am unsure whether it is actually safe as I have heard that pole dancers find you can only pole dance for a few years beore your body begins to break down and be unable to do it.

Dancing for Firefighters!!  hahahahah Hilary!  Love that.

There's a pole dancing studio in my neighbourhood - yes a studio not a strip club!  I don't think they offer any classes for kids though.   I do hear from other women it's excellent exercise and does take quite remarkable strength - kinda like being in the circus!!

Don't we have a need for exotic dancers, to the point that we are importing them?

Are we such bad dancers in Canada that we can't produce our own?  I think this initiative will provide relevant experience for many girls.  Think about it this way - if they go to college to learn exotic dancing, they miss out on the most lucrative years of their careers.  Teaching them when they are early teens and pre-teens will give them a leg-up on their foreign competition, no pun intended.

Seriously, I wouldn't sign my daughter up, but if my wife wanted to take a class, I would gladly employ a double standard.

 gee, even the popular hip hop dancing that all the girls and guys are getting into has some rather provocative moves to it. 

www.youtube.com/watch

a little fireman fun.  Still can't imbed yet but seriously ladies, you NEED to watch this.  

I kind of agree. I've heard it's not only a great way to burn calories but it can strenghten muscles too. I'm not sure to what extent that might be true. One other thing that comes to mind is why not go with shadow sparring. That's when you "spar" with an imaginary opponent. If you really throw yourself into it, it can be very exhausting as well as good practice for your moves. I used to take martial arts with my daughter, is where that came from.

Its never to early to acquire a marketable skill especially if it is one that is unaffected by recession.

ROTFLMAO!!!

ummm... yeah, i wouldn't be taking my daughter to pole dancing classes.  or lap dancing classes, for that matter. 

gotta draw the line at stripper stuff.

I think it's a bad parenting decision. I think it's akin to child abuse. I think it's part of the sexualization of children that goes on in our culture.

...but it's perfectly fine to tell children that if they don't believe in a certain way, they'll burn in hell.  That is, in no way, child abuse.

Loved the video of the fireman pole dancing!

As chansen said-it is a double standard. Pole dancing is offered for women as a fitness activity-but it does seem inappropraite for young girls.

Can't say I've sees any kids classes offered though.

Wonder how good of traininng (or crosstraining) it is for a 1/2 marathon. Maybe Northwind should check it out!

WEll for myself, I'll decline comment for now and immerse myself in research. WE only have the adult version of pole dancing here, so that will have to do. And ther's a two drink minimum...

Yes I care that much to be informed.

maybe it is maypole dancing, with all the ribbons.

Maybe it is North Pole dancing.

I tried 'Pole' dancing once but I"m not very good at Polka.

It probably is good exercise. I mean - I've never seen a fat stripper. I mean, of course, I've never seen a stripper. Of course. Ever. In fact - what are "strippers" anyway? And "pole dancing?" Isn't that an ancient Egyptian art form. I mean - really? Um? G'bye!

I've done that naked too

Why am I not surprised?

i have seen clips of pole danceing competitions and the girls amazing! the core streangth that they have! WOW!

Would not want my young (under age) daughter (if I had one) signing up for a class though.....

 I tried it once.  (Don't ask bit of story, no nudity involved though ;)  ) 

 Anyways, yes you need strength.  I thought my abs were going to fall apart after the easiest moves.  My arms hurt for days.  Put aside the stripper part and it's really athletic.   Plus it's pretty fun.  If there was a class around here I'd do it.  Would be more interesting then some of the other sorts of classes.    

  If it there wasn't the sexualized element of where it came from I would say yeah go for. It's pretty much acrobatics or gymastics with a pole.   I wouldn't let a kid do it though because I just don't see how it's origins would ever come up.  Even if there wasn't anything sexual in the class and it was totally PG I can't see how the kid wouldn't be exposed to it in some manner.  I mean can you imagine little Cindy talking about her 'pole dancing' class in all innocence in front of others.  There would be comments or funny looks at some point.  And even if there weren't and the parents never talked about the other side of pole dancing and treat it as completely athletic endeavor at some point in the kids life they're going to find out about the other side of it and then there'd be some 'splainin' to do.    I just don't think it's a smart thing to do.  

Maybe if it was an element of some sort of circus type class that would be fine.  I'm thinking about some sort of Cirque de Soleil type thing.   They use poles and all sorts of things to dance and do funky stuff with. 

 I am considering taking up belly dancing again. I like it because WOMANLY women star at this, with well rounded bodies. (that be me!  )

having lived in small town alberta for a few years, i can assure you that there is such a thing as a 'fat stripper'.  

*shivers*

my retinas are fusing at the memory of that....