When am I a pole dancer?

SissyBuns started this discussion · 6/29/2009

So I have been discussing my obsession with pole dancing with my co-workers, family and friends and I have been saying "I pole dance" or "I take pole dancing" classes and I've been wondering...when is one able to say "I'm a pole dancer"? I feel like I am a Pole Dancer but....just..... not a very good one and I feel like when one calls themselves some kind of dancer they are probably relatively good at it or have been doing it for a long time, LOL. I often picture myself ina scenario where I say "Oh I'm a pole dancer" and then some one says "Oh! Can I see you dance?" and then all I have to offer them is a series of firemans and backhooks 😳 That's not much dancing now is it? What do you all call yourselves?

25 replies

RoxyPink · 6/30/2009
I definitely call myself a pole dancer...I think once you have the "feeling" and you call yourself a pole dancer in your head you should scream it at the top of your lungs for all to hear! hahaha...well with in reason! I wouldn't do it in church! lol 🙂 So let me ask you....do you dance around the pole?? therefore you are a pole dancer!! I don't think that there is a "level" you have to master before "joining" the club!!
SissyBuns · 6/30/2009
I definitely dance around the pole...actually at my level that's most of what I do LOL.
FridaSiren · 6/30/2009
hi sissy! i can´t wait to see what kind of answers you get to this post! i feel exactly the same way! i´m totally obsessed and go on for hours talking ( 🤮 🤮 🤮 )about the pole to anyone who will listen ,or at least pretend to listen...lol but i cant really do much yet besides a few spins and pole sitting... are we poledancers? or maybe almost pole dancers, gonnabe poledancers... big hug 🌸 frida 🌸
SissyBuns · 6/30/2009
hi sissy! i can´t wait to see what kind of answers you get to this post! i feel exactly the same way! i´m totally obsessed and go on for hours talking ( 🤮 🤮 🤮 )about the pole to anyone who will listen ,or at least pretend to listen...lol but i cant really do much yet besides a few spins and pole sitting... are we poledancers? or maybe almost pole dancers, gonnabe poledancers... big hug 🌸 frida 🌸 Maybe Poledancer wannabes or Poledancers in training?
Sparklie · 6/30/2009
I think if you have the guns to try pole dancing and stay with it you can call your self a pole dancer. Even as an experienced dancer, of any type, you are always finding new things to learn and improve on old things and constantly drilling the basics. I think that no matter what level you are at you can still call yourself a pole dancer. 🥂
Dayanara · 6/30/2009
I think you should call yourself a pole dancer, just do your reverse grab, (as awkward as you might think it is, it's NOT btw), and if they say....oh that's easy, have them try to do it, then they'll know you are a pole dancer. I already had this experience, a friend of mine who left a year ago for her home country, just recently came back one month ago, we were hanging out at my apartment, she asked if I tried to dance around that pole, LOL, I told her no, I don't try, I do, 'cause I'm a pole dancer, so I inverted for her and she went...."I think I can do that", hey, it was funny to see her kick back and forth and barely getting her legs to her chest for 15 minutes....LOL, and now she knows, I AM a pole dancer. HA!.
SissyBuns · 6/30/2009
I think you should call yourself a pole dancer, just do your reverse grab, (as awkward as you might think it is, it's NOT btw), and if they say....oh that's easy, have them try to do it, then they'll know you are a pole dancer. I already had this experience, a friend of mine who left a year ago for her home country, just recently came back one month ago, we were hanging out at my apartment, she asked if I tried to dance around that pole, LOL, I told her no, I don't try, I do, 'cause I'm a pole dancer, so I inverted for her and she went...."I think I can do that", hey, it was funny to see her kick back and forth and barely getting her legs to her chest for 15 minutes....LOL, and now she knows, I AM a pole dancer. HA!. Thats exactly the type of story I was looking for....LOL.
untamedshrew · 6/30/2009
If you are proud of your bruises, you may be a pole dancer. If you can't find shorts that are short enough, you may be a pole dancer. If you spend more time watching women pole dance than the man in your life, you may be a pole dancer. If you hear a song and immediately rate it for pole compatability, you may be a pole dancer. If you have spent any amount of time trying to convince someone that pole dancing is different than stripping, you may be a pole dancer.
yogabeachbabe · 6/30/2009
f you are proud of your bruises, you may be a pole dancer. If you can't find shorts that are short enough, you may be a pole dancer. If you spend more time watching women pole dance than the man in your life, you may be a pole dancer. If you hear a song and immediately rate it for pole compatability, you may be a pole dancer. If you have spent any amount of time trying to convince someone that pole dancing is different than stripping, you may be a pole dancer. Untamedshrew, this is truly excellent!
FridaSiren · 6/30/2009
that was awsome(as usual) untamedshrew! 🥂
Katrin_de_Larsen · 6/30/2009
Definetely, we are POLE DANCERS!!! I can do on the pole almost the same you do 😀 , but I dance that's for sure. I'm a former go-go)) No, I'm a former go-go after 3 babies. But my body moves with the rythm and it moves around the pole)) Moreover, I suppose that even real profies are always on the way improving the skills and learning smthing new, so we are close.. hahahaha You move nice, you dance, learn and enjoy... you are a POLEDANCER, of course)) No doubt 😉
Charley · 6/30/2009
I think you're a pole dancer when you commit to pole dancing. I think a lot of people try it out and see how it fits but you become a pole dancer when it becomes something that you are really passionate about. Remember it's not about how many tricks you can throw. There are different elements to pole dancing. Dancing is a big part of that and moving into tricks with ease and then ofcourse performing those tricks in a polished, finished manner. It's really tough. Even if you showed someone a simple spin - and they repeat it - it doesn't mean they can flow into and out of it and into the next thing creating steady stream of seamless movement. Being a pole dancer takes determination, dedication and practice so if you have those things -which you do, then you are a pole dancer. If we always chalked being a pole dancer up to how many tricks you can do or how long you've been doing it - none of us would ever give ourselves the title 😂 😂 😂
RoxyPink · 6/30/2009
If you are proud of your bruises, you may be a pole dancer. If you can't find shorts that are short enough, you may be a pole dancer. If you spend more time watching women pole dance than the man in your life, you may be a pole dancer. If you hear a song and immediately rate it for pole compatability, you may be a pole dancer. If you have spent any amount of time trying to convince someone that pole dancing is different than stripping, you may be a pole dancer. I love this! You might be a pole dancer if.... hahahaha That's a good idea for a thread in itself!! 😀
Natalie · 6/30/2009
I think you should call yourself a pole dancer, just do your reverse grab, (as awkward as you might think it is, it's NOT btw), and if they say....oh that's easy, have them try to do it, then they'll know you are a pole dancer. I already had this experience, a friend of mine who left a year ago for her home country, just recently came back one month ago, we were hanging out at my apartment, she asked if I tried to dance around that pole, LOL, I told her no, I don't try, I do, 'cause I'm a pole dancer, so I inverted for her and she went...."I think I can do that", hey, it was funny to see her kick back and forth and barely getting her legs to her chest for 15 minutes....LOL, and now she knows, I AM a pole dancer. HA!. Haha I have one like this... My fiance and also a friend of mine are both in the army, so they are strong enough to do pull ups on the pole and they think they're so fabulous right? So do a simple little pole sit for them, and they're like "Pfft, that's easy, we have to use these rope harness for rappelling, and there is NO WAY that pole hurts more than tight rope in your groin!" So I told them to roll up their shorts and try it... neither of them lasted more than about a second 😀 They got their legs around it and didn't even put much weight before they squealed and jumped down. They were like "What is wrong with you?! Why would you willingly do that to yourself?" Hahahaha!
Toccara · 6/30/2009
If you are proud of your bruises, you may be a pole dancer. If you can't find shorts that are short enough, you may be a pole dancer. If you spend more time watching women pole dance than the man in your life, you may be a pole dancer. If you hear a song and immediately rate it for pole compatability, you may be a pole dancer. If you have spent any amount of time trying to convince someone that pole dancing is different than stripping, you may be a pole dancer. Excellent!!! I, therefore, am a pole dancer, lol! 🥂
Dayanara · 6/30/2009
HAHAHAHHA, that's funny Natalie, this friend of mine does yoga and is all about fitness, so she thought inverting on the pole was piece of cake, I tried to tell her, it took me 2 months of practicing 4-5 times a week to be able to invert and another month to invert properly (using my abs), she didn't listen, she then tried to do a carousel and banged her knee pretty bad on the floor when she couldn't hold it, that's when I said NO MORE, you're not killing yourself on my pole!! get off it now! LOL. funny people.
mayzface · 7/2/2009
I was feeling like too much of a newbie call myself a pole dancer, but untamedshrew's criteria just put me in my place. I love showing off those bruises, and I can't hear a song without thinking about how it would flow on the pole. Now I don't feel like such a poser! Thanks friends!
SissyBuns · 7/2/2009
I was feeling like too much of a newbie call myself a pole dancer, but untamedshrew's criteria just put me in my place. I love showing off those bruises, and I can't hear a song without thinking about how it would flow on the pole. Now I don't feel like such a poser! Thanks friends! 🥂 🥂 LOL
violet · 7/18/2009
If you are proud of your bruises, you may be a pole dancer. If you can't find shorts that are short enough, you may be a pole dancer. If you spend more time watching women pole dance than the man in your life, you may be a pole dancer. If you hear a song and immediately rate it for pole compatability, you may be a pole dancer. If you have spent any amount of time trying to convince someone that pole dancing is different than stripping, you may be a pole dancer. HAHAHA thats fab! I'm so saving that 👍
Crystaljng · 12/21/2011
This is epic! For some reason when I read this I have tears in my eyes! It gives me a sense of belonging and I am touched by the thought that there are many of me out there truly loving the art of pole.
CalBear · 12/21/2011
I've often asked myself the same question. And for me, I think you can call yourself a poledancer once you perform in front of people/an audience + how long you've been practicing and how committed and passionate you are about it.
chemgoddess1 · 12/21/2011
SissyBuns.....sigh
Esperonza16 · 12/21/2011
If you spend more time watching women pole dance than the man in your life, you may be a pole dancer. If you hear a song and immediately rate it for pole compatability, you may be a pole dancer. If you have spent any amount of time trying to convince someone that pole dancing is different than stripping, you may be a pole dancer. You know it's funny. I don't even have a pole yet....and I already do those 3 things....haha. What's that make me now? 😁
beginner2 · 12/22/2011
I think you call yourself a pole dancer if it's your job (you're paid to perform pole dancing or to teach pole dancing). Otherwise poling is listed as your hobby. It's like if I learn all skills to become a secretary & I'm good at them but if I don't work as a secretary, I cannot call myself a secretary. It's like one learns how to sing, sings well & is passionate about singing, but one is not a singer for the same reason. Or a person graduating from acting school but never acts in any movie doesn’t call herself an actress.
michaelaarghh · 12/22/2011
I don't really agree with that though, polefitness. That analogy works for the secretary, but that's because that is a specific job. I have plenty of friends who are singers, and don't necessarily make a living off it. Same way I'm a guitarist. I don't really perform (no time) and I'm not in a band or anything, but I do play the guitar. Therefore, I'm a guitarist. This has been interesting to read, because like OP, I'm only new to poling but was wondering if I was jumping the gun by calling myself a "pole dancer". I think when you're passionate about it. If you've taken it up as a serious hobby or whatever. I think especially because "dancer" is just the noun of the verb. So, I am a dancer because I dance. I don't think there needs to be a monetary aspect taken into consideration at all, or how many tricks you can do. 🙂