The world had just started to recover from the zumba-fever when pole dancing hit the public. It is a form of performance art, which combines fitness, dance and acrobatics around a pole. No nightclubs, no strippers; it’s just a new type of fitness, a hobby, an entertainment and a way of becoming fit and muscular. Pole dancing has tried to gain popularity since the mid 2000s, but it’s only recently that promoters could start to change everyday people’s thoughts on pole dancing. It requires many different type of skills: flexibility, strength, commitment, passion and most importantly open-mindedness for something new. Pole dancing is about the choreography of harmonic movements to music. So don’t judge pole dancers! Boys and girls are doing pole dancing as their everyday training, just like yoga, football or zumba. Here at Her Campus Aberdeen, we like to be open minded and try new hobbies, and last year we even tried out pole-dancing for ourselves – this time we’re speaking to someone who’s actually good at it! Today Her Campus presents an interview with Domi Dedeó, who is an enthusiastic pole dancer, representing men in this exciting new form of art.
HC: Let’s start from the beginning. How did you find pole dancing? Was it a secret dream of yours or just spontaneity?
D: I came across pole dancing for the first time at the Glasgow Uni Fresher’s Fayre, where the girls from the Glasgow University Pole Dancing Club (GUPDC) convinced me to sign up for their taster sessions. I enjoyed the taster session so much that I had to become a club member right away.
HC: As everyone can see it is essential to try as many different things at the Fresher’s Week as possible! And how many years have you spent around the pole? Are you working in a team?
D: I started last September with GUPDC and I trained with them throughout the academic year in the Queen Margaret Union building on campus. After the end of the year, I spent 4 months in Hungary and trained in a lovely studio there. There’s also a studio in Glasgow I go to every now and then.
HC: How many levels are there in pole dancing, and on which level are you currently?
D: Levels are defined quite arbitrarily, so it’s different everywhere. Currently I’m in level 3 (out of 4) in GUPDC and level 4 (out of 5) according to the system of the studio in Budapest.
HC: How often do you practice? How do you combine it with your studies?
D: During the summer I was able to go to 3-5 pole classes per week. Now that it’s term time again, I’ll have to decrease this number. As I’m also teaching level 1 in GUPDC this year, I won’t have as much time for training as I’d like. I’m studying Physiology, Sports Science and Nutrition at University, so at least there’s some connection between my field of study and my favourite sport!
HC: What kind of energy or motivation do you get from this sport? Why are you enjoying it?
D: That’s a really tough question to answer. I guess what makes pole dancing so enjoyable for me is the fact that it keeps challenging me. There is always something new to learn and there is always something to improve on with moves that I already know. And probably one of the most important things pole dancing has given me is a confidence I’ve never had before.
HC: Why would you recommend it to others who are interested?
D: Pole dancing is the perfect combination of sports and arts. It builds strength, improves flexibility and teaches you how to look graceful and powerful at the same time. It also helps developing a body awareness that will make your movement more coordinated. (An extra perk is the look on other people’s faces when you tell them you’re a pole dancer.)
HC: Are you not afraid of criticism or prejudice?
D: The only criticism I fear is that my toes aren’t pointed. There are, of course, quite a lot of negative stereotypes about pole dancing but at GUPDC we’re trying to tackle these. One of the ways we do this is by showing guys that it is perfectly okay for them to do pole dancing.
HC: Do you have any future plans concerning pole dancing? Maybe we can see you participating in some kind of competition or in some shows?
D: I’ve never made an entire choreography, so I’m not ready for competitions yet. Luckily, GUPDC has several shows throughout the year, where I can try myself as a choreographer. But I’m hoping to be able to go to competitions within a year. I’ve been considering becoming a certified pole dance instructor in the following years. Especially so, because it fits into my chosen career path perfectly.
I really hope that Domi and this interview chase away all of your stereotypes concerning pole dancing, and maybe you feel enough courage and motivation in yourself to try it out! You can try out pole-dancing in Aberdeen at Soul-Pole on Union Street and we’d highly recommend it!
HCXO