China's Newest Fitness Trend: Pole Dancing

It's aerobic, not erotic, say the regimen's legions of fans
By Katherine Thompson,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 25, 2008 8:58 AM CDT
China's Newest Fitness Trend: Pole Dancing
Competitors pose before the start of China's first pole dancing competition. The fitness craze has only just taken off in the country; most people don't associate it with erotic dancing.   (AP Photo/Greg Baker)

The latest fitness craze among women in China is pole dancing, and it has nothing to do with strippers, reports the New York Times. Drawn for the exercise, camaraderie, and confidence boost, women are flocking to a growing number of gyms and dance classes offering it. Even without the seedy strip-club connections, however, the trend is raising eyebrows.

“People here have never seen a pole dance, and for that reason they don’t associate it with stripping or women of ill repute,” says the Chinese woman credited with importing the fitness regimen. But the sexual movements offend some in a culture that has long frowned on such things, even though the women keep their clothes on. “Five years ago, this wouldn’t have been permitted,” says one.
(More China stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X