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Controversial School Fitness Option—Pole Dancing, Anyone?

I realize that many college co-eds resort to uh, shall we say, creative means to pay for their educations, but I must admit I was a bit stunned when I heard that a European high school was actually making it easier for students to learn the ropes of pole dancing, in case they needed to put their skills to use in the future.

Am I the only one who equates pole dancing with strip clubs?

Apparently administrators at South Devon College in the United Kingdom don’t see the relation. In their eyes pole dancing is merely a source of fitness. At least that’s what they used to think. Pole dancing, which is taught at dozens of dance schools around the world is a good source of exercise. However, when a voluptuous female demonstrated her skills during South Devon College’s Be Healthy Week activities, she wasn’t the only one sweating at the end of the performance.

The busty dancer was trying to show students how invigorating a good pole dance routine can be, but she ended up turning a few more heads than anticipated… and not in a good way. The curvy female’s first demonstration was held in an open area of the school and drew a huge crowd of students ranging in age from 14 to 19. Those students ended up getting an eyeful of the dancer twisting, turning, bending and demonstrating other semi-erotic contortions. Needless to say, when she returned the next day for a second demonstration, she was asked to move her show into the more private sports hall.

According to reports, the change of venue didn’t sit well with the dancer, who complained that the move enhanced the negative stereotyping that plagues, the art of pole dancing. The dancer was reportedly irate that school administrators didn’t see the value of her demonstration. Her goal, she maintains, is to teach kids that there are other ways to burn calories and gain flexibility other than running, swimming and playing soccer.

Meanwhile, school administrators say they stand by their decision, which was based more on the fact that students had been disruptive in class following the dancer’s demo. Apparently, many of the pupils recorded the pole dancer on their mobile devices and were too busy swapping pictures and videos to pay attention to teachers.

Do you consider pole dancing a legitimate fitness option?

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About Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism. She spent the next ten years as a television anchor and reporter at various stations throughout the country (from the CBS affiliate in Honolulu to the NBC affiliate in Green Bay). She has won numerous honors including an Emmy Award and multiple Edward R. Murrow awards honoring outstanding achievements in broadcast journalism. In addition, she has received awards from the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association for her reports on air travel and the Wisconsin Education Association Council for her stories on education. Michele has since left television to concentrate on being a mom and freelance writer.