Pole Dancing Tweens on "The Talk"

OopseyDaisey started this discussion · 7/7/2011

Did anyone see this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ihuqBWcP58 What do you think? I sort of felt like the pole instructor could have made a few more points, but I know they have a time limit. Also, is Leah Remini being hypcritical after the pole dance episode of King of Queens? Just curious what other Veeners think as my friend is dealing with some moms who want their teens (17 year olds) to take pole.

22 replies

Layla Duvay · 7/7/2011
Ha, ha, I agree with the remark about Leah Remini ( although Kevin James was the one who ROCKED that pole, lol)! I thought the instructor made an excellent point about poles being in playgrounds AND I loved Veena's comment too!
Runemist34 · 7/7/2011
I think this is an interesting way of seeing the fact that Pole dance, and the community of it, is evolving, and trying to get out from under that social stigma that you HAVE to ALWAYS be really sexy when you dance. I agree Veena, when she commented on YT about the video...we can make chairs sexy, and we don't freak out when our kids sit on them! You could make a table sexy, or a desk, or the BED! Our kids use these things every day (or night)! I thought it was very unfortunate that the hosts wouldn't allow the instructor to speak when she wanted to, they just talked over her. I also felt like it was rather one-sided. But, as I said...we're growing, and we're trying to get out from under that social stigma. Growing pains are always going to be felt!
Dancing Paws · 7/7/2011
I love Sharon Osborne. She has such a level head and can see past sterotypes. That king of queens woman, on the other hand, needs to learn more about what she is arguing against. Unfortunately the battle we wage is against people who hold strong opinions about things they don't understand. I started bellydancing with my mom at 16. That is a very sexy and sensual dance type. Pole fitness is much milder when the transitions are toned down. In fact, A LOT of dance types have an element of sex in them (ballroon, tango, salsa, modern.) Lots of other dance types wear very little clothing (gymnastics and ice skating included) and sometimes the individuals costumes are designed to make them look almost naked.
Dancing Paws · 7/7/2011
I actually think it would be a good activity for a mom and daugter to do togehter. It can strengthen the mother daughter bond by having something to do together. My mom and I bellydanced for years together.
Samantha B · 7/7/2011
I grew up in interdiciplinary dance, I was a free dance figureskater. I had to master tango, waltz, foxtrot, salsa, rumba you name it all from the age of 7-16. They are ALL extreemly sexual dance forms. Waltz was so scandalous and edgy when it emerged. Seems that whenever a new dance form emerges from it's shady origens it becomes stigmatised and taboo. Honestly circus performers had (and still do) the same problem, but the stigma isn't erotic it's freek. Thank goodness for Cirque du Sole for nipping some of that in the bud.
Sassafrassle · 7/7/2011
I can never get past the fact that in these debates that the people who express the negative opinions don't seem to realise that if they didn't have this negative opinion that they express so close-mindedly, that there wouldn't be this stigma attached to the pole, if that makes sense! And that it is only prejudiced adults who make it seem like something bad to do and that kids approach the pole with complete innocence. There is SO much exposure of children to sexualised content through music videos and clothing and tv etc that just never seems to enter into the discussion as much more dangerous than kids having fun and doing exercise on a vertical bar!! Especially as pole classes are a closely monitored situation where trained adults are keeping an eye on the kids, rather than a kid being by themselves in their rooms, watching tv or the internet and not necessarily having that.
OopseyDaisey · 7/7/2011
Remini is quoted defending Scientology by saying this: "If somebody is going to get turned off about something because of what they read or heard, then that person's not smart enough to even enter a church. If you're really against something, then know what you're against." Doesn't that last part apply to Pole Dance, too? She doesn't even know that most of us don't call it a "stripper pole", so she doesn't know what she's against. Which is kind of important if you are going to judge us!
poleluvndallas · 7/8/2011
I have two daughters, 15 and 14. the girls are very supportive and see pole for what it is, self expression and dance. While my younger daughter is not interested in learning, my older daughter has been using my pole to practice quick turns and stretching for a long time. I took her to a statewide amateur competition two weeks ago, and shes been in my room learning some basic spins and conditioning ever since. I personally encourage my girls to explore every age appropriate avenue their hearts desire. It creates women with strong self esteem and a courageous outlook on life. I would be pleased to see a local studio offer some classes geared toward the younger generation. After all, they seem to be more mature about the concept of pole dance than most people my own age.
oldenglish · 7/10/2011
Oh wow I did'nt realise how snobby Leah could be :( I hated the way they talked over the pole instructors.
JeHanne · 7/10/2011
I watched the clip and it really got under my skin. Strength and flexibility are beautiful regardless of one's age. All this nonsense about 'inappropriateness' really shows their lack of sophistication and limited beliefs. The segment was about options for youth fitness... I would gladly encourage any person to explore a fitness option that improved their health.
JiggaLuv87 · 7/10/2011
I canNOT believe how CLOSE-MINDED and IMMATURE people still are about POLE DANCE!!! Im sorry but i could NOT have been in the audience that day cuz i'd have to put Leah in her place. The instructor got maybe TEN words in before those ladies took the spotlight. I read most of the YT comments and this is one DUMB comment that stood out to me User PRN1111 wrote: " when these kids grow up, they're going to think 'What am I good at?' 'How can I earn money?'...Not that learning how to pole dance as a young kid will lead to this...but it's definitely easy to make that association. Besides, there are TONS of other ways to get exercise, rather than swinging around a pole to music. " Wow SERIOUSLY!!! I smile every time my daughter sees me setting up my pole and ask "mommy can i pole with you today". If i could afford itmy daughter would join me in classes as well. When i first moved back home to my mom's, she told me she didnt want my pole up in the house at ALL. A month later she came home and caught me in the living room practicing, so she told i can practice as long as its down before she gets home, then she walked to her room and just before closing her door she said "lyou're getting better by the way". I left my veena account logged in one day and my mom watched a couple of my videos. When i got home she was sitting on the bed and asked me "how long did it take for you to learn all that?" I giggled and told her a little over 2months. Now im allowed to keep my pole up as long as i want(except family functions 😉) My mom hates EVERYTHING thats not christian-like, but she can see my love and passion for this, i think she's coming around😀
moonflower · 7/10/2011
I can taste bile coming up while watching that. This topic gets me really frustruated. During one of the Ontario pole jams I met a woman who brought her daughter, she was maybe 10-11. They were having a great time bonding over pole. It is healthy and fun. One look at this mother/daughter team and you can tell the mother is doign a grade A, stand up job at raising an intelligent, healthy and independent young individual that will benefit society.
moonflower · 7/10/2011
I can taste bile coming up while watching that. This topic gets me really frustruated. During one of the Ontario pole jams I met a woman who brought her daughter, she was maybe 10-11. They were having a great time bonding over pole. It is healthy and fun. One look at this mother/daughter team and you can tell the mother is doign a grade A, stand up job at raising an intelligent, healthy and independent young individual that will benefit society.
HollySatine · 7/11/2011
When that one woman said something like, they don't have to be working out on a stripper pole - you can take your children to a playground instead, it made me want to howl at how ridiculous her points were. Seriously? One of the other women had just made the point that you also find poles on playgrounds. So as long as a pole is in a certain location, THAT's what determines whether or not playing on it is okay??? Pure ignorance.
JennyBacardi · 7/12/2011
They freak out about pole fitness but then think THIS is cute and ok http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERW33sBGJG0
Dancing Paws · 7/12/2011
Uh, don't even get me started on beauty pageants. Sexifying little girls.....
Runemist34 · 7/12/2011
Wow...I Raged pretty hard about that one for a bit. Children don't know any better...it's like putting a mouse in a pagent. Especially when they're before 5 years old, during those formative years, you're really putting certain expectations and certain ideas of beauty and acceptance in their heads, and that will NEVER leave. Give me pole dance any day. Also, I liked Sharon's face. She didn't look impressed AT ALL!
JennyBacardi · 7/12/2011
when youre 5years old sex doesnt exist in your world. So if your brought up that a pole for excercise you will appreciate the strength it takes to do the moves, but if you are brought up that a pole is wrong and its sexual then thats what you will think of it. Yes pole is sexual if thats what you make of it but it doesnt have to be.
Twinkletoes · 7/12/2011
I just blogged about this very same topic so, naturally it caught my eye. For whatever reason, the majority of people in the United States refuse to accept pole dance as an art form. The notion of a stripper and a pole refuses to escape the American psyche. Why? I don't know. Sharon Osborne is awesome, I would have expected her to provide support for pole dance and she did. What surprised me was the negative comment from the other actress, whats-her-name- King-of Queens-lady...wow she said "over her dead body would she allow her child to dance on a pole for fitness." I bit extreme, I thought. It's this sort of shit that is pet peeve of mine. Why can't pole dance lose the sexualized stigma? And honestly, children, particularly little girls are not thinking about being sexy. They just want to move and have fun. Honestly, if it were up to me, I would incorporate into all dance training and gymnastics a vertical pole class for dancers/gymnasts to cross train and that sort of training is started at a very young age. Just my two cents. :D
Runemist34 · 7/13/2011
Here's a funny one to think about: Ballet, the Waltz, and Swing dancing were all very scandalous once! And now, we think of Ballet and the Waltz to sometimes be rather stuffy, and swing dancing isn't done for recreation anymore, but when it is occasionally done, it's considered fun, not sexual. I think it's just the growing pains. We'll get there...eventually. And you know what? I don't mind being a little scandalous now and then! 😉
poleprincess89 · 7/13/2011
This video pissed me off so much... and i just kept thinking about how they are trying to find something to make pole dancing look bad. they brought up children pole dancing because they need to show how this crazy pole dancing fad has gone too far. first of all, when i was a kid, i was all over that jungle gym and it didn't matter if the poles were vertical or horizontal. i just wanted to climb stuff and hang off of stuff with my legs. if my mom had had a pole in the living room, i would have been all over it because it's fun and a good way to spend your energy, especially when you have tons to spare, as a kid. The other thing is the stuff that leah was saying was really annoying and ignorant. she said, "there is a real thing called gymnastics where you can take your kids blah blah blah i'm a sobby bitch..." first of all, the reason pole is so great is because it's for everyone and it's never too late to learn more. however, gymnastics is not for everyone because you have to be small enough to do it and you have to start when you're really young. it's also expensive and a waste of time and money. most times, if you're not one of the competitive gymnasts that have been doing it since you were 6 years old, the instructors just let you run around and do whatever you want, without really teaching you much. i know this from personal experience. i did gymnastics when i was 12 and it was a complete waste of time and money.
OopseyDaisey · 7/13/2011
@poleprincess89 "blah blah blah I'm a sobby bitch" is now my new favorite catch phrase! 🥂 I agree that she was looking for something to make it bad, but she never came up with any real argument other than calling it a "stripper pole". I wonder if she realizes most women don't even dance for their partner on a regular basis. Mine's all technical about it anyway (totally thinks he's an expert lol!)